The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1917-01-11
DETAILS Of THE
! 640-ACRE LAW

ment of this law the Interior Depart
ment has not had time to compile
rules and regulations governing the
entry of lands under the provisions OF
this legislation. Pending the compi-
lation of official rules and regulations
the following general comments and
explanations have been prepared for
the benefit of those seeking informa
tion on this subject.)
/. The provisions Of the law permit
the entry of $40 acres of semiarid
grazing land by any qualified entry
man. The bill does not apply to all
public lands, but only to such areas
as are suited largely for stock raising
and grazing purposes. The interior
Department will later designate the
areas that may be entered under this
act.
2. At the present time 1t is impos-
e sible to give specific information as
to the location of the areas that will
subsequently be designated for entry.
In general it may be stated that de-
signations will be made in the Rocky
Mountain States and westward. A
personal inspection Of the lands
sought to be entered is the only salts
factory manner in which prospec-
tive entryman can fully inform him
self as to the relative worth of the
land.
8. To acquire title to homestead
under this act an entryman must re-
side upon the land not less than
three years and make permanent i'm
provements thereon tending to In
crease its value for stockraising pur-
poses, of the value of not less than
31.25 per acre, one-half Of which
must be placed on the land within
three years after the date Of entry.
Cultivation of the land is not reQuir-
ed. Commutation of entry Is not al
lowed.
4. II a homestead entryman has
heretofore exhausted his homestead
right by securing title to 100 acres
Of land in the humid regions. this $40
acre homestead tract does not restore
his rights nor permit him to enter
an additional homestead. The theory
OF the law Is that only one homestead
may be taken by an individual en-
tryman. OF course, II the homestead
was lost and title never acquired, or
II the land entered heretofore was
grazing land of the charcter cover
ed by this act, then and in that event
q second entry could be made as per
section 4 and of the act. Legis-
lation, known as "the Ferris bill"
(H. R. 8492,) is now pending look
ing to the restoration Of the home
stead rights of those who have here
tofore bought Indian land. This bill
has already passed the House and Is
now pending in the United States
Senate. 1t is hoped the measure
will become law before the present
session Of Congress adjourns.
S. Previous to the time the Inter
ier Department designates the areas
that may be entered under this law
a prospective entryman may file afti-
davit showing that the land he desires
to enter is grazing land and make
application to the local land Office
for suspension of the entry until the
character of the land Is designated.
The entry may then be suspended un-
til the land is designated, at which
time, II the land has been designated
as grazing land, the application to ac-
tually make the entry will be receiv-
ed. OF course, II the department
should hold that particular tract OF
land sought to be entered under this
procedure is not grazing lands no
rights would accrue to the prospec-
tive entryman.
6. AS each applicant is required
to swear that he is we'll acquainted
with the character Of the land des-
cribed in his application and all en-
tries are made subject to the rights
Of prior settlers, the application can
not make the affidavit that he is ac-
quainted with the character of the
land or be sure that the land Is not
already appropriated by a settler un-
til after he has actually inspected it
Z. All proceedings connected with
the entering and filing on a home
stead are conducted by the officials
of the local land offices In the States
where the land is located. The Gene
raj Land Office at Washington does
not issue maps showing the Location
of vacant public land subject to entry
This information can be reliably OBJ
tanned only from the records OF thu
various United States district lane
Offices, which are located as follows.
Arizona.-Phoenix.
California. Eureka, Independence
Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Fran
cisco, Susanville, and Visalia.
Colorado.--Del Norte. Denver, Du
range, Glenwood, Hugo, Lamar. Lead
willie, Montrose, Pueblo, and Sterling
1daho-Blackfoot, Boise. Coeu
d'Alene, HALEY, and Lewiston.
Montana--Billings, Bozeman, Ka
iispell, Glasgow, Great Falls, Harve