Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-03-27
..rhe Homestead Bill"

The following is copy of the Homestead Bill
recently passed by the House of Representatives,
and now before the Senate OF, the United States,
where it has been read twice'an referredkto the
committee on public lands s. I'LL R 4
| AN AcT TO grant homestead of one hu ndred and
sixty acres Of the public lands to actual set-
! tiers. E 49
+ Be it enacted by the Senate AM. House t,f Rem.
resemlntives OF The United States of America IN
Congress assembled, That any flee white person
who is the head OF family, who hos arrived al
The age OF twenty one years. and is citizen of the
United States, shall, from and the passage OF
this act be entitled to enter, ree of COST quar-
ter section of vacant and unnppIopriaied publ
lands, which may, at the time the application is
made be subject TO private entry at one dollar and
twenty-h i've cents per acre, or quantity equal
thereto, 10 be locate in body, III conformity with
the legal susdiyi.inns OF the public lands. aud az
Ter The Same shall have been surveyed.
| SEC, O.. And be itfurther enacted, That the per-
SON applying for the benefit of This act SHALL upon
application 10 the register Of the land Office in
which he or she is about TO make such cn;ry, make
affidavit Def tic said register that he or she is
the head oil family, or is twenty-une years VI age,
aud that such application is made FOL his or her
exclusive use and benefit, and those specially
mentioned in this ac and not either directly or i'
directly for the use or benefit CT any other person
or persons wlomsoever; and upon making a aft
davit above required, aud hlItg the affidavit
with the register, or she shall thereupon be per-
mitted 10 enter the quantity oil land already speci-
fed: Provided, however, That no certificate shall
he given or patent therefor, until the expiration OF
i've years from the date of such entry; and IL, OF
the expiration Of such time, the person making
such entry, o., If he be dead his widow, or, case
OF her death, his heirs devisee, in case OF u
widow making such entry, her heirs or devisee, in
case OF her death, shall prove by two dible wit
nesses that he, she they, have continued 10 reside
upon and cultivate said land and still reside upon
al have not alienaed the same any pant the re-
oil; them IN such case, he, She or they, shall be
entitled 10 patent, as in otl:er provided for
by law: And provided further, In case ofthe dea tn
OF both father aud mother, leaving infant, child
OF children under twenty one years of age, the
night and the fee siaIlnure 10 tie benefit OF said
lniant, child or children. and The executor, ad-
nlnlStralor, guardian, may, at any time Within
two years afer the death Of the su:viy ng PATENT
ana Ill accordance with the laws of the Stale in
winch sch Children for the time being have their
domIcl', sell SAID lund I,r the benefit oil said IN
ants, bul Tor no other purpose; and the purchaser
shall acquire the absolute title by The purchase
and he entitlcdlo patent from the United States.
Sec. B. aud be it further enacted, That The
register OF The land office, Shall note all such APP
pcations on the tract books and plats Of his oi.
nee, and keep register OF all such entries, and
makereturn thereof 10 the General Land Office 10.
gether with the rroot upon which they have been
founded +--ll5''
Sec. 4. And be /. further enacted, That all
lands acquitted under The provisions OF this act
shall i'll no event become liable 10 the ,sa,isfac.
ton oil any debt or debts contracted prior 10 the
Sec. s. And be it further enacted, That if. at
any time after filing the affidavit as required in the
St cOnd section Of this act, and befure the expira-
ton OF the 1--WE years aforesaid, 1t shall be proven
alter due notice 10 the settler, 10 the satisfaction
OF the tegistel OF the land Office, that the peson
having fled such affidavit shall have actually
changed his or her reside nCe, or abandoned the.
said entry Tor more than six months at any time
Then, and III that event, the land so entered shall
revert back 10 the government, and be disposed
oil rs Other pubic lands now are by law, subject
TO an appeal to 'he general land Office. .T
Sec. o. Aud be it fuIther enacted, That il any
individual now Resident of amy one ofthe States
IT Territories, and not citizen OF the United
States, hut, al the time Of making such application
Tor the benefit o. this act, snail have fled dec
iarhtlon oil intention as required by the natuTaIiza
lion laws oil the Cnlte'i States, and shall become
citlzen oil the same before the issuance of the pa
tent, as m de and provided for in this act, shall be
places upon IN equal footing with The native born
citizen of the United States.
Sec. !. And belt further enacted, That no in
uiHluual ShalI bc:ptImllted 10 make more than
uEe entry uni ct The provisions OF this act: and
that the General Commissioner oil tile land Office IS
hereby required TO prepare and issue such rules
and regulations consistent with this act, as siai
De necessary aud proper to ry lis provisions IN
10 effect; and that The registers ard receivers of
the several land offices Sall be entitled t. receive
tue same comp .nsulion for any Lands entered un
der lir provisions nf this act that they are now
entitled to receive when the quantity oil land
is entered with the InOey, one half 10 be pai,I lv
the person making the application, al the lime oil
so doing, and The other half on the issue Of the
certificate by the person 10 whom I may he issu
ed. Provided, hUwev,r, lIa1nl persons enter.
ing land under the provisions of this act, SHALL as
n ar us may be practicable, IN making such en-.
;rles, be confined To each alternate quarter sec.
ton. ond 10 land subject 10 private entry; ard
provided further, that nothing in this act Shall be
SO construed as 10 impair or interfere in apy man.
ner whatever with existing PIE emption Fights
Provided, further. that the provisions of this 1ct
shall be SO construed as 10 authorize the class OF
persons provided for i'll the foregoing part of this
sell WAC may not own one hundred and sixty
acres OF land TO enter free ofcosI, any The pub
lie Lands adjoining lbs or her larm subject 10 entry
at The minimum ptIce per acre, quantity added TO
what they may now o"n, lie equal 10 one hu ndred
ana SIXTY acres ded lie or she shall cultivate
the whole 1t part tLeleof.
The FINE ARTs.-We had an opportunity yes
'eriay, 10 examine rcnurka BILE production of pe