The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-05
MILITARY BOUNTY LAND-PRE-EMP-
""'fe TfON RIGHTS.
GENERAL LAND OrFIoE. March 81.

GENERAL LAND OFFICE, March 81. 1851.
IN 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 warranees be avoided as far as posi-
BILE in obtaining the benefits granted by the graft
tude Of their country for faithful and patriotic
vccs and at the same time, TO secure to the hardy
and cnterprising settlers on the public lands the
fruits Of their industry and privations, the Sccre
tary of the Interior has directed: EsCGnlg e1eGl
That public notice be given to all settlers on
public lands subjeott to private entry to come for
ward and file their dccaratory statements, within
thirty days after making their settlements and i'm
provements as required by the pre- emption act Of
ith September, lS4l, 80 as to pre- emp
ton rights and prevent interference by the location
Of these warrants.
y "A nd that all warrants may be located upon the
land applied for, if subject to private entry the
Sd March, 1851, without an affidavit to whether
said land is improved or not; and after having been
30 located said warrants shall remain in the hands
of the land officers at least forty days If at the
end of that time there ia interference by those
locations with prescription claims otherwise, the
warrants will be returned to this office for patent
ing; but If there is such interference, new loca'
ton will be made.
Warraptces can locate their warrants on their
own pre-emption rights where the land was pro-
claimed and offered at public sale prior to 3d
March, 1851; and where the minimum price of the
land is more than one 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 81 % per
acre. No pre-emption rights attach to tho alter
nate sections reserved to the United States along
the routes Of railroads or canals.
Where application is made to this office by the
warrantee to locate the warrant, the applicant
should designate the land district, section OF coun
try, or particular tract on which he wishes the
location made; and, where the tract is specified, it
would be we'll to designate several others in the
order in which they are desired, that in case the
tract first selected shall have been taken, the
rant can be located upon tho first of thesothers
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 the application. The
same rules must be complied with where applioa-
ton by letter is 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. tr,e
By clause in LIST section of the act making ap.
preparations for the support of the Government for
the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, approved
Sd March, 1851, it ia enacted that no warrant for
bounty land issucd under the act of 2Sth Septem-
ber, 1850, or by virtue Of any other act of Con-
gross, shall be located on any land which had no,
heretofore been brought into market and then sub
ject to private entryj that land can 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 sale prior to the Sd Of March, 1851.
9y lfaNel ~ J. BUTTERFIELD,
Apr l1--1aw6w Hth Commissioner.