Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-12-28
What The United States
Commissioner Here Says

How is the 6iO-acre sokrasing homestead law coming on?
This is a question being asked by thousands of entrymen under the law
which went into effect on December 29, 1915. 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 TO
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
not allowed, but are suspended and considered only as applications until the
land applied 70. can be "desgnated' as stOckTaiSng land.
The Geological Survey has this work of classification in their hands
According to advice received from Washington men are now being put in the
field to go over the lands applied for, and likely they will be in New Mexico
and Arizona after the first of January. At all accounts it will be over three
months more and possibly six before 6i0acre homestead entrymen will know
if their lands will be designated. The commissioner of the General Land
Office (Clay Talman) himself will not make a statement az to designations
slider to tread heavily upon the subject However, homesteaders of grazing
lands may feel sure that one or later their lands will be me over or dc-
ignaiOn, and they can only wait patiently until this action is taken.
The regulations of taking land under this act are similar to that of the
$50 and 32O-acre homestead laws One must b. a either of the United states
or declared his intentions and must be 81 years of age OF at the head of a
family to take a original entry under the act
Persons who have already taken 100 or 320-acre homestead entries may
make additional entries on lands adjoining, provided both be designated:
L final proof has been made pr can be made within six months time hddr
tOnal entries % lands not adjoining may be made if there is no land open
for entry adjoining the first entry. No incOniguOus 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 fol-
IstOckraising must be made to the extent IF Sl25 per acre. Houses are not
considered as stock improvements.
The right to occupy and fence the land is not given until after designa-
ton however many enTymen are going ahead with the fencing and Sc OF
the land despite the ruling of the Department Of the Interior.
and then take the additional amount to make a section under the stOck-raBing
homestead act, if they desire to Immediately occupy the land or make inn
prOyements.
These paragraphs cover the important regulations of the law and tho
hat will HNy be before the General Land Office for decision for mary,
months and possibly years. However a person is reasonably safe to make
entries under this law. Beforehand it is advisable to write the nearest Unit
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 sOcknsing homestead law will e n good working order.