Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1917-03-09
wv NO HOMESTEAD LAW

The final enactment OF the FERRIS
Gl0-acrc homestead law is u matter
of great Importance 10 all the arid
and semi-arid sections of the United
States. The undoubied effect will
be- to cause the settlement of large
areas where heretofore men would
not take the hazard of attempting
to establish a home on the smaller
homesteads allowed.
IN the brief period since the Ell.
aclmen, of this law the Interior De-
pnriment has not had time to compile
n les and regulations governing the
entry of lands under the provisions
% this legislation. Pending the
- mpilailon OF official rules and reg
nlailons the following general com
menls and explanations have been
prepared for the benefit Of those
',ekings information ON the subject :.
!. The provisions of the law per.
nil the entry of GAO acres of semi
ard grazing land by any qualified
enirymSh. The bill does not apply
!" all public lands, but only to such
treas ~ are suited largely for stock
II sing aud grazing purposes. The
Interior Department will later desig.
nllc the areas that NAV be entered
iudrr tins act.
:. Al the present lime it j. i'm
,.s-ihlr Ia give specific information
- 10 The location OF the areas thai
All subsequently he designated for
eAlrN. In general il NAV be stated
! M designations will be made in I
the Rocky Mountain States and west I
"drd. \ personal inspection of fhe
lands sought To he entered i the
only satisfactory manner in which a
prospective cnirlman can fully IN
form himself as To the relative
worth of the land.
). 10 acquire title to n home
',ead under this act IN cniryman
mast reside upon the land not less
than three years and make permanenL
Improvement, thereon tending to in
crease it, value for Stockraising pur
pu>es. of the vTlue of not less than
- per acre. one half of which
must he placed Oh the land within
three wears after the date of entry.
Cultivation of the land j. not TO
quircd. tommulnlion of entry is not
allowed.
!. II u homestead enlryman has
exhausted his homestead
right by securin. title to 100 acres
Of land in the humid regions, this
6iO-acrc homestead tract does not
restore his rights nor permit him to
enter AN additional homestead. The
theory of the alw is that only one
homestead may be taken by an indi-
vidual cntryman. OF course, il the
homestead was lost and title never
acquired. ar If the land entered
was grazing land of the
character covered by this act, then
aud IN that event u second entry
could be made rs per section 1 d
} of the act. Legislation. known ~.
the Ferris bill" I'll. r. 1892, is
now pending looking to the restora-
ion of the homestead rights of those
who have heretofore bought Indian
and. This bin has already passed
he house and is now pending in the
'nitcd States senate.
!. Previous 10 the time the In
Icrior Department designates the
areas that may be entered under this
NV II prospective cntryman may
lie affidavit showing that the land
he desires Ia enter Is grazing land
md make application to the local
and office for suspension of the
'ntry until the character of the land
: designated. The entry may then
De- suspended until the land is desig-
lated. 1T which time. il the land has
been designated as grazing land, the
application To actually make the
,ntry will he received OF course.
( the department should hold that
he particular tract sought to be
under this procedure is not
grazing lands no rights would
accrue to the prospective entryman.
g. As each applicant is required
% swear that he is well acquainted
with the character of the land de-
,crbed in his APPLICATION. and as all
'ntries are made subject to the
rights of prior settlers, the applicant
IAN not make the affidavit that he is
acquainted with the character of
he land or be sure that the land is
rot already appropriated by a set
Ter until after he has actually in
;pected it.
Z. All proceedings connected with
he entering and filing on a home
stead are conducted BY the officials