Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-07-26
COALMAN d. BENNETT
HOMESTEAD AND GRADUATION BILL.
from the washington Io,.I,i.on,o. I,T,.

lFIoin tue washington lntelligencer, July 90.
After several weeks discussion the Senate Yesterday
relieved ITSELF for tbs present. Of these great questions
concerning the public lands by passing bill containing
three important principles, will be seen by the suboin
ed synopsis of the BILL which has yet to receive the sane
ton Of the House OF Representatives. Under the pre-
emption clause, 1t will be Observed that the States in
which the lands lie can enter them ALL or any particular
class OF them, at the graduated prices.
sTSorss o. Ing nILl.
The first section provides that the minimum prices If
the public lands Of the United States shall be reduced AZ
ter the frat of July, 1885, aud sold according to the fol-
loving scale FOR lands which shall have bee oGarod a.
public sale and remained unsold five years one dollar per
acre for lands which shall have been offered NJ nubIi
sale and remain unsOd years soyenty Eve cen,s an
for lands which shall have been offered a, nnbIic
sale aud remain unsold fifteen years. fifty cents an acre
for lands which have been offered for public sale and re-
main unsod twenty years. twenty-five cents an acre and
for lands which shall have been offered at public sale and
remain unsod thirty years, twelve and half cents an
acre. provided That the graduating process from fly
Gently TO twenty live cents acre. shall not take place
until the lands In the fifty cent class shall have been or
posed to sale for period Of least two years At The
price OF fifty cents per acre. after which the price of the
suid lands shall be reduced 10 twenty-five cents per
aero.
The second section provides that whenever a State
shall desire TO acquire pre- empon right to all tho
ands % all the ands Of any certain class and price
within IL borders, for other purposes than railroad or
canal and signifies the to the President of the Uni
ted States by Of It's legislature they shall be grant
cd on the following terms That said State NAV fix the
price Of said lands above that prescribed in the first
ton Of this act reseying the TO itself; provided
chat tho title shall pass u the Purchaser until ne bas
paid the price HEed 10 tho said first to the Unted
States aud that the lands shall be subject TO the same
legal subdivisions IN the sale and survey az are now
Yded by law and provided further, that any State which
shall accept Tho provision Of this ac shall pre- snn
any lands under H. shall take them in full of the five per
cent fund thereafter 70 become due FROM the proceed NJ
said lands. But any State accepting the proyi.ons of
This and the preceding spelon sha akp the nJs AZ to
price liked Tor each particular cass aud no auds shall be
sold by them for twenty-five cents an acre until tbcv
shall have been previously subject to entry through
period Of two years at the price Of fifty cents per acre to
be paid % the United States ~ "
The third section provides that whenever State shall
charter railroad canal 70 run through the lands Of
the United Sos aud such State shall ccept the benefit
OF tue provisions hereinafter prescribed b. an act TO be
passed at general session Of il Legislature upon due
notice being given Of the fact the aecteary Of the In
terror, IL shall be his duty apart, Of the public
lands seven thound six hundred and eighty acres Der
mile OF railroad canal within twelve miles on each
SIDE and as the route Of such railroad canal as
possible and the shall be withdrawn from sale or
entry by public adYersement Of the Secretary Of the In
terror except In the and fora hereinafter pre-
sctibed The price Of these aods shall no dollar per
for those which have not yet been offered public
sale, or for those which have been subject to private on