The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-01-04
~ CONGRESSIONAL.
NOTICES OF Butts.


Washington, Dec. 10.
NOTICES OF BlLLs.
By Mr.. RICE: A bill making an appropria-
ton fol removing distractions 10 navigation IN
the minnesota river. /
Also, bill, making an Appropriation for re-
moving distractions to navigation in the Mis-.
sissippi river, between Fort Smelling and, the
Falls OF ST. Anthony.
A'se, bill granting aid to certain counties
in Minnesota Territory.
Also, bill making appropriation for con-
siruciny certain roads in Minnesota.
Alsu, bill establishing additional land dis
tric,s in said Territory 1
BY Mr. HEM: A bill to provide for the
more etfecnal improvement Of the Des Moines
AMI Rock RIVER Rapids in the Mississippi
rive.
selections.
On yesterday Mr.. Hen n introduced the fol.
lowing bill; which was read twice and referred
.othe Committee on Public Lands.
bill tn grant homestead to settlers on the
public lands, and to provide for their sale to
actua, Tiers only.
SEC Be !, enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives. of the United States
IF .4msrica in Congress assembled, That any
person, who is the head Of family, and ci
iizen Of the u nted States, who is the head Of
family, and who has, prior to the first day Of
December, 1853, declared his intention to be-
come citizen'ef The United States, shall be
entitled to settle upon and locate, free of cost
one hundred and sixty acres Of the public land,
nlegal subdivisions after the same shall have
been surveyed by the authority IF the United
States-not includ ng ny land that may have
been, or shall hereafter be, selected and occu-
pied as a town site, or which shall have been or
may be reserved for military or other purposes.
SEC. 2. find be ii further enacted, Tha, any
person who may desire to apply for the benefit
Of this act, upon application to the register of
The proper land office, and upon making affida-
Wit before said register, that he or she Is the
head Of the family, and citizen of the United
States. or (as the case may beg has declared
his or her intention to become citizen, prior
to the LIST day Of December, 1858, according 10
the naturalization laws of the United States,
shall receive from such register certificate ut
right to locate such tract, or tracts, as he or
she NAV designate, not exceeding one hundred
and sixty acres, and not to irclude any tract
before selected by another under this act; which
certificate shall enti,le the person in whose
name it is issued, to enter upon, and settle the
land 81 designated, and to improve the same.
SEC. 3 Had be IL further enacted, That it
at any time within one year after the date of
said application, such person shall prove to the
satisfaction Of the register of said land Office,
that he or she has settled, and erected dwell
ling-house on any part OF said land, and that
he or she then resides on the same, he or she
shall receive second certificate, which shall
entitIe such person to the right of possession
and occupancy for the term of FIVE years, from
and after the date of the first certificate; bu,
on failure 10 make such proof within one year
from the date of the application or first certf-
nafo he LAM cd far IN no
United States, and be subject to the application
and settlement of any ether person who may
apply under this act, or to entry into the man.
ner hereinafter provided, and the certificate
first issued shall be void and Of no effect.
SEC a. .dad be Il further enacted. That any
person who has received the two certificates
mentioned in the second and third sections OF
this act, shall, after the next expiration Of FIVE
years from the dite of the first application, be
entitled to receive patent for the land men.
toned in said certificates, upon making proof
satisfactory to the register aud receiver Of the
proper land office, by two credible aud disinter.
ested witnesses, that he or she has continued 10
reside upon and cultivate said land since the
date of said second certificate, and still. resides
upon the same, aud that he or she is citizen
Of the United States; and shall make affidavit
that he or she has not sold, or in any manner,
directly or indirectly, disposed of said land or
any interest he or she may or might have in
the same; which proof and affidavit, together
with duplicates of both certificates, shall be
transmitted to the Commissioner OF the General
Land offire, and he shall thereupon issue to the
claimant patent for the land.
SIC. 5. And be it further enacted, That in
case Of the death of the applicant alter the is
sue of The first certificate, as provided for In
the second section Of this act, the widow and
minor children, or if there be neither, then the
heirs or devisccs shall have the right to carry
out and complete such settlement; and a cerii.
cate and patent shall issue to them accordingly
Provided, That in case of infant children be.
coming the sole survivors in the settlement, the
guardian Of such children may, upon being au-
thorized by the proper court, sell the interest
Of said minors, but for no other purpose; and
the purchaser shall be entitled to all the rights
and privileges that might accrue to the first ap
plicant, and patent shall issue to the purchaser
as the assignee.
SEC. &. .4nd be ii further enacted, That the
register of the land Office shall note all appca-
tons under this act the plals and tract books
in his Office, and shall keep registry Of suci,
applications, in y hich shall be se<eratiy noted
the number Of the application, The description
of the land applied tor, the dates OF the first
and second certificates, and of the final proof,
an abstract from which, together with all the
affidivits and proofs filed, shall be transmitted,
monthly, to the Commissioner of The General
Land Office; and the snid Commissioner and
the Secretary Of the Interior shall severally
have the same supervisory power in carrying
into effect this act, as they now have under the
several preenlpton laws of the United States
SEc.7. Aud be ii further enacted. Thst all
lands acquired under Or by Write Of This act
shall, in no event, becnme liable to the salts
faction of any debt or debts contracted by the
IL. 80
or heirs, prior to the issue Of the patent there
for.
SIC. 8. fad be il further enacted, That no
individual shall be permitted to make more than
one application or location under this act and
the Commissioner Of the General Land Office
shall prescribe such rules and regulations con
sistent with this act as shall be necessary 10
carry its provisions into effect.
SEc. 8. find be 1t further enacted, That at
the time of making application under this act,
and also at the time of making final proof, the
applicant shall pay to the register and receiver,
for their compensation, at the rate Of fifty cents
for each forty-acre tract applied for, one half
of which shall be paid to each.
SEC. 10. find be 1t further enacted, That
hereafter the sales of the public lands, and the
location Of military bounty land warrants, Tex
cePt by the soldiers who served, or their heirs }
shall be limited 10 actual settlers and cul,iva,ors
of the soil; and no person who is the owner in
fee Of three hundred and twenty acres Of land
in any State or Territory of the United States,
shall be capable Of acquiring title by entry or
location of any Of the public lands subject to
sale At the minimum price Of one dollar and
twenty-five cents per acre.
SEC. IL. find be it further enacted, That
any person swearing falsely under the provisions
of this act, or any regulation made by the Com
missioner Of the General Land Office for carry
ing it into effect, shall be guilty Of perjury and
he subject to all the pains and penalties thereof;
and upon conviction of any applicant Of fraud
or false swearing under this act, by competent
tribunal, within two years after the date of the
patent shall issue, either on location or entry
undder this act, the Commissioner Of the Gen.
md s,,c 81 T.