Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1917-01-25
ENTRIES NOWR REACH
47,0OO AcRES;AT
PRESENT
THAT MANY ACRES ALREADY
TAKEN UP IN THIS
SECTION.
HOW TO co ABOUT FILING
Explanation as how Tracts May be
secured-Does not Apply to Reser-
vation Indian Lands.

Although the new 640-acre stock
raisers homestead act did not go into
effect for the allowance of entries un-
til January last, less than three weeks
ago, lands under the act have been en-
tered at the Lewiston U. S. land office
to date covering $4,000 acres. The en-
trymen taking advantage of the act
number l72. Inquiries and applications
are still being received and Register
Henry Heitfeld estimated yesterday
that 10000 to 10000 acres more will
yet be entered.
The lands located to date apply al
most entirely to the Snake and Salmon
river district in Nez Perce and Idaho
counties extending as far south as
Lucille on the Salmon river. Sc quickly
have people taken advantage of the
act that at this time it is estimated
that there is not now available a full,
isolated 640-acre tract left-that is
tract to that extent that is not con-
tiguous to entered lands and thus Civ
ing such entryman or entrymen prior
right of an additional entry. How
ever there are vast areas of a lesser
acreage.
The land office officials explain that
the act does not make available the en-
try of lands under it's terms on any
part of the old Nez Perez Indian reser-
vation. This is due to the fact that
the reservation was opened under an
act that limited homestead entries to
100 acres.
Explanation on Act.
The Lewiston land office is in re-
ceipt of a circular from the general
land office, which embraces statement
| relative to the new act, which state
ment was prepared by Senator Reed
Smoot of Utah for the public lands com
mittee of the senate. Senator Smoot s
explanatory statement is as follows:
81. The provisions of the law per-
nit the entry of GAO acres of non
irrigable, nontimbered land chiefly
valuable for grazing and raising for
age crops by any qualified entryman.
The bill does not apply to all public
lands, but only to such areas as are
suited largely for stockraising pur-
poses. The interior department will
later designate the areas that may be
entered under this act.
"2. At the present time it is i'm
possible to give specific information
as to the location of the areas that
will subsequently be designated for en-
try. In general, it may be stated that
designations will be made in the Rocky
mountain states and westward. A per
sonal inspection of the lands sought tC
be entered is the only satisfactory man
ner in which a prospective entrymar
can fully inform himself as to the rela
tive worth of the land
"3. To acquire title to homestead
under this act an entryman must re
, side upon the land not less than three
, years and make permanent improve
ments thereon tending to increase it
! value tor stock raising purposes, of tn
value of not less than $125 per acre
one-half of which must be placed OIL
; the land within three years after tn
date of entry. Cultivation of the Ian
, is not required. Communication of entr,
| is not allowed.
"4. If a homestead entryman ha
heretofore exhausted his homestea
4 right of securing title to 100 acres o
! land in the humid regions, this 640-acr
9 homestead act does not restore hi
. rights nor permit him to enter an add
tional homestead. The theory of tn
: law is that only one homestead may b
I taken by an individual entryman. o
+ course, if the homestead was lost bt
g cause of matters beyound the contrC
{ of entryman, he can apply to make
e second entry under the act of Septen
!. Der S, 1914 (3s Stat, 712), or if tn
t land heretofore entered was stock-raii
e ing land, and shall be designated 8
0 such by the secretary of the interio
: then and in that event an additions
2 entry can be made within 20 miles G
n the original entry, but not elsewher
a Legislation known as "the Ferris bill
!; III. r. S492) is now pending looking
j the restoration of the homestead right
o of those who have heretofore bougl
e Indian land. This bill has alread
e passed the house and is now pending
b the United States senate.
e "5. Previous to the time the interit
k department designates the areas tn;
may be entered under this law q
d entryman may file an affidavit shown
; that the land he desires to enter is lar
t of the character described in the &C
h and make application to the local lar
d office to be allowed entry if the land
/. designated. The application may the
t be suspended until the land is designa
Il ed, at which time, IL the land has bee
n designated, the application to actual
q make the entry will be allowed.
course, if the department should no
that the particular tract of land soug