99

FILED 3/31 9018
WJ Estes
City Secretary

Verity Pet
FtW Lt & P Co

INFORMATION FOR HOMESTEADERS.

Des Moines is located at the highest point on the Colorado and Southern R.R., and is an admirable place for invest-
ment in town property as well as being in the center of a fine tract of government land open for Homesteads. There are
two railroads in operation thru the town, one more graded, and another surveyed, thereby assuring a city of 5000 or more
inhabitants inside of two years. Although the land has an altitude of over 6000 feet. Water is obtained in abundance at
depths varying frm 60 to 150 feet. Corps of all kinds are raised profitably by dry farming and whree irrigation is prac-
ticable immense results are obtained.

In these days when the government has very little available for homestead purposes, it is necessary for a person to
act promptly if he desires to obtain a tract of land by homesteading. We are particularly fortunate in being able to locate
parties quite close to the town and railroads.

We survey all calims on which we locate claimants, (unless otherwise requested) thereby assuring them against mistakes
of being shown wrong corners and wrong lines as frequently occurs without surveying.

When you come to Des Moines, be sure to inquire for Jas. M. Verity, at the Central Hotel.

EXTRACTS FROM LAWS GOVERNING HOMESTEADS:

HOMESTEAD- All men and single women, over 21 years old, wid-
ows, deserted wives and persons under the age of 21 years, who
are the heads of a family, who ar enot the owner of more than 160
acres of land, and who are citizens or have declared their intention
to become citizens of the United States, are qualified to make a
homestead entry.

On all homestead entries, made since July 26, 1894, final proof
should be made within seven years afterr the date of the entry, or it
may be canceled. Proof may be had at any time after five years
and before cancelation of the entry.

After fourteen months from the date of settlement the homestead
claimant, if he has rasided upon, improved and cultivated his claim
during that time, can make commutation proof and pay for the
land at $1.25 per acre.

The Homestead claimant is required to settle upon and begin to
improve his claim within six months from date of filing.

Soldiers who served in the war of the Rebelion of the Spanish or
the Philippine war are entitled to have the time of their service,
not exceeding four years, counted as residence on the land.

If a homestead claimant dies the land goes to his widow, if he
leave one. If not, to his heirs. Neither the widow or heirs are
required to live on the land, but they must keep up the cultivation
and improvements.

The widow of a deceased soldier who never used his homestead
right can make a soldier's homestead, but is required to personally
reside on the land. She must examine the land before making
her entry and must afterwards improve and cultivate it for at least
one year.

If the widow of such decesased soldier is dead of has remarried,
his minor children, through a guardian, can make a soldier's home-
stead entry.

A single woman or widow, who has made a homestead entry, can
marry without forfeiting her claim, if she continues to complu with
the law as to residence.

Abandonment or a charge of residence from a homestead for six
months or more, at any time, leaves it liable to contest, unless a
leave of absense has been obtained.

When final proof is made after five years' residence, or its equi-
alent in case of a soldier, no payment is required for the land. On-
ly land office fees and charge for advertising will be called for.

Desert land entries can be assigned by any qualified person who
has never made of held an entry, and the assignee can comply with
the law and make the final proof.

To make a lawful entry on any kind, the settler must have been
on the land he seeks to enter, so as to be able to swear to its non-
mineral character.

The Land Offices fees on Homestead entry are $16.00. The office
for this district is located at Clayton, and a U. S. Court
Commissioner comes to Des Moines on call to make filing papers
thus obviating an extra trip to Clayton, for the purpose. His fees
are $3.00.

DESERT LAND - Every qualified person, a resident in the state of
which the land is situatedd, may enter 320 acres or less, of surveyed
or unsurveyed Desert land that can be reclaimed by irrigation.
Desert land is held to be land without a growth of natural timber,
on which orfinary crops will not grow and mature without irrigation.

A married woman can make a Desert land entry, if it is for her
own use and make with her own money. The settler must pay .25
cents an acre when the entry is made. He must expend not less
than one dollar per acre each year, for three years, in procuring wa-
ter for irrigation and in permanent improvements and must culti
vate one-eighth of the land entered.

Before the expiration of each year, after the date of the entry,
the entryman must file in the land office a corroborated sworn
statement shwoing how the $1 per acre has been expended. A fail-
ure to file this statement, within the time specified, is good grounds
for contest.

Within four years of the date of his entry the claimant must prove
its reclamation and pay a further goverment fee of one dollar per
here.

All inquiries cheerfully answered.

Address- JAS. M. VERITY,
With COX & CORY.
Des Moines, New Mexico