The Seward gateway daily edition, and the Alaska weekly post., 1919-06-21
NEW HOMESTEAD LAW APPLIES
 TO ALASKA

Orders have been received by the territorial land office and field service representatives of the general land oe' flee which are of vital importance to the homesteader. and which will be of great benefit to the Alaskan settler, The changes made by the new regula- tions. are sweeping.
 The commissioner of the genera! land office in instructions to all re- corders and receivers of United States land offices announces that the time required for homesteaders to remain on the land during each year has been changed from seven to five months where climatic conditions render 1t advisable. The Juneau land office rep resentatives say that this will apply 70 Alaska and especially to this portion of the North,
 Commissioner Tallman's inslruc' tions to the various receivers follows:
 Under the homestead law. as it has Heretofore stood, a homesteader Is en- titled to leave of absence Tn one or two continuous periods not exceeo- ing in the aggregate five months in each year after establishing residence being required to file notice at the bo- ginning of each period. If is previ'lr'i that in case of communication n months actual residence must hc ihown, no credit being allowed for he periods of these allowable ab' senceS.
 By the act of February 25. 1919 (Public No. 257). the following clause s inserted in the law:
 Provided. That the register ant 70 ,eiver of the local land office under ulcs and regulations made by the commissioner of the general land of flee may. upon proper showing. upon application of the homesteader. and only for climatic conditions. which makes residence on the homestead for even months in each year q rardshn' 'educc the term of residence to no: norc than six months in each yea. over a period of four years or not more than five months each year over q period of five years Int 'hc total residence required shall in no "v"'l exceed twenty-five months. not '"Ss than five of which shall bc in carh year; proof to be made within tiv" years after entry"
 2. An cntryman desiring to avail himself of the privilege accorded av his act must. within one year aft"r the allowance of his entry. file in ~" 'ocal land office an application (prc- ferably on the approved form) con ,isting of his affidavit. corroborat"h hy two witnesses, setting forth the climatic conditions which would rcr- Ter it hardship to reside upon the land for as much as seven months in >arh year. and stating whether lie wishes the requirement. in his ease to be tixed at six months residence io tour successive years or at five months residence in five surcess'NC. years. The affidavit of claimant and the witnesses may be executed be- fore any officer authorized to admin! iSter oa,hs and using an official seal. If the showing is satisfactory. you will promptly forward the application to this office with notation Of your a'- lowancp thereof. by special letter. # t is not satisfactory. you will reject the applications subject to the usual right of anpeal. and all appeals will b" promptly forwarded by special letters.
 II the application requests reduc- tion to five months residence in each year. you may. if proper, grant partial { relief; that is. fix the residence period at six months in each year. your de cision being subject to review by this office on appeal from your decision. of which the party will be notified with oil promptness.
 8, Where . homsatssdsr has se'