CLAIMS. 13 



Affidavits and statements will be treated as confidential and will 

 Affidavits and no ^ ^ e P r duced a ^ a hearing or at any other time 

 statements confi- unless the witness on the stand departs from the 

 dential. statements formerly made. 



Forest officers who administer oaths must verify 

 ing oaths * S * C * ^ ie s ig na ^ ure f the witness at the time of securing 



an affidavit or written statement. 



Since witnesses are called upon to testify in great detail, Forest 

 officers should carefully note all facts in their note- 

 book 6 in hear- ^^ s a ^ the time of the examination or of their occur- 

 ing s . rence, and they may testify from such memoranda 



at the hearing. Only original notes can be used by 

 a witness at the hearing to refresh his memory. 



If the land involved in any claim to which title is sought from the 

 United States is available and apparently held as a res- 

 claims 1 ' covering ervc * r or P ower site, it should be reported with details 

 reservoir or power as ^ ^ ne dimensions and construction of the dam, area 

 sites. of watershed and of reservoir, and volume and fall of 



water controlled by the site, and particularly as to the 

 interests proposed to be served by such reservoir or power site and 

 respecting the movements and operations of the claimant. 



In order to have complete information at hand regarding all home- 

 stead claims on the Forests, it is important that a rec- 

 Correct r e c - or j k e ^- e p t by th e district ranger of the condition of 

 Sn h^mTstead ail . unpatented homestead claims in the district. If 

 claims. this information is compiled from time to time it will 



not be necessary to depend entirely upon the state- 

 ments of settlers and local residents when formal reports are called 

 for. Information so obtained should be filed separately by cases in 

 the rangers' files. Supervisors should keep district rangers informed 

 of the location of all claims of this character. When possible, an 

 annual report should be made by the district ranger on each unper- 

 fected homestead entry in his district. This report should be placed in 

 the supervisor's files and should not be forwarded to the district forester. 

 Reports should include material facts and give specific dates regarding 

 residence and improvements and should also include the names and 

 addresses of witnesses who are familiar with the facts. 



What consti- A re port n a homestead claim will be considered 

 tutes a favorable favorable when it shows that the claim is apparently 

 report on a home- held in good faith and in accordance with the terms 

 stead claim. o f h e law under which it is asserted. 



A preliminary report on a mining claim will be considered favorable 



when it shows (a) that the claim is apparently held in 



What consti- good faith for the purposes authorized by law; (b) 



^relimlnar 701 *!? ^ na ^ ^ ie ex P en diture has been made on the improve- 



por/on^'mining m ent work as required by law; and (c) that the issu- 



claim. ance of patent will not prejudice the interests of the 



United States. 



A report upon an agricultural claim will contain a recommendation 



whether or not proceedings should be instituted 



Recommeiida - a g a i ns t the claim to determine its validity or whether 



claims? ' the claim should be patented. No recommendation 



report upon 



for or against patenting will be made in a preliminary 

 a mineral claim. In the case of an unfavorable report by 



