Volume 9 , Issue 37

1893 - O. T. Guidelines For Homesteaders

The 1893 The Alva Pioneer also had these guidelines for homesteaders:
This 1893 news article came from The Alva Pioneer, dated September 22, 1893, Alva, M County, O.T., with the following guidelines for entries, fillings, contests, appeals, etc... for the settlers making the '93 Cherokee Strip Run.

The qualified homesteader acquires a right to enter public lands in two ways. First, by actual settlement upon the land; second, by appearing in person at the United States land office in the district in which the land is situated and presenting his application for the land together with the proper affidavits and fees. When the right to enter has been acquired by settlement, the entry must be made in person before the expiration of ninety days from the date of settlement.

After filing the claimant is allowed six months in which to establish a permanent residence upon the land. By permanent residence is meant actual bona fide residence; he must reside upon and cultivate the land in accordance with the law for a term of five years. Occasional visits to the land once in six months, or oftener is not residence. The homestead party must actually inhabit the land and make it the home of himself and family, as well as cultivate it. Five years residence is necessary before final proof can be made, and final proof must be made within seven years from date of entry.

Leave of Absence
There are two laws providing for leaves of absence from lands (after entry) which provides generally for cases of destruction or failure of crops, sickness, or other "unavoidable casualties" rendering the settler unable to support himself or persons dependent on him, upon the land.

Extension of Time
Homestead settlers may have the time in which they are required to make settlement extended for a period not exceeding twelve months where climatic causes render it impossible for him to commence residence within six months.

Contents
The fees required to initiate a contest is two dollars. This is the entry and docket fee of the register and receiver o the land office. Personal service is required in cases where it is possible to obtain same; or notice may be given by publication in a newspaper published in the county where the land is situated. The register and receiver will set a day and hour for hearing testimony, and on the day set, the parties must be present with their witnesses. Before testimony is offered, the register and receiver will demand a deposit of a sum of money sufficient to cover the costs of reducing the same to writing, and they may demand another deposit when first is exhausted. Ordinarily a sum of from eight to ten dollars will cover all the fees connected with a contest.

Appeals
After the decision of the register and receiver has been rendered, an appeal may be made to the commissioner of the General Land Office, and from him to the Secretary of the Interior, who may remand the case, or take final action. No fees are required in making an appeal.
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