| OCR Text |
Show MORE STRICT HOMESTEAD LAWS TO BE ENFORCED The custom of establishing a residence on homestead land, any, time within six months after entry and living on it as they choose, six or eight months out of the year, will bs changed after December De-cember 1st, according to a circular recently received from George E. Hair, chief of the Salt take division of the department. Those making entry must live on the land and have it cultivated for the full five years required by law. Samuel Adams, acting secretary of the interior, says, in instructions to S. F. Proudfoote, assistant of the land office: "After most careful and mature consideration con-sideration of this matter I feel it my duty to disregard the erroneous practice heretofore obtaining in your office and direct that you exact of homestead entryman proof of residence for the full period of five years, as required by the statute, before the same can be approved as a basis for the issuance of a patent thereon. Because of the long practice heretofore prevailing, I believe it right and proper to give ample time for notice of the contemplated change before putting the same into effect. I have, therefore, to advise you that in all instances where ordinary final proof is submitted under the homestead laws on or after the first day of December next, the law as above interpreted be followed." |
