The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-01-06
HOW UNCLE SAM HAS :
UTILIZED DESERT LANDS
EARL G. ARNOLD
professor Of Law, University Of idaho

Ever since 1877 entries Of desert
lands under laws differing from those
authorizing entries of other lands. have
been permitted. To acquire lands un-
der the desert laws, it must be such as
will not produce native grasses suff.
eient to make an ordinary crop Of hay.
nor produce an agricultural crop suf.
6cient to make the cultivation Of the
land remunerative. 1t is also required
that such lands be surveyed and unap-
lpropriated. As the name "desert en-
try implies, the land must be prac-
tically without moisture.
Since 1891, entries made of lands Of
this arid character may consist of not
to exceed 800 acres; before that date
an entire section could be entered as
desert land. It must be remembered,
however, that since 1890, no person can
acquire land from the government ex-
ceeding 320 acres in the aggregate.
one who may have taken
a homestead, or made an entry under
the timber and stone act previously, will
be unable to take over 100 acres as
desert entry. Only one entry can be
made of lands under this act, except
that where they have been abandoned,
lost, forfeited, or relinquished without
a valuable consideration, a second en-.
try may be allowed On proper showing.
Qualifications
Any person, who is citizen Of the
United States, or who has declared his
intention to become citizen of the
United States, and is 81 years of age,
may make an entry under the desert
land laws. One of alien birth must be
a citizen at the time Of making final
proof. A married woman who possesses
the necessary qualifications can make
an entry notwithstanding any entries
which her. husband may have made.
The applicant must also be bona fide
resident Of the state or territory in
which the land is located which no
seeks to enter.
It is required that not less than
S1.OO per acre per year for three years |
be expended in the necessary irrigation,
and cultivation of the land. |
Final proof may, however, be made at |
any time that the required expenditure
has been made, even though it be less
han four years. At the time final proof |
q ma7e, the claimant must pay the |
receiver $1O0 per acre for each acre
upon which he makes proof. At the
lime of making the original entry the
claimant must pay 25 cents per acre,
The total paid the government being
Sl.25 per acre. This added to the
mount of proof required annually |,
makes desert entry cost the claimant
lot less than 1925 per acre.
Desert Proof
Nothing will be accepted by the gov.
as final proof which is not of L
value to the entry. Proof Ii
$ required to be made annually of the
made on each desert en-
ny, otherwise the entry will be can
'elled. 1t is not necessary to wait until
he end of the year to make proof OF
he work done; each proof may be made /,
IS soon as the expenditures are made;
'ut it must be made annually.
To make final proof Of desert en-.
ny, it is necessary that the entryman
within four years from the time of
making entry, show the expenditures
or improvements of not less than $500
yer acre on the land entered, and also
hat oneeighth of the entire area has
'een cultivated and irrigated. This
cultivation and irrigation may be done
n one place, or it may be scattered
ver the various subdivisions {
1t was provided by an act of con.
,ress, passed upon in 1908, that the com
missioner of the general land office
night grant the claimant an additional
81 a !
roof when it is shown that some un.
delay in constructing the ir-
igating works prevented the entryman
rom getting water onto the land within