Much of the land in Western Canada was disposed of by the Crown in the form of homesteads. The survey crews came in ahead and sub-divided the land into blocks six miles square called ‘Townships’. Each of these was again divided into 36 sections which were then divided into quarter sections. Most quarter sections contained 160 acres except those on correction lines.
Road allowances were surveyed a mile apart running north to south and two miles apart running east to west. This ensured that every quarter had a road allowance on at least one side.
When settlement got underway all of the land was held in trust by the Dominion Land’s Office. To apply you were supposed to be at least 18 years old, although you were rarely asked to prove it. Either a single man or woman could file but in the case of a married couple only the “head of the household” could. This rule was later changed.
One could try any number of consecutive claims until one was “proved up’ or a title granted. It cost $10 for a filing fee and one was obliged to build a “habitable” house on the claim. A lot of leeway was given in the strict definition of the term and homes varied from caves in the side of a hill to sod houses., log cabins and frame houses. Some even built in field stone or brick. You were asked to live in your homestead for 6 months of each year for the first three years and to have cultivated thirty acres of land. This was another requirement that was not strictly enforced.
If you required an extension to be away to earn the required funds to continue it was usually granted. The cultivating of 30 acres was quite often reduced when taking into consideration the removal of the tree cover prior to being able to cultivate. A minimum of three years and a maximum of five was allowed before applying for the title to the land. Extensions were easily given if the inspector felt there was a good reason for the delay. There was one last stipulation before you could have title. You needed to become a British Subject, the equivalent of today’s Canadian Citizenship.
In 1930 when the Federal Government transferred the natural resources to the provinces, Alberta took over the homestead administration. The rules had slight alterations but were essentially the same, Much of the good land was already taken and the provincial government later removed the right to homestead and replaced it with a rental system. Payment was based on a percentage of crops. After a certain length of time the lessee could apply to buy the land for a nominal price.
Mr. Doran, the Provincial Land Agent in Athabasca , informed Mr. and Mrs. C Olson that theirs was the last homestead issued as such in the province of Alberta. From that point forward all lands would be acquired by agricultural lease.