if HD \ 2i43 Lands in Southern California and How to UC-NRLF MD 217 ncle Sam's Lands in Southern California and How to Acquire Them Issued by the LOS ANGELES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Revised Feb. 1, 1914, by O. R. W. Robinson Receiver U. S. Land Office DESERT There is a general and erroneous impression abroad that all good government land in Southern California has long ago been appro- bated. Nine million acres, most of it so-called "desert" land, are itill offered for reclamation or settlement. There is desert and desert. There is land so poor that it will re- Lain practically barren under irrigation. Very little of the desert land >f Southern California is of this type. Wherever, after the rains, the 'desert" wears a thick and variegated dress of wild flowers, indications good that under irrigation the land will be fertile all the time. One o first sees the brown bare earth in the dry season, stripped of its Iress of flowers, can hardly conceive of the transformation wrought by rain ; and conversely, one who sees it in bloom, can hardly believe the ;ransformation wrought by drought. The departure of the rain is like :he stroke of the midnight bell which turned Cinderella from a fairy rincess back into a cinder-maid; and its coming is like a touch from :he magic wand of the fairy godmother. All of Southern California was once considered desert land. Who [iceds telling now that it contains the garden spots of America? But low many would not have laughed at the idea before the industry of ;he pioneers developed it? But a few years ago the fertile Imperial ind Coachella valleys were parts of the Colorado Desert, no less arid nid uninviting than the rest. It required that almost divine faculty, Imagination, to see that this barren land could be made productive. To him who responded to its cry for water the grateful earth bears lowers without ceasing, and crop after crop the year around. Despite former object lessons, it still requires imagination to con- reive that in the Colorado and Mojave desert regions, where for eight >r nine months of the year there is never a drop of moisture for the >arching surface and the sun beats down on vast gray and brown stretches broken only by tufts of desert grass and weird cacti shapes, [arge sections of the land can be made by irrigation as fertile and farming as the cultivated portion of Southern California. RECLAMATION Bear this well in mind: WITHOUT WATER the land is 'ORTHLESS ; WITH WATER much of it is RICH. Even the ilkali land can in course of time be reclaimed by irrigation and become fairly good land, but the time and expenditure involved would better 91&347 // J^> +- "TO be applied on land that costs more in the beginning and will bring more and quicker returns. Where lands border upon streams or lakes, the individual settler may bring the water direct from them upon the land. There are other favored sections where the water is below the surface and needs only an outlet, as in the artesian districts near Indio and Lancaster. These are the simple problems in irrigation, and easily solved. In the ma- jority of instances water must be brought from considerable distances. For the individual to attempt this is prodigal waste, or an impossi- bility. So Uncle Sam, who is a very paternal uncle, has undertaken vast irrigating enterprises in Southern California and elsewhere Work along similar lines to that undertaken by the government has also been effected by large corporations. In the Imperial Valley, for instance, companies have sold water rights at $10 per acre to accom- pany desert land filed upon. At present these rights are not to be had at less than $20 to $25 per acre. In the Antelope Valley, also, water rights amount to several times the cost of the land and improvements required by the government. Every person intending to settle upon or reclaim government lands should acquaint himself thoroughly with the character of the soil and the situation with regard to water before filing upon the land. This course will prevent him from suffering the disappoint- ments and heartaches that have come to those who leaped before they looked. Where persons settle upon unsurveyed lands, they are entitled to a ninety days' preference right of filing when lands are surveyed and open for settlement; and upon proof of cultivation or reclamation work are allowed credit for same and for time spent in living upon or reclaiming the land. DESERT LANDS MAY BE HOMESTEADED DESERT LANDS MAY BE TAKEN UP UNDER THE HOMESTEAD LAW, if the requirements of that law better suit the entryman; but non-arid HOMESTEAD LANDS MAY NOT BE TAKEN UP UNDER THE DESERT LAND LAW. Where persons intend making actual settlement it costs less to take up land under the homestead system than under the desert land act; but an addi- tional year is required before proving up. Most of the nine million acres of public domain still to be had in Southern California is called "desert" land and is desert land according to the definition given by the government. An entryman can therefore take his choice of the two methods of acquiring it, the important requirements of which are later in this folder placed side by side bringing out clearly points of similarity and difference. LOS ANGELES LAND DISTRICT While there are eight United States local land offices in Califor- nia, the one at Los Angeles has control over the major portion of the public domain in that part of the state universally known as Southern California. This district is two hundred miles north and south by three hundred east and west, embracing all of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial and Riverside counties and portions of San Ber- nardino, Ventura, Kern and Santa Barbara counties. The remainder of San Bernardino county is in the Independence District. Those por- tions of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties not in the Los Angeles District are in the San Francisco