Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-02-07
IprnLlc-No. M.


town property in the public domain.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House Of Re-
presentatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled That where any tracts
einbraciug coal beds or coal fields constituting
portions Of the public domain, and which, as
"mines," are excluded from the pre-emption act
o. eighteen hundred and forty one, and which
under past legislation arc not liable to ordinary
private entry, it shall and may be lawful for the
President 10 cause such tracts in suitable legal
subdivisions, to be offered at public sale to the
highest bidder, after pablo notice not less than
three months, at u minimum price OF twenty
dollars per acre; and any lands not thus dispo-
sed Of shall thereafter be liable to private entry
a. said minimum.
See. . And bo it further enacted, That in
any case in which parties have already founded
or may hereafter desire to found a city or town
Gu the public lands, ii shall and may be lawful
for them 10 cAuae to be filed with the recorder
for tho county in which the same is situated, a
plat thereof for not exceeding six hundred and
forty acres, describing its exterior boundaries
according to the lines of the public surveys
where such surveys have been executed; also
g,vng lac name Of such city or town, and exhi-
biting the streets, squares, blocks, lots and al
leys The size OF the same with measurements
aud area of eaeh municipal subdivision, the lots
in which shall not exceed four thousand two
hundred square feet, with statement of the
exteut and general character Of the improve
meuts; the said map aud statement to be verified
under cath by the party acting for aud in behalf
Of tho persons proposing to establish such city
or town; and within one month after such filing
there shall be transmitted to the General Land
Office O verified transcript Of such map and
statement, accompanied by the testimony Of two
witnesses that such city or town has been estab-
lished in good faith and when the premises are
within the limits OF an organized land district q
similar map and statement shall be tlled with the
register and receiver, and at any time after the
flag If such map, statement and testimony in
tho General Laud Office, it shall and may be
lawful for the President to cause the lots embra-
ced within the limits of such city or town to be
offered at public sale to the highest bidder, sub
iect to II minimunl of ten dollars for each lot; and
such lots as may not be disposed of OF public
sale shall thereafter be liable to private entry
at said minimum, or at such reasonable increase
or dimiuulion thereafter as the Secretary of the
Interior may order from time to time, after at
least three months notice. in view of the increase
or decrease in the value of the municipal pro-
perty: Provided, That any actual settler upon
any one lot as aforesaid, and upon any addi-
tonal lot in which he iuay have substantial i'm
proyements, shall be entitled to prove up and
purchase the same as presumption at said
minimum, at any time before the day fixed for
the public sale.
&c. g. And be it further enacted, That when
such cities or towns are established upon unsur-
yeyed lends, it shall and may be lawful after the
extension thereto of the public surveys to adjust
the extension limits of the premises according
to those lines, where it can be done without
interference with rights which may be vested by
snlr: aud patents for all lots so disposed Of at
public or private sale shall issue as in ordinary
cases.
sec 4. And be It further enacted, That il
within twelve months from the establishment Of
n civ or town US aforesaid in the public domain,
die parties interested shall refuse or fail to file
| in the General Land Office transcript map with
the statement and testimony called for by the
provisions Of the second section of this act, il
shnll and may ba lawful for the Secretary Of the
Interior to cause a survey and plat to be made
| of such city or town, and thereafter the lots il
the same shall be disposed Of as required by said
provisions, with The exception, that they shal
s,ch be AT an increase of fifty per centum on the
aforesaid minimum Of ten dollars per lot.
See. B. Aud be it further enacted, That effect
shall be given to the foregoing act according tC
such regulations as Nay be prescribed by tht
! Secretary Of the Interior. The act entitled "AI
ac, t,.r The relief Of the citizens Of towns upoI
,Na Lands Of the United States under certain
circumstances, approved May twenty three
ammo ponin eighteen hundred and forty four
and nil other acts and parts Of acts inconsisten
with this act be and the same are hereby re
pealad
Approved, July 1, 1864.
TPUBLIo-No. 178.
An ACT 10 repeal tue act of the seventeenth 0
june. eighteen hundred and sixty four, pro
' Aibluug the sales of gold and foreign ex