Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-06-16
Approved, March 8, 1s47.
Ip1rRIIc No. 81

PUBLIC, No. "a.
AN ACT to create an additional land district II
the Territory of Wisconsin, and for Other
purposes.
fSEc. IL Be it enacted by the Senate anc
House Of REPRESENTATIVES of the United States o.
America in Congress assembled, That all thai
portion of the public lands lying within the Ter
ritory Of Wisconsin, north and west OF the follow
ing boundary, to wit: Commencing at the Mis-.
siSsippi river on the line between townships
twenty-five and twent-thrse north, running
thence east along said line to the fourth princi.
pal meridian, thence north along said meridian
line to the line dividing townships twen'y-nine
and thirty, thence east along said township line
TO the Wisconsin river, thence up the main chan
mel of said river to the boundary line between
the State of Michigan and the Territory of Wis
,consin, shall form land district to be called
the Chippewa land district; and for the sale OF
the lands in said district a land office shall be
established at such place therein as the Presi-
dent of the United States may select
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the
Secretary of the Treasury shall cause geologi.
cal examination and survey of the land embrac-
ed in said district to be made and reported to
the Commissioner Of the General Land Office
And the President is hereby authorized 10 cause
such Of said land as may contain copper, lead, or
other valuable ores, to be exposed to sale, CIV
Ing SIX months notice of the times anG places of
sales in such newspapers of genearl circulation
in the several States as he may deem eypedient,
with brief description of the lands to be offer
ed; showing the number and localities of the
mines known, the probability of discovering
others, the quality Of the ores, the facilities Of
working the mines, and the means and expense
of Transporting their products to the principal
embraced in said district, not reported as afore-
said, shall be sold in the same manner as other
lands under the laws now in force for the sale Of
the public lands, excepting and reserving from
such sales section sixteen in each township for
the use OF schools, and such reservations as the
President shall deem necessary for public uses.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That
every person or persons who shall be in posses
sion, 0y actual occupancy, Of any mine or mines,
actually discovered previous to the passage
OF thus act, and who shall pay the same rents
ry Of War, and which rents ACQUIRING from such
occupants and lessess shall be paid and deliver
60 70 such officer of the Government as the Sec
Rotary Of the Treasury shall be entitled to pur-
chase the lands on which the same is or are Stu,
ated at any time prior to the day of sale fixed by
the President, in legal subdivisions, not exceeding
IN the aggregate one hundred and sixty acres,
70 TI laciude such mine or mines, paying to the
On'Ied States therefor at the rate Of five dollars
Pei ;n a.,e: provided, That, prior to any entry
oeing made under the provisions Of this section.
PROOF O possession and occupancy as aforesaid
o. tne mine or mines claimed shall be made to
the register and receiver Of the land district 10.
getheI with u the evidence Of the payment Of all
as may be prescribed by the Secretary Of The
Treasury tor that purpose, which re~;ste a. and
receiver shall each be entitled 10 receive one
dollar Tor bis services therein: Provided. That
an appeal from the decision of the register and
receiver to the Secretary Of the Treasury NAV be
nao, under such regulations as the said secreta-
~ may prescribe. And if two or more persons
are IN possession Of the same quarter section
.ne nrst occupant shall be entitled to prefer,
enc. unless the same can be so divided bg legal
SUBDIVISIONS as to give to each the discovery
pc. 8. And De it further enacted, That the
sa,d mineral lands shall be offered for sale in
subdivisions quarter-quarter sections. and no