Washington telegraph., 1851-06-18
Military Bounty Land--Pre-emptiouRights
GENERAL LAND Orrrcr, March 81, 1851.

GENERAL LAND OFrIcE, March 81, 1851.
In order that the liberal views OF Congress, in
passing the act of 18th September, 1850, granting
Bounty Land 10 certain officers and soldiers who
have been engaged in the military service of the
United States, may be carried out, and every
expense 10 the warrantees be avoided as far as
possible in obtaining the benefits granted by tao
gratitude Of their country for faithful and patriotic
services; and at the same time to secure to the
hardy aud enterpris,ng settlers on the public lands
the fruits of their industry and privatons; the
Secretary Of the Interior has directed:
That public notice be given TO all settlers on
public lands subject 10 private entry, TO for
ward and file their aeclaratofy statements, Within
thirty days after making their settlements and
improvements as required by The pre-emp;on act
Of 4t September, lS4l. SO as to secure their pre-
emption rights, and prevent interference by the
location Of these warrants.
And that all warrants nay be located upon the
land applied for, if subject 10 private entry on the
Sd March, 1851, without an affidavit as 10 whether
SAID land IS improved or mol; and attire having
been located, said warrants shall remain in the
hands Of the land officers at least forty days. IL
at the end Of thattme there is no interference bv
those locations with pre- -esnpten claims or other
wise. the warrants will be returned 10 this Office
for patenting; but If there is such interference
new location will be made.
WarraDtees can locate their warrants on their
own pre-empton rights where the land was pro-
claimed and offered at public sale prior 70 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 y 20 per acre. No pre-emption rights attach
10 the aAereate sections reserved 10 the United
States a'ongahe routes Of railroads or canals.
where application is made te this office ny the
warrantee 10 lecate the warrant, the applicant
should designate the laad distric, section eli coua-
Try, or particular ract on which he wishes the
location made; and where the tract is specified. IL
would be well to designate several others in the
order 10 which they are desired, that In case the
tract first selected shall have been taken. the
warrant can be located rpon the first of the otbers
which may be vacant WITHOUT further delay. In
these cases The affidavit of the applicant, taken
before an officer competen, TO administer oats,s,
that Ire is tbe identical lerson mentioned in the
warrant, must accompany tie application. The
same rules must be complied with where appli
cation by letter is made he district land officers
"here such application is made by the attorney
guardian, executor, &c, the evidence duly certi-
he'd, oil their authority to act, also accompany
the application.
by clause LIST secton of The act making
appropriations for the support of the Government
ior 'ae hscal year ending 30th June, 1852, ap-
proved Sd March, 1851, it is enacted that no
warrant for bounty land issued under The act of
2eth September, 1850, or by virtue Of aav other
act of Congress, shall be located on say land
which had not heretofore been brought into mar
ket and then subject to private entry; so that no
land can be located under the bounty land law
OF 2Sth September, 1850, or any es.eer law grant
ing bounty land, except that which had been pro-
claimed and offered for sale prior to the Sd OF
March, 1851.
J. BUTTERFIELD, Commissioner.