The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-07
MILITARY BOUNTY LAND-PRE-EMP-
TION RIGHTS.

GENERAL LAND OFFICE. March 81, 1851.
TN ORDER that the liberal views Of Congress, in
Il passing the act of 2Sth September, 1850, grant
ing bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who
| have been engaged in the military service of the
| United States, may be carried OUT and every cx-
pcnsc to the warrantecs be avoided far posi-
bic in obtaining the benefits granted by the graft
tude OF their country for faithful and patriotic SER
vices and at the same time, to secure to the hardy
and enterprising settlers on the public lands the
fruits Of their industry and privations, the Sccre-
| tary Of the Interior has directed:
| That public notice be given to all settlers on
public lands subject to private entry to come for
ward and file their declarutory statements, within
thirty days after making their settlements and im-
provcments required by the pre-. .emption act oi
4h September, lS4l, as to secure their pre- emp
tion rights and prevent interference by the location
of these warrants.
And that all warrants may be located upon the
land applied for, il subject to private entry the
Sd March, 1851, without affidavit as to whether
said land is improved or not and after having been
located, said warrants shall remain in the hands
of the land officers ut least forty days. Ii at the
end of that time there is interference by those
locations with pre-cmpton claims or otherwise the
warrants will be returned to this Office for patent
ing; but If there is such interference, new loca
ton will be made.
Warra ntces can locate their warrants on their
own pre-emption rights where the land was pro-
claimed and offered at public sale prior to Sd
March, 1851; and where the minimum price of the
land is more than dollar and twenty five cents
per acre, can pay in cash the difference between
the cost of the land and the amount covered by the
warrant, estimating the warrant at ST. 25 per
acre. No pre- cmpton rights attach to the alter
nate sections reserved to the United States along
the routes of railroads canals
Where application is made to this Office by the
warranted to locate the warrant, the applicant
should designate the land district section Of coun-
try, or particular tract which he wishes the
location made; and, where the tract is specified, it
would be well to designate several others in the
order in which they desired, that in case the
tract first selected shall have been taken, the
rant be located upon the first Of thcsothcrs
which may be vacant without further delay. In
these cases the affidavit of the applicant, taken
before an officer competent to administer oaths,
that he is the Identical person mentioned in the
warrant, must accompany tho application. The
same rules must be complied with where applica-
ton by letter ia made to the district land officers.
Where such application is made by the attorney,
guardian, executor, &C., the evidence duly certi-
fed, Of their authority to act must also accompany
the application
by a clause in lat section of the act making ap.
propriations for the support of the Government for
the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, approved
Sd March, 1851 it is enacted that no warrant for
bounty land issued under the act OF 2Sth Septem-
Der, 1850, or by virtue Of any other act of Con-
gross, shall be located any land which had not
heretofore been brought into market and then sub
jcct TO private entry; that land be located
under the Bounty Land law Of 2Sth September,
1850, any other law granting bounty land,
except that which had been proclaimed and offered
for salc prior to the 3D. Of March, 1851.
J. BUTTERFIELD,
Apr ll--law6w Commissioner.