District. That part of Kern county not in the Los Angeles District is divided between the Independence and Visalia Districts. REGIONS WHERE GOVERNMENT LAND MAY BE FOUND The principal regions where government land is still to be found in the Los Angeles District are in or near the Santa Monica Moun- tains, which extend from Santa Monica-by-the-sea in Los Angeles County along the coast into the lower portion of Ventura County, or in the level, railroad-traversed Mojave and Colorado deserts. The Imperial, Coachella and Palo Verde valleys are included within the Colorado Desert region. The first two named are in Imperial County, lately formed from the eastern half of San Diego County, while the Palo Verde Valley is contiguous to them, being in the extreme south- eastern portion of Riverside County. The Mojave Desert region, or a portion of it, is more popularly known as the Antelope Valley, and contains much land that is rich when irrigated. Townships along the Colorado have been reserved for reclamation by federal canals, a portion being open under the strictest application of the homestead laws, the remainder temporarily withdrawn. Little timber land remains vacant, most of it being now included in the mountain forest reserves. The channel islands unpatented are re- served for government purposes under the Treasury Deparment. CROPS THAT MAY BE SUCCESSEULLY RAISED Mountainous land, as in the Santa Monica mountains, is suitable for stock and bees, and when irrigated, produces apples, cherries, and other deciduous fruits. Foothills and rolling lands produce, where there is a water supply, olives, oranges, limes, lemons, grape fruit, berries and alfalfa. In seasons of abundant rainfall grain is a profit- able crop on the mesas (table lands), and thousands of acres of wine grapes are now profitably grown thereon without irrigation. Desert lands in the Antelope, Coachella, Imperial and Palo Verde valleys, and other portions of the Mojave and Colorado deserts, pro- duce when irrigated melons, especially canteloupes, grapes, corn, win- ter and summer vegetables, alfalfa and similar crops, and, in some lo- calities, oranges. The raising of hogs is a great industry in the Im- perial Valley. They are turned loose in the alfalfa fields, and their meat is much sweeter than that of trough-fed hogs. In the Coachella and Imperial valleys there is a future for dates, sugar beets and cotton. It has been demonstrated that this region will produce finer cotton than any in the United States. The only reason that government lands are still to be had in this fertile valley is the comparatively re- cent date when the Colorado River was made available for supplying the water necessary for irrigation. The lands have been rapidly filed upon. Large sections were withdrawn from settlement pending a re- survey; but a number of townships are already re-opened, and the boundaries of all are now adjusted. Settlers on unsurveyed land are given a ninety days' preference right to file claims after the land is surveyed. The filling up of government lands in this southernmost part of Southern California has not been devoid of picturesque pioneer fea- tures. Shotguns have been the bedfellows of some of the settlers, and in one place an observation tower was built, from which the settler scanned the horizon for claim jumpers. It is almost unnecessary to say that these were cases of extreme zeal in defending a tentative right. HOW GOVERNMENT LAND MAY BE SECURED The General Land Office at Washington does not issue maps showing the location of vacant public lands subject to entry; neither will any specific description of the land, water, climate or timber be given. Persons who desire to take out homestead or desert land claims in Southern California must themselves find and decide upon the lands. They should then write or go to the local land office of the district in which the lands are situated and obtain from the records diagrams of the vacant lands. Information as to whether or not a particular tract of surveyed land has been filed upon may be obtained upon inquiry. The registrar and receiver will give advice as to law and procedure, but are not officially cognizant of the character of un- entered land and are not expected to give information regarding same, neither are they expected to furnish extended lists of land subject to entry, except through plats and diagrams which they are authorized to make and sell as follows, whenever the other business of the office will permit. For a township diagram showing unentered land only. ... $1 For a township plat showing form of entries, names of claimants and character of entries $2 For a township plat showing form of entries, names of claimants, character of entry and number $3 For a township plat showing form of entries, names of claimants, character of entry, number, and date of filing or entry, together with topography, etc $4 Such maps are open to inspection in all local land offices. Writ- ten applications for these maps should be accompanied by remittances of the proper amount to the receiver of the office, and should state specifically the number of township and range for which plats or diagrams are desired. The United States Geological Survey issues atlas sheets of Southern California and elsewhere, which show United States town- ship and section lines ; located townships and section corners ; and township and section corners not found. Some stationers have these maps on sale at five cents a sheet. When the intending settler has decided upon the region he de- sires, he is required both under the homestead and desert land laws to inspect it in person. If he is not capable of finding the land himself he should have some competent and trustworthy person show him every forty-acre subdivision. This is necessary for the reason that the entryman must swear, in his application, that he is familiar with the tract, having been over forty-acre subdivision thereof, that it contains