The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-11-20

4 hppfOfctt3
Guar. GxvL 49,
An Act authorizing documentary Evidence Of
Titles to be furnished to the Owners of certain
Lands in the City of St Louis.
Whereas within the city of Saint Louis, in the
State of Missouri, there many lots, tracts,
by the act or Congress of June the thirteenth,
eighteen hundred and twelve, on the ground of
inhabitation, possession, or cultivation OF the
same prior to Decembert the twentieth, eighteen
hundred and three, and in some cases there is no
adequate documentary evidence of said conhrma-
tions; and in consequence of the death of the an
Gent witnesses, who knew the facts of said in
habtation, possession, or cultivation, the owners
OF said lands in said cases where there is no ade-
quate documentary evidence of said confrma-
the same, as against the United States; and
| whereas persons hold grants and combinations of
lands in said city of St. Louis, under other acts
of Congress heretofore passed. may, in some cases,
be without perfect documentary evidence OF said
grants combinations by the United States, and
difficulties may hereafter arise there1rom, to the
great injury of such persons: Therefore
Be it enacted by the Senate and House OF Rep
resentatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, That the district court OF
the United States for the eastern district of Mis-
souri, is hereby authorized, by proper decree, to
declare released, granted, relinquished, and CON
veyed by the United States, in fee simple and in
full property all OF the right title, and interest of
the United States i'll and to any lot, tract piece
or parcel of land within the city of Saint Louis
in the State of Missouri, to the person persons
having the best claim or claims to the same; but
nothing in this act shall authorize said court to
veyed, as aforesaid any land within any wharf,
street, lane, avenue, alley, or other public
thoroughfare or within the boundaries OF any
ed by the United States for the use or support of
schools, or within the boundaries of any land
heretofore lawfully confirmed or lawfully granted
by the United States, where full, sufficient, and
complete documentary evidence of such confr-
nation grant now exists OF record.
SEC. g And be it further enacted, That every
person desiring decree in his or her favor, I'M
der this act, shall file petition in said district
court, asking for such decree, and describing the
land for which said decree is desired and the
United States and all persons claiming such land
adversely to said petitioner Gf there be any such
adverse claimants) shall be made defendants in
said cause; and if any party to any such cause
shall be minor nnder the age of twenty-onc
years, guardian ad litem shall be appointed by
said court for said minor; and said district court
shall have full and complete power, jurisdiction,
and authority to hear, try and determine all ques
lions arising in said relating to the claim
of the petitioner the extent, locality, and boun-
daries of said claim, and all other matters con-
nected Herewith or concerning the same; aid
said district court shall also have power to make,
and enforce such rules and regulations
as may be necessary and proper to carry this act
into full and complete execution.
Sec. B. And be it further enacted, That copy
of every petition which shall be filed under this
act, and copy of the writ or process thereto at
tached, shall be delivered the district attorney
of the United States for said eastern district of
district, which said delivery shall make the
United States party to the cause specified in
such petition, without any other or further pro-
ceedings, notice. service, writ or process whatev-
ar; and said district attorney shall make such de-
fence therein for the United States in his opn-
ION the public interest may require; but no an
'wer or other pleadings filed by said attorney in
such cause shall be required to be verified by oath
Dr. affirmation.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That for the
purpose of more completely describing, identify
ng, and defining tne boundaries, situation, and
ocality OF any lot tract piece parcel of land
ought to be released, granted, reinquished and
conveyed under this act, the said district court
hall have power to cause an accurate survey,
'lat, and description thereof to be made by com
'etent person at the expense of the petitioner;
nd all of the expenses and costs of all suits and
'ther proceedings under this act shall be paid by
he respective petitioners, and the payment
hereof may be enforced by execution or other
rise.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That every
ecree which shall be rendered under this act in
ivor of any