Washington sentinel., 1854-07-23
The Homestead Bill.-Mr. Hunters substi-
tutc.

Tiers, TO graduate the price Of the public lands,
and for other purposes.
BE it snactad By tie Senate and House Of Rspys-
seafafiu<s of tie Uaitfd States of Amsyica an Con.
gress assembled, That the minimum price OF the
public lands OF the United States shall remain un-
changed until the commencement OF the fiscal year,
beginning July first, eighteen hundred and fifty
five, but after that period the price shall be reduced
according 10 the following scale All lands which
shall have been offered al public sale, and
naming unsold five years, shall be reduced TO the
price of one dollar per acre all lands which shall
have been offered al public sale, and remaining
unsold ten years, shall be reduced TO seventy five
cents an acre and all lands which shall have been
offered at public sale, and remaining unsold fifteen
years, shall be sold at ify cents an acre and all
lands which shall have been offered at public sale,
and remaining unsold twenty years, shall there
after be reduced TO price Of twenty-five cents an
acre and all lands which shall have been offered
at public sale and shall remain unsold thirty years
thereafter, shall bo reduced TO price of twelve
and-a-half cents acre; Provided, That the gra.
duating process, from fifty cents, 10 twenty-five
cents acre. shall not take place until the lands
in the fifty cent class shall have been exposed to
sale for period of al least two years, at The price
Of iity cents per acre; after which the price OF
the said lands shall be reduced 10 twenty-fye
cents per acre.
Sec. 2. yAnd be IL further enacted, That whenever
a State shall desire TO acquire pre-emption right
10 all the lands, or 10 all the lands Of any certain
class and price, provided in the first section OF
this act, within its borders, for other purposes
than railroad or canal, and signify the same 10
the President of the United States, by an act of its
legislature nj O general session, duly passed and
authenticated, it shall be granted on the following
terms, and in the manner hereinafter prescribed
That said State may FIX the price of said lands
above that prescribed in the first section Of this
act, reserving the to itself: Provided That
the title shall not pass 10 the purchaser until he
has paid the price fixed in the said first section 10
the United States which, npon said payment and
the presentation of certificate Of title from the
State; duly auentcated, shall, through its proper
officers issue patent for said land 10 the pur-
chaser: Provided ho,csver, That the lands shall be
subject 10 the same legal subdivisions in the sale
and survey as are now provided by law; nor shall
The sites of Notifications, navy and dock yards,
arsenals, magazines and other public buildings,
be considered as included within the provisions OF
this act: And providSd further, That any State
which shall accept the provisions of this act and
shall prc-empt any lands under il, shall take them
in full ofthe i've per cent. fund thereafter 10 be-
come due from the proceeds of said lands but the
State thus accepting the provisions Of this and the
preceding section shall take the lands al the price
fixed for each particular class, except that no lands
shall be sold by them for twenty-five cents an acre,
until they shall have been previously subject 10
entry through period two years at the price Of
City cents per acre, 10 be paid to the United
States.
SEC. 3. And be IL further enacted, That when.
ever State has chartered, shall charter rail-
road or canal to run through the lands of the
United States, or when any company shall have
been organized for that purpose, under any gen.
eral law Of any State, and such State shall accept
the benefit ofthe provisions hereinafter prescribed
by an act TO be passed at general session of its
legislature, upon due notice being given of the
fact 10 the Secretary of The Interior shall be his
duty 10 set apart, OF the public lands seven thou.
sand six hundred and eighty acres per mile OF
railroad or canal, within twelve miles on each side
and as near the route Of such railroad or canal as
possible, and the same shall be withdrawn from
sale or entry by public advertisement of the
Secretary of the Interior, except in the manner
and form hereinafter prescribed: The price of
these lands shall be dollar per acre for those
which had not yet been offered at public sale or
for those which have been subject TO private en-.
try less than five years seventy-fve cents for
those which have been so subject TO entry more
than five years and less than ten wears 6fty
cents for those which have been so subject TO en-
try more than ten years and less than twenty
years and twenty-five cents per acre for those
which have been so subject to entry more than
twenty years: Prorided, That the price which the
lands bear when first set apart shall remain uni
form and be subject TO no graduation during the
ten years herein prescribed as the period within
which the States may dispose of the lands.
SEC. a. And be n further enacted That when
ever State through which the said railroad or
canal passes, and in which the said lands lie, shall
desire 10 do So il may select, as pre-emptor. all
the lands so reserved at the minimum prices
designated in the third section Of this act, but
the State must take up and pay in cash for said
land wi;hln ten years from The time when set
apart by the Secretary of the Interior, or other.
wise its right to such of them as remain unsold
shall be forfeited. But before the expiration of
this period the State may sell the lands thus re-
served TO individuals or corporations Provided
That no title shall vest in the purchaser until he
nrea anfa n fhar of al Il
ofthe United States a certificate OF purchase. duy
authenticated according TO the law Of the State
from which II issues, and pay 10 the said receiver
for the use of the United States, the price herein
liked as the price per acre for which the lands
shall be sold upon the issue Of the receipt Tor
the money and certificate, as aforesaid the patent
shall be given in the manner now prescribed by
law: Provided, horerer. That, with the exception
Of the certificate aforesaid the land shall he pur.
chased or entered and the title given, according
20 the same forms, and in the same quantities
now prescribed by the laws Of the United States
SEC. D. And be n further enaetrd That in the
event OF a difference between The Postmaster
General and the railroad compsny as 10 the com
Pensation for carrying the mails Of the United
States, the matter shall be settled by mutual
agreement between the Postmaster General and
the governor Of the State in which such railroad
lies, and that the benefit OF this act can only be
claimed when the charter provides by sufficient
forfeitures and penalties lin the opinion OF the
Postmaster General) for forcing the railroad com.
pany, or companies TO perform the said award, or
when the end can be effected by contracts and
stipulstions satisfactory TO the Postmaster Gen
eral
SEc. G. And Be IL further enactsd That the lands
purchased by any State, under the provisions of
the third section Of this act, shall be applied by
said State for the construction Of the railroad or
canal, for which they were reserved; but the time
and manner Of selling said lands, and the mode OF
appropristing them, in conformity with the provi.
sions Of this act, shall be determined by the State
10 which the remainder Of the proceeds of this
fund belongs, after its application TO the cons,ruc.
ton and completion Of said railroad or canal: !:
Provided, hofoerer, That the acceptance by the
State Of the provisions Of the third section of this
act shsll be considered assent on its part, TO
appropriate the said lands prescribed in the
said third section Of this act which shall take
effect from its passage And provided further,
That no lands shall be included within the opera.
ton Of this act TO which the Indian title has not
been extnguished.
SEC. z. And be IL further enacted, That this act
shall in no way apply TO town or village property
either in-lots or outlots be so construed as to
interfere with any pre-emption claim, or to lands
reserved for schools, salines reserved sections
on railroad grants, or other purposes, under any
existing laws OF the United States, nor 10 auy Of