no mines, that it is not mineral in character, and that it is not inhabited or occupied by any Indian. He should be on the alert when dealing with some so-called "land locators," and not be beguiled into paying unreasonable fees to unscrupulous persons for showing him a piece of desirable land, purporting it to be vacant and open for entry, when in reality it is already patented or appropriated. In this case the homesteader files his application supposedly for the land shown him, but in fact for an altogether different tract of unsuitable land, sometimes miles away, which is vacant probably because of its worthlessness for agricultural purposes. The old maxim, "Be sure you are right, then go ahead/' if followed, will save the entryman an endless amount of trouble and expense. For those who desire further and fuller information than can be put into this brief space, applica- tion in person or through the mail to the local land office at Los Angeles will secure two circulars, one containing suggestions to in- tending homesteaders and the other to those desiring to enter land under the desert land act. Land laws may be had by application to the General Land Office, Washington, D. C. Following is a brief recital of the main points of the homestead and desert lands laws: HOMESTEAD ENTRY DESERT LAND ENTRY Persons Entitled to Make Entry Males and single women over 21 years of age, and heads of fam- ilies under the age of 21 'years who are citizens of the United States, or have declared their in- tention to become citizens; de- serted wives, or those whose hus- bands are imprisoned or mentally incapacitated ; and minors who have served at least 14 days in the army or navy. To make final proof, entryman must have been admitted to full citizenship. Males and single women over 21 years of age, residents of state where entry is made and citizens of the United States, or who have declared intention to be- come citizens. Married women who make the entry for their own use and with their own rrion- ey may also take up desert land claims. At time of making final proof entryman must have been admitted to full citizenship. Lands Subject to Entry All unappropriated surveyed public lands not mineral or sa- line, and not embraced within the limits of any withdrawal reserva- tion, or incorporated town or city. A settler on unsurveyed public lands must plainly mark the boundaries; and when the lands are surveyed he is given a three months' preference right to file a homestead claim. Home- stead entries on land withdrawn under the reclamation act must be entered subject to special reg- ulations, and Reclamation Pro- ject, Washington, D. C., must be addressed for details. All surveyed lands not saline or mineral in character, which will not produce a reasonably re- munerative agricultural crop without irrigation, are classed as desert lands. In the declaration filed, the land must be described particularly. Where a bona fide desert land entry is included within the limits of a withdrawal or irrigation project the entry- man who owns a water right is not required to accept the condi- tions of the reclamation act. HOMESTEAD ENTRY DESERT LAND ENTRY Quantity of Land Allowed One Person An entryman may enter 160 acres, and if he has entered pub- lic lands under any of the other agricultural public land laws through settlement made since August 30, 1890, the lands must not aggregate more than 320 acres. An entryman is allowed 320 acres, but if a smaller amount is entered his right is exhausted. If a person has acquired since August 30th, 1890, under any of the agricultural land laws, lands which exceed in the aggregate 320 acres, he is not entitled to make a desert land entry for any quantity whatever. How Entries Should be Made Applications to enter either desert or homestead land must be ma4e upon the blanks furnished for the purpose by the Land Office and sworn to before the registrar or receiver of a United States land office, before a United States commis- sioner, or a judge or clerk, of a court of record in the county or district in which the land lies, or before any official of the classes named who resides in the land district, and is nearest and most accessible to the land, although he may reside out- side of the county in which the land is situated. Applicant must swear that he is personally acquainted with the character of the land by actual inspection ; that it is not mineral or saline; that it is not occupied; that applicant possesses the qual- ifications necessary for a home- stead entryman ; and that the en- try is made in good faith and not for the benefit of any person, cor- poration or syndicate. Applicant's affidavit must show that he is personally acquainted with the land by actual inspec- tion; that it is desert land; that it is not mineral or saline; that it is unoccupied ; and must state that he intends to reclaim it by irrigation within four years. Two witnesses, who must appear with him, must also swear that they are personally acquainted with the land. Additional and Second Entries Any person w r ho has received patent for less than 160 acres may file upon an amount of land equal to the difference, or less. By an act approved February 3, 1911, any person who, prior to the passage of the act has made entry under the homestead laws, but has lost, forfeited or aband- oned the same, unless his entry was canceled for fraud or relin- quished for a valuable considera- tion, in excess of the filing fees, shall be entitled to the benefits of the homestead law as though such former entry had not been made. Persons who commuted Any person who made entry prior to February 3, 1911, and subsequently has lost, forfeited, or abandoned his entry made un- der the desert land law shall be entitled to the benefit of the law as though former entry had not been made, except in cases where the former entry was assigned in whole or part, canceled for fraud or relinquished for a valuable consideration in