Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1854-08-09
An ACT to provide a homestead for actual set
tiers, to graduate the price Of public lands
md for other purposes

,,raeted by the Senate and House Of Rep
Is Of the United STATES Of america in
assembled That the mnim um prices
put lie lands of the United States shall
lain unchanged 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 to the fol-
lowing sea e: All lands which shall have beer
offered at public sale, and remaining unsold
five years, shall be reduced TO the price of one
dollar per acre; all lands which shall have
been offered at public sale, and remaining un-
sold ten years, shall be reduced 10 seventy
five cents an acre. and all Ian Is which shall
have been offered at public sale, and remaining
unsold fifteen years, shall be sold at fifty cents
an acre, and all lands which shall have been
offered al public sale, and remaining unsod
twenty years, shall thereafter 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 there
after shall be reduced to price ottwelve and
a-half cents an acre; Provided, That the grad
uating price, from fifty cents to twenty five
cents an acre, shall not take place until the
lands in the fifty cent class shall have been
exposed to sale for period of at least two
years, at the price of fifty cents per acre; after
which the price of the said lands shall be re-
duced to twenty-five cents per acre.
SEC. 2. And belt further enacted, That when
ever a State shall desire to acquire pre- emp
ton right to all the lands, or to all the lands
of any certain class and price, as provided in
the first section OF this act, within its borders,
for other purposes than railroad or canal, and
signify the same to the President of the United
States by an act of its legislature at general
session, duly passed and authenticated 1T 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 pre-
IL - 81 B Ia.
ing the excess to itself: Prouided, That the ii.
tie shall not pass to the purchaser until he has
PAID the price fixed in the said first section TO
the United States; which, upon said payment
and the presentation Of Ger lticate of title from
the State, duly authenticated, shall, through
it, proper officers, issue patent for said land
70 the purchaser Provided hotceUer, That the
lands shall be subject to the same legal subdi.
visions ia the sale and survey as are provided
~ Law; nor shall the sites Of Notifications,
" and dock yards. arsenals. magazines, and
!. olher public buildings be considered as inclu.
dcd Within the provisions Of this act: And pro
6esA a II ~ a sst x aas .s ssu
6anpt any lands under it, shall take them in
full az the Ave per cent fund thereafter to be-
come due from the proceeds Of said lands; but
n 6Rsae thus accepting the provisions Of this
and the preceding section shall take the lands
q the price fixed for each particular class, ex
cant that no lands shall be sold by them fol
twenty Ave cents an acre. until they shall have
been previously subject to entry through pc
Rod Of two years at the price of fifty cent.
per acre, to be paid to the United States.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That when
ever q State has chartered, or shall charter
railroad or canal to run through the lands o
the United States, or when any company shall
have been organized for that purpose, unde
auy general law of any State, and such Stat
shall accept the benefit Of the provisions here
matter prescribed by an act to be passed at
general session of its legi stature, upon due no
lice being given of the fact to the Secretary q
the Interior, j. shall be his duty to set apart
Of the public lands, seven thousand six hun
bred aud eighty acres per mile of railroad O
canal within twelve miles on each side, and o
near the route Of such railroad or canal as pos
sible and the same shall be Withdrawn fror
sale or entry by public advertisement of tn
Secretary Of the Interior, except in the name
and form herein natter prescribed: The price .
these lands shall be one dollar per acre fo
lose which have not yet been offered at pub
\ sale, or for those which have been subjee
s,rivate entry less than five years, seventy
.nts for those which have been SO sub
sStry more than five years and less tina
fly cents for those which have bee
from MY more than 10 years & les
Miss Hillys twenty five cents per acl
been subject to entr
sKThs speclrs: Provided, That Il,