The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1917-01-12
New Homestead Law
Opens Way To Settlers

The following Is copy OF the new
| 640-acre homestead bill which was
recently approved by President Will
son, and which is creating big rush
to the land offices for government
land in the various western states:
H. r, 407. An act to provide for
ock-raising homesteads, and for 9th
er purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate, ETC.,
That from and after the passage of
| this act 1t shall be lawful for any
person qualified to make entry under
the homestead laws of the United
States to make a stock-raising home
stead entry for not exceeding six hun
dred and forty acres of unappropri-
ated unreserved public land in reas-
onably compact form; provided, how
| ever, that the land so entered shall
heretofore have been designated by
the secretary of the interior as stock
raising lands.
Sec. 2 That the secretary of the
interior is hereby authorized, on ap-
plication or otherwise, to designate
as stock-raising lands subject to en-
try under this act lands the surface
of which is, in his opinion, chiefly
valuable for grazing and raising for
| age crops, do not contain merchant
| able timber, are not susceptible of ir-
| rigation from any known source of
water supply, and are of such char
acter that six hundred forty acres
are reasonably required for the sup
port of family; provided, that
where any person qualified to make
original or additional entry under
the provisions of this act shall make
application to enter any unappropri-
ated public land which has not been
designated as subject to entry (pro-
vided said application is accompan-
led and supported by prop rly corrob-
Grated affidavits of the applicant in
duplicate showing prima facie that
the land applied for is of the char
acter contemplated by this act), such
application, together with the regu-
lar fees and commissions, shall be
received by the register and receiver
If the land district in which said
land is located and suspended until
it shall have been determined by the
said land is actually of that charac-
ter. That during such suspension
the land described in the application
| shall not be disposed of; and if the
said land shall be designated under
this act. then such application shall
be allowed; otherwise, it shall be re-
jected, subject to appeal but no
right to occupy such lands shall be
acquired by reason of said applica-
ton until said lands have been des-
ignated as stock-raising lands.
Sec. 3. That any qualified home
stead entryman may make entry un-
der the homestead laws of lands so
designated by the secretary of the in
terror, according to legal subdivs-
| ions, in areas not exceeding six hund-
red and forty acres, and in compact
form so far as may be subject to the
provisions of this act, and secure IT,
tie thereto by compliance with the
terms of the homestead laws; pro-
vided, that former homestead en-
| try Of land of the character des-
cribed in section two hereof shall
not be a bar to the entry of a tract
within a radius of twenty miles from
such former entry under the pro-
visions of this act, subject to the re-
quirements of law as to residence
and improvements, which, together
with the former entry, shall not ex-
ceed six hundred and forty acres;
provided further, that the entryman
shall be required to enter all contig-
uous areas of this character herein
described open to entry prior to the
entry of any non-contiguous land;
provided further, that instead of cul-
tivation as required by the home
stead laws the entryman shall be re-
qufred to make permanent improve
ments upon the land entered before
final proof is submitted tending to
increase the value of the same for
stock-raising purposes, of the value
Of not less than $1.25 per acre, and
at least one-half of such improve
ments hhall be placed upon the land
three years after the date Of entry
thereof.
Sec, A. That any homestead entry
man of lands of the character herein
described, who has not submitted fin-
al proof upon his existing entry, shall
have the right to enter, subject to