excess of the fil- ing fees. Relinquishments and Assign- ments of Desert Entries A desert land entry may be re- HOMESTEAD ENTRY homestead entries prior to May 17, 1900, on lands to which they would have afterwards been en- titled without payment under the Free Homes Act, may also file a second homestead application. Commutation of Homestead En- tries All original, second and addi- tional homestead entries may be commuted, except where especi- ally forbidden by law. Continu- ous residence and cultivation for fourteen months or more entitles an entryman, or his widow, heirs or devisees, to obtain patent by paying the land office fees and $1.25 per acre outside the limits of railroad grants, and $2.50 within such limits, except for lands under statutes specifically requiring different payment. Requirements A homestead entryman is re- quired to establish residence upon the land within six months of the date of the allowance of his entry unless he is granted an extension of time by the Commissioner of the General Land Office. He is allowed one period of absence for not to exceed five months during DESERT LAND ENTRY linquished at any time by the party who has entered the same and when relinquishments are iilcd in the local land office the entries will be cancelled. Desert land may be assigned. Persons to whom land is assigned must possess qualifications required for entryman, never having previ- ously had an entry or any other assignment. Purchasers of relin- quishments of fraudulent filings or entries must understand they purchase at their own risk, and must seek remedies under local laws from those who have ob- tained their money without valu- able consideration. While it is one of the most generous laws, yet the desert land act has been conducive of more fraud probably than any other public land law, due largely to the credulity of the citizen filing on lands under this act. The history of the past ten years in the public land states shows that smooth-talking specu- lators and unscrupulous promot- ters have repeatedly organized ir- rigation schemes, and with a pretty map made by a crooked engineer, showing the possibili- ties of obtaining water, the hun- gry land seeker has been induced to part with his money for stock in the irrigation enterprise and then to make a desert land entry on lands under the project where there never was and never will be any possibility of securing the necessary water. of Final Proof Entryman is allowed four years from date of entry in which to complete reclamation of the land. During each of the first, second and third years he must have ex- pended at least one dollar per acre for improvements and re- clamation of the land, and at or before the end of each year he HOMESTEAD ENTRY each .year of the life of the entry; but must actually reside upon his land the balance of the time. Dur- ing the second year one-sixteenth of the area of the land entered must be cultivated to an agricul- tural or horticultural crop and during the third and each year thereafter until final proof is made, one-eighth of the land must be cultivated. Final proof may be made on the expiration of three years from the allowance of the entry but must be made within five years. A soldier or sailor who has served in the Civil, Spanish or Philippine wars, may after one year's residence and cultivation which must have begun within six months of date of entry, apply on the remainder of his three years the actual time of his nav- al or military service, or the en- tire time for which he enlisted where he has been discharged for wounds or disabilities received in the line of duty. But this time will not be allowed to exceed two years. Entryman must personally make final proof, or, in case of his death, it must be made by his widow heirs, or devisees. Notice of intention to prove up must be given by publication, in manner prescribed by law. Final proof may be made before any of the officers before enumerated, but preferably before the registrar or receiver. DESERT LAND ENTIV must have filed with the registn and receiver proof of such e penditure. With third yeai proof a map or plan should been filed. Annual and fin; proofs are made before any of t] officers enumerated under Entries Should Be Made." E: penditures may be for ditche] canals, dams, fences, roads, fin breaking of the soil, erectii barns, digging wells or in sto< or interest in an irrigating coi pany approved by the Secretai of the Interior, by which water furnished to irrigate the land. After notice of publication, manner prescribed by law, of ij tention to make final proof, cLaii ant with two witnesses must pear before any of the officei previously mentioned, and mal proof of the reclamation, cultiv; tion and improvement of the lan< Wherever possible, claimants ai advised to make proof before tl registrar or receiver, as prooi made before other officers ai frequently suspended for invest] gation by a special agent. Whei there has been unavoidable del; in the work of reclamation, entr man may be allowed three yeai additional before making fin; proof, upon application to tl commissioner of the Generj Land Office. Expenditures, Fees and Commissions Except where he commutes his entry, a homesteader pays noth- ing for his land. At time of en- try, fees and commissions pre- scribed by law amount to about $16 or $22, according to the amount of land. At time of mak- ing final proof the fees and com- missions will amount to about $11 to $15. In addition to the expenditu: of $1 per acre per year for thn years, entryman pays 25c p< acre upon filing, and $1 per aci upon making final proof. Th< are no fees and commissions cident to filing, and those at finj proof will be from $2.25 to $3.f Gaylord Bros. Makers Syracuse. N. Y. PAT. JAN. 21. I9U YC 26784 91834V THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO 5O CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.OO ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. JUN 11 OCT9