Tombstone epitaph., 1917-01-28
THE 64o-AcRE LAW


 the Interior to designate the land which will be subject to entry under the bill It will require some time 70 do this, and those who attempt .o make filings under the bill prior to such designation by the Secretary must do so at their own risk The bill provides, however, that settlers may file on land before the Secretaiy has completed the work of iasigua- ton. The application must be -c- companied by affidavits showing that in the opinion of the entryran the land is of the character contemplated by the act. In addition to that the entryman must deposit with the land office the regular fees and coilMiis sions and thereupoD the lan1 nill he withdrawn from entry until the Score tary of the Interior shall have an op. portunity to determine its character The entryman, however. will. not be permitted to occupy the lani until the Secretary has actually designated it as subject to entry.
 Any person qualified to make entry under the general homestead laws of the United States may make a stock raising homestead entry. Instead of cultivation, as required by the gen eral homestead laws. the en:ryulan wAl be required to make improve ments on the iand v| a valu., of not less than SIPS per acre. and al least one half of the improvements iCust rc placed on the ard of ..,t less than SIPS per acre. and at least one half of the improvements must be placed on the land within thr,e years from the date of entry.
 The bill provides that settlers who have made filings under the general homestead law and amendments thereto may make additional filings sufficient to give them $40 acres How. ever, they must show that tl.e ;aLd on which they originally filed is of the same character as the land ate ,te1 by the $40 acre bill and other woi ds that it is chiefly valuable for grazing and raising forage crops. does rot contain any merchandise tIutber, Is not susceptible of irrigation fl om any known source of water supply and is of such character that 64o acres are reasonably required for the support ot a family. g The land covered by an adIlrional entry must be within a "a li1s of twenty miles from the settlers fl si entry, and the entryman is required I to file on contiguous areas which may be open to entry prior to filing on non contiguous land.
 Homesteaders who are living or their original entries are rce ,uu:rct 10 establish residence on their f.1di | rional entries. Vhen they come tl | prove up it will only be nec' sssry fol them to show Elt they have made the required permanent improve ments.
 In case a homesteader finds he can not make an additional entry within 1 the prescribed radius of 20 miles hs may, if he sees fit, surrender his orig inal filing and make a new entry GOV | ering $40 acres. The second entry however, must be in the same lant ] district as the first. Homesteader. who are entitled to make additiona entries have preferential right to fil, on lands for ninety days after the Sec retary of the Interior has designate, the land subject to entry under tn, provisions Of the bill. In case thi, preferential right leads to a confiic between homesteaders the Secretar, of the Interior is authorized. to mak' a division of the land.
 The United States reserves all tn, coal and other minerals of the iant subject to entry.