The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-09-16


In the service of the United States hre
recognized by the homestead laws. So
many inquiries have been made in re-
gard to this matter, that the text of
the act approved in congress on July
IS. 1917, is here given.
The act is entitled, "For the relief
of homestead entrymen or settlers who
enter the military or naval service Of
the United States in time of war" 1t
states that any settler upon the public
lands of the United States, or any
entryman whose application has been
allowed; or any person who has made
application for public lands which
thereafter may be allowed under the
homestead laws, who, after such set
teinent. entry or application, enlists
or is actually engaged in the military
or naval service of the United States
as q private. soldier, officer. seaman,
. marine, national auardsInan, or menu
Der OF any other organization for Of
Tense or defense authorized by con-
gfess during any war in which the
United states may be engaged, shall
in the administration of the homestead
13Ws. have his services therein con-
and purposes to residence and cult
walton for the same length of time
upon the tract entered or settled upon;
and hereafter no contest shall be
initiated on the ground Of abandon
ment, nor allegation OF abandonment
sustained against any such settler.
entryman, or person unless it shall be
alleged in the preliminary affidavit or
affidavits of contest anL proved at the
hearing in cases hereinafter initiated
that the alleged absence from the land
was not due to his employment in such
military OF naval service: that if he
shall be discharged on account of
wounds received or disability incurred
in the line Of duty. then the term of
his enlistment shall be deducted from
the required length Of residence, with
out reference TO the time of actual
service: provided, that no patent shall
issue 10 any homestead settler who has
not resided upon, improved. and culti-
waited his homestead for u period Of
at least one year.
Sec. 2. That any settler upon the
public lands of the United States: or
any entryman whose application has
been allowed: or any person who has
made application for public lands
which thereafter may be allowed under
the homestead laws, who dies while
actually engaged in the military or
naval service of the United States as
a private soldier, officer, seaman, ma
rine, national guardsman, or member
Of any other organization for offense
or defense authorized by congress
during any war in which the United
States may be engaged; then his
widow if unmarried, or in case of her
death or marriage, his minor orphan
children, or his or their legal repre-
sentativcs may proceed forthwith to
make final proof upon such entry or
application thereafter allowed, and
shall be entitled to receive government
patent for such land, and that the
death of such soldier while SO engaged
in the service of the United States
shall, in the administration of the
homestead laws, be construed to be
equivalent to Il performance of all re-
quirements as TO residence and cult
Walton upon such homestead
Desert Land Entrymen.
Public No. SO, approved August Z,
! 1871, for the protection of desert land
| entrNmeu who enter the military or
naval service of the United States in
time of war; is in the following terms:
That no desert land entry made OF
held under the provisions of the act OF
March 3, 1877, as amended by the act
| of March 3, 1891, by an officer on en-
| listed man in the army navy, marine
corps, or organized militia of the
United States shall be subject to con
| test or cancellation for failure to make
| or expend the sum Of 81 per acre pei
year in improvements upon such claim
| or to effect the reclamation thereof
! during the period said entryman or his
successor in interest is engaged in tn.
| military service of the United States
| during the present war with Germany
and until six months thereafter, and
| tie time within which such entryman
| CT claimant Is required TO make such
| expenditures and effect reclamation OF
| the land shall he. exclusive of the time
| Of his actual service in the army, navy
marine corps, or organized militia OF
! the United States. Provided, that said
| desert Land entry shall have been mad.
by the said officer or enlisted man
prior to his enlistment: Provided fur
ther, that each such entryman o,
| claimant shall within six months after
| the passage of this act. or within 81,
months after he is mustered into tho
service, file in the local land office ot
| the district wherein his claim is stu.
ate, a notice of his muster into the
| service of the United States and of hi.
| desire to hold said desert claim under
this act: Provided further. that tn,
term enlisted man. as used in this