File:Letter, April 1921 page 3 (9b306bc2-148c-4ddb-82d1-9c4b8bb431e7).tif

Scanned image of form. See description for text.

I interviewed A.E. Young, who lived four miles northwest, and he stated that he does not know exactly how long claimant has lived on this land but that he has seen him there often during the final proof period. I also interviewed John Carson, of Roswell, New Mexico, one of the published witnesses, and he stated that he did not come to this section of the country until after claimant submitted his final proof. I also interviewed Samuel H. Bostick, Roswell, New Mexico, who lived 1 ½ miles south during the final proof period. He stated that he knows claimant lived on this land for 2 ½ years before he went to the Army; that he worked on the farms in the valley seven miles east a portion of the year but he always returned to his claim Saturday nights. Clinton Ragsdale and his son Ezel, Roswell, New Mexico, stated that claimant lived on his place all the time from the time he filed until he went to the Army, except that he worked in the valley seven miles east a portion of the year but he returned to his claim Saturday nights when thus employed; that claimant lived on the land more than seven months each year during the period between the time he filed and the date he entered the Army. The condition of the house at the time of my examination showed evidences of long occupancy. BONA FIDES: Claimant is a negro and filed on this place for the purpose of securing a home, but being unable to make a living on the land he found it necessary to work a portion of the year on the farms in the irrigated district nearby. He and his father have adjoining claims and they have made an attempt to farm this land but their efforts have been unsuccessful. There is no question but that this entry was made for the claimant’s sole use and benefit. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This land has not been cultivated, except one year the claimant disked in some feterita, but there was no crop result. Claimant has not filed an application for the reduction of the required area of cultivation, but in view of the conditions above -3- [stamp] CONFIDENTIAL NOT FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION

• Keywords: new mexico; durrand herron; homestead