Washington telegraph., 1851-05-21
Military bounty Land--Pre-emption Rights

GENERAL LAND OFFICE, March 81, 1851.
In order that tire liberal views o: Congress, in
passing the act of 2Sth September, 1850, granting
Bounty Land TO certain officers aud soldiers who
have been engaged in the military service of tho
United States, may be carried out, and every
expense to the warrantees be avoided far as
possible in obtaining the benefits granted by tho
gratitude of their country for fathful and patriotic
services; and at the same time to secure to the
hardy aud enerpris,ng settlers on the public lands
the fruits of their industry and privations; tho
Secretary Of the Interior has directed:
That public notice be given to all settlers on
public lands subeo, TO private entry, to come for
ward and file their 6eclaratory statements, within
thirty days after making their settlements and
improvements required by the pre- -emp,ou act
of 4th september, lS4i SO to secure their pre-
emption rights, and prevent interference by tho
location Of these warrants.
And that all warrants may be located upon the
land applied for, ii, subject TO private entry on, tho
Sd March, 1851, without an affidavit TO whether
said land is improved or not; and attire having
been so located said warrants shall remain in the
hands of the land officers at least forty days. Ii
al the end of that time there is interference by
those locations with pre-emption claims othsr-
wise, the warrants will be returned to this Office
for patentng; hut if there is such Interference a
new location will be made.
Warrantees can locate their warrants on their
own presumption 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 one dollar and twenty-fivu
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 - 20 per acre. No pre-emption rights attach
10 the alternate sections reserved to the United
States along the rentes OF railroads or canals
where Application ismade TO this Office by the
warraiItee TO locate The warrant, the applicant
should designate the land dn,rct, section of coun-
try, or particular tract on which he wishes the
location made; and where the tract is specified IL
would be we'll TO designate several Others in tho
order in which they are desired, that in case the
tract first selected shall have been taken. the
warrant can be located upon the first of The Others
which may be vacant without further DELAY In
these cases the affidavit of the applicant, taken
before an officer competent to administer .oaths
that Ire is the Identical lerson mentioned in tho
warrant, must accompany the application. The
same rules must be complied with where uppli-
cation by letter is made TO the district land officers
Where such application is made by the attorney.
guardian, executor, Xc., the evidence duly 'certf-
fed, of their authorty,o TO act. must also accompany
the application.
by clause IN LIST section of the act making
appropriations for the support Of the Government
for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1859, ap-
proved Sd March, 1851, it is enacted that no
warrant for bounty land issued under the act of
2Sth September, 1850, or by virtue of Inv other
act of Congress, shall be located on any 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
oil 2Sth September, 1850, any other law grant
ing bounty land, except that which had been pro-
claimed aud offered for sale prior to the Sd OF
March, 1851.
}. BUTTERFIELD, Commissioner.