Gunnison news-champion., 1916-12-29
H|GH LIGHTS on ON THE
$40 ACRE HOMESTEAD BILL

Congressman Kesting of Colorado has
prepared the following summary of the
90 acre homestead bill which was re-
Gently passed by Congress.
The bill authorizes the Secretary Of
the Interior to designate the land which
will be subject to entry under this bill.
II will require some time to do this and
those who attempt to make filings und-
er this bill prior to this designation by
the secretary. must do so at their own
risk. The bill provides. however. that
settlers may file on land before the Sec
retary has completed the work Of de-
signation. The application must be &C.
companied by affidavits showing that in
the opinion Of the entryman. the land is
Of the character contemplated by this
act. In addition to that the entryman
must deposit with the land Office the
regular fee and commissions and there
upon the land willbe withdrawn from
entry until the Secretary of the Interior
shall have an opportunity to determine
its character. The entryman, however,
will not be allowed to occupy the land
until the secretary has actually designAt-
ed it as subject to entry.
Any person qualified to make entry
under the general homestead laws of
the United States may make . stock
raising homestead entry. Instead Of
cultivation as required by the general
homestead laws, the entryman will be
required to make permanent improve.
ments upon the land Of value Of not
less than SLIPS per acre. and at least
one-half of the improvements must be
placed on the land within three years
from the date of the entry.
The bill provides that settlers who
have made filings under the general
homestead laws and the amendments
thereto. may make additional filings
sufficient to give them $40 acres. How
ever, they must show that the land on
which they originally 6ledis Of the same
character as the land affected by the
$40 acre bill. In other words. that It il
chiefly valuable for grazing and raising
forage crops. does not contain mer-
chantable timber. is not susceptible to
irrigation from any known water sup
ply. and IL Of such character that $40
acres are required for the support Of .
family.
The land covered by an additional
entry must be within . radius Of TWEEN
ty miles from the settlers first entry,
and IN entryman il required to ils on
Contiguous areas which may be open to
entry prior to filing on non contiguous
land.
Homesteaders who are living on their
original entries are not required 70
establish residence on their additional
entries. When they come to prove up
it will only be necessary for them to
show that they have made the required
improvements.
In case q homesteader finds that be
caqnot make an additional entry within
the prescribed radius Of twenty miles,
be may. il he sees ft, surrender his
original filings and make . new entry
covering $40 acres. The second entry,
however. must be in the same land office
district ~ the frat.
The United States reserves oil the
coal and other minerals in the lends
subject 70 entry.
At the suggestion Of the cattle rais-
ing interests. provision was placed in
the bill authorizing the Secretary Of the
Interior to withdraw from entry water
holes or other bodies Of water needed
OF used by the public for Watering
stock. He was also authorized to with
draw from entry such lands as might
b Necessary to establish drivsways
needed for use in the summer in moving
stock % the summer and winter ranges.
O. 70 shippipg points He win make
rules and regulations for the sdminis-
tratioe Of thess drivewaya.