444 BUFFALO LAND. 



The law allows but one homestead privilege. A settler who 

 relinquished or abandoned his claim can not hereafter make a 

 second entry. 



"When a party has made a settlement on a surveyed tract of 

 land, and filed his pre-emption declaration thereof, he may 

 change his filing into a homestead. 



If a homestead settler does not wish to remain five years on 

 his tract, the law permits him to pay for it with cash or mili- 

 tary warrants, upon making proof of residence and cultivation 

 as required in pre-emption cases. The proof is made by the 

 affidavit of the party and the testimony of two credible wit- 

 nesses. 



There is another class of homesteads, designated as " Ad- 

 joining Farm Homesteads." In these cases, the law allows an 

 applicant owning and residing on an original farm, to enter 



other land contiguous thereto, which shall not, with such farm, 







exceed in the aggregate 160 acres. For example, a party own- 

 ing or occupying 80 acres, may enter 80 additional of $1.25, or 

 40 acres of $2.50 land. Or, if the applicant owns 40 acres, he 

 may enter 120 at $1.25, or 60 at $2.50 per acre, if both 

 classes of land should be found contiguous to his original 

 farm. In entries of " Adjoining Farms," the settler must de- 

 scribe in his affidavit the tract he owns and lives upon, as his 

 original farm. Actual residence on the tract entered as an 

 'adjoining farm" is not required, but bona fide improvement 

 and cultivation of it must be shown for five years. 



The right to a tract of land under the Homestead Act, com- 

 mences from the date of entry in the Land Office, and not from 

 date of personal settlement, as in case of the pre-emption. 



When a party makes an entry under the Homestead Act, and 

 thereafter, before the expiration of five years, makes satis- 



