Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-02-03
IPunLIc-No. I'LL


town property in the public domain
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of RE-
representatives. Of the United States OF America in
Congress assembled, That whore any tracts
embracing coal beds or coal fields constituting
portions of the public domain, and whieh rs
"miuee,' are excluded from the pre- -emption act
of eighteen hundred and forty one, aud which
under past legislation are not liable to ordinary
private entry it shall and may be lawful for the
President to cause such tracts in suitable legal
subdivisions, to he offered at public sale to the
highest bidder, after ppblic 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
at said minimum.
Sec. . And be it further enacted That in
any case in which parties have already founded
or may hereafter desire to found city or town
on the public lands, It shall and may be lawful
for them to cause to be fled with the recorder
for the county in which the same is situated,
plat thereof for not exceeding six hundred aud
forty acres, describing it's exterior boundaries
according to the lines Of the public surveys
where such surveys have beeR executed; also
giving the name Of such city or town, and exhi.
biting the streets, squares, blocks, lots and al
leye the size Of the same with measurements
and area Of each municipal subdivision, the lots
in which shall not exceed four thousand two
hundred square feet, with statement Of the
extent and general character Of the improve
mente the said map aud statement to be verified
under oath by the purity acting for aud in behalf
Of the persons proposing to establish such city
or town; and within one month after such filing
there ehall be transmitted TO The General Land
Office a 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 arc
within the limits Of an organized land district
similar map and statement shall be filed with the
register aHd receiver, and at any time after the
filing Of such map, statement and testimony n
the General Land 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 ut public sale TO the highest bidder cub
iect to a minimun Of ten dollars for each lot aud
such lots as may not be disposed Of ut public
sale, shall thereafter be liable to private entry
at said minimum, or at such reasonable increase
or diminution thereafter as the Secretary OF the
Interior muy order from time to time, after ut
least three months notice, in view Of the increGs,
or decrease in the vGlue Of the municipal pro-
| perty: Provided, That any actual settler upon
any one lot as aforesaid and upon any addi-
tional lot in which he may have substantial i'm
proyements, ehall be entitled to prove up aud
purchase the same Gs q presumption at snii
minimum, ut any time before TIC day fixed for
the public sale.
Sec. 8. And be il further enacted, That when
such cities or towns are established upon unaur-
veyed lands, it shall and may be lawful after the
extension thereto Of the public surveys to adju
the extension limits Of the premises according
to tho5e lines, where it can be done without
interference with Fights which may be vested by
sale and patents for oil lots 10 disposed Of at
public or private sole shall issue as in ordinary
cases
Sec. L. And be 1t further enacted That Il
within twelve mouths from the establishment Of
a city OF town as aforesaid in the public domain
the parties interested shall refuse or tail to tlC
in the General Land Office transcript map with
the statement aud testimony called for By til.
provisions of the second section Of this act, IL
shall and may be lawful for the Secretary OF til,
Interior to cause u survey and plat 10 be made
| Of such city or town, and thereafter the ota il
the same ehall be disposed OF as required by suit
provisions, with the exception, that they hhal
| each be at an increase Of nifty per centum On thl
aforesaid minimum Of ten dollars per lot,
Sec. s. And bC it further enacted, That eiiec
shall be given to the foregoing act according t,
| such regulations ua hey he prescribed by til,
| Secretary OF the Interior The uct entitled "Al
act for the relief Of the ctizsns OF town upUi
/ tSs land- Of the United States uader ctrtail
circumstanees." approved May twenty three
ammo Domini eightctc hGnirfd and forty four
and all other acts and parts Of de,- .ae9nHlsten
with this act be and the same are hereby so
peaed.
Approved, July !, 1864.