On reading Mr. Blanchard’s account of the work of reclaiming the desert for the people, the natural question that arises in the reader’s mind is, “How does one get a government farm and what are the expenses involved?” Anticipating this question, I obtained information from Mr. Blanchard in reply to it. Getting a farm is comparatively a simple proposition. Making good on it is quite another matter. In the first instance, the Government has made the way easy and inexpensive. Any citizen of the United States who has not used his homestead right is qualified to make a filing on any surveyed public lands not withdrawn from entry.
The procedure is about as follows. After a personal inspection of the vacant land desired for a home, the homeseeker makes application to the proper local Land Office or Land Commissioner and deposits filing fees of $8 for an 80-acre or $16 for a 160-acre tract. If the entry is made on an irrigation project, usually he must pay, in addition to the above, five per cent of the building charge, and, when due, the annual charge for operation and maintenance. On the projects containing lands now open to entry, the building charge ranges from $30 to $75 per acre, and is payable in twenty years without interest. The charge for operation and maintenance averages about $1.50 per acre, and is payable annually. This charge will vary on the different projects and according to the amount of water used. Summing up the initial cost of obtaining a Government irrigated farm of 40 acres, the settler will find it necessary to expend $6.50 for filing fees; if the construction charge is $50 per acre, he will pay $100 for the first instalment and, when due, about $60 for the operation and maintenance assessment—a total of approximately $166.50.
In the second, third, fourth and fifth years following, the only payments required are the annual charges for operation and maintenance, about $60. Thus in five years the settler is obliged to pay to the Government approximately $406.50.
The balance of the unpaid construction charges are payable in fifteen annual instalments, beginning on December 1 of the fifth year, the first five of which are each 5 per cent and the remaining ten 7 per cent of the construction charge, without interest for the deferred payments.
The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to require the reclamation for agricultural purposes and the cultivation of one-fourth of the irrigable area within three full irrigation seasons, and of one-half of the irrigable area within five full seasons. Actual residence, covering a period of three years, is obligatory.
On the basis of a construction charge of $50 per acre, and an annual operation and maintenance charge of $1.50 per acre, the entire investment of the settler at the end of the twenty years’ term will be as follows:
| Filing fees | $6.50 |
| Construction charges | 2,000.00 |
| Operation assessments | 1,700.00 |
| ———— | |
| Total | $3,706.50 |
For a farm on public lands outside of an irrigation project the only payment required is the filing fee at the time of entry.