The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-01-19
THE $50 ACRE BILL.

| BE 1t enacted Dy the senate and
the House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Cong ress
assembled: THAT from and after tie
passage of this act 1t shall be lawful
for any person qualified to make en-
TRY under the homestead laws of the
United States to make stock-raising
homestead entry for not exceeding six
hundred and forty acres of unappro-
priated unreserved public land In
reasonably compact form: Provided,
however, That the land so entered
shall heretofore nave been designated
by the secretary Of the Interior as
"stock-raising lands
| Section 2:-That the secretary of
the Interior is hereby authorized on
duplication or otherwise to designate
las stock-raising lands subject to entry
under this act lands the surface of
which is In his opinion, chiefly valu-
able for grazing and the raising of
forage crops. do not contain merchan-
table timber. are not susceptible Of
Irrigation from any known source of
water supply. and are of such char
acter that six hundred and forty acres
are reasonably required for the sup
lport Of family: Provided, that where
any person qualified to make original
Ior additional entity under the provis-
lon OF this act shall make application
to enter any unappropriated public
land which mas not been designated as
subject to entry (provided said appli-
cation is accompanied and supported
lby proper corroborated affidavit of the
applicant. in duplicate, showing prima
facie that the land applied for is of the
character contemplated by this act. &.
which application together VITA the
regular fees and commissions, sha /
be received by the register ami re-
|ceiver OF the land district n which
said land is located and suspended un-
It'll 1t shall have BEEN determined by
the secretary Of the Interior, whether
said land IL actually of that character.
That during suca Suspension tn, land
described in the application shall ret
te disposed Of: and Il the sail land
shall be designated under this act
then said application shall be allow
led; otherwise. rejected. subject to ap-
peal: but no right to occupy such
lands shall be acquired by reason Of
said application until said lands have
been designated ~ stock raising lands.
Section s.-Ths. saxy sgAalit led home.
stead entrymah may make entry un-
der the homestead laws Of lands so
designated by the Secretary of the In
terror. according to legal subdivisions
In areas not exceeding six hundred
and forty acres. and in compact form
SO far as may be subject to the pro-
visions Of this act and secure title
thereto by compliance with the terms
|of the homestead laws: Provided, That
Ia former homestead entry of land of
the character described in section two
hereof shall not be bar to the entry
|of tract within a radius of twenty
miles from such former entry under
the provisions Of this act, subject to
ithe requirements Of law as to resi-
dence and improvements, which, to-
Igether with the former entry, shall
not exceed six hundred and forty
acres: Provided further, That the en-
|tryman shall be required to enter all
contiguous areas of the character
herein described open to entry prior
Ito the entry Of any noncontiguous
land: Provided further, That instead
of cultivation as required by home
stead laws the entryman shall be re-
quired to make permanent improve
ments upon the land entered before
final proof is submitted tending to in
crease the value of the same for stock
raising proposes. Of the value of not
less than $1.25 per acre, and at leasl
one-half Of such improvements shall
be placed upon the land within three
!years after the date of entry thereof.
Section 4.-That any homestead en-
ltryman OF lands of the character here
Ia described, who has not submitted
final proof upon his existing entry,
shall have the right to enter, subject
to the provisions of this act, such
amount OF contiguous lands designated
for entry under the provisions of this
act as shall not, together with the
amount embraced in his original entry
exceed six hundred and forty acres,
and residence upon the original entry
shall be accredited upon both entries.
but improvements must be made up
on the additional entry equal to $1.25
for each acre thereof.
Section 5.-That persons who have
submitted final proof upon, or received
patent for. lands Of the character here
In described under the homestead law.
and who owns and resides upon the
land 90 acquired, may, subject to the
provisions Of this act. make additional
entry for and obtain patent to contig-
uous lands designated for entry under
the provisions Of this act which, to-
gether with the area heretofore ac-
lquired under the homestead law, shall
not exceed six hundred and forty acres
lon proof OF the expenditure required
by this act on account of permanent
improvements upon the additional en-
TRY.
Section 6.-That any person who is
the head Of family, or who has arriv.
ed at the age Of 81 years and is a cit
izen Of the United States who has en-
tered or acquired under the homestead
laws. prior to the passage of this act
lands Of the character described in this
act the area of which Is less than 64O
acres. and who is unable to exercise
the right of additional entry herein
conferred, because no lands subject to
|cntry under this act adjoins the tract
|so entered or acquired or lie within
Ithe twenty mile limit provided for in