Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-12-21
Information On The.
StOCkraiSing Homestead Law

How is the 6lOacre stock-raising homestead law coming on?
This is a question being asked by thousands Of entrymen under the law
which went into effect Of December %, 1916. Since that time none Of the
entries made have been allowed. The only progress made has been in the
decisions given out by the General Land Office at Washington relative %
the various provisions Of the law. The Geological Survey has made a call for
men qualified to act With the field division in classifying the lands in the
various western states. IL must be remembered that entries under this act are
not allowed. but ar suspended and considered only as applications until the
land applied for car be designated rs stOckraising land.
The Geological Survey has this work Of classification in their hands
According to advice received from Washington lei ar now being put Il. tbs
tied to go over the lands applied for, and likely they viii be in New Mckee
and Arizona after the first Of January. At all accounts Il will be over three
months mOrea and possibly six before 6i0acre homestead entFymen will knew
if their lands will be designated. The commissioner Of the General Land
office Olay Talman) himself will not make a statement ~ to designations
slider to tread heavily upon the subject. However, homesteaders Of grazing
lands may feel sure that sooner or later thdr. lands will be gone over for &ea-
ignaton, and they can only wait patiently until this action is taken.
The regulations of taking land under this act IRE similar I, that Of The
or declared his intentions and must be 81 years Of age or at the head Of q
family to take a original entry under the act q
Persons who have already taken 100 or 320-acre homestead entries nay
make additional entries on lands adjoining, provided both be designated"
tOnal entries to lands not adjoining may be made IL there in no land open
for entry adjoining the first entry. No ncOntiguOus entry under any Of the
provisions of the act may be over 20 miles from the original
For final proof 3 years residence is required and improvements fG4
considered rs stock improvements.
The right to occupy and fence the land is not given until after designs.
itOn, however many entrymen are going ahead with the fencing and sc OF
the land despite the ruling of the Department of the Interior.
1t is advisable for entrymen to file $50 or 32Oacre original aPPieAiona
and then take the additional amount to make a section under the stOck-rahing
homestead act if they desire to Immediately occupy the land or make iR~
prOvements,
These paragraphs owe the important regulations of the law and tho
questions SO often asked. There are other rules in the section homestead act
that will Ihy be before the General Land Office for decision for maIy!
months and possibly years. However, a person is reasonably safet to make
ed States Land Office for a copy of the circular giving full details of the law
or consult some United States Commissioner or person familiar with the
act But entrymen should not fret, before long their lands will be designated
and the stOckraising homestead law will be N good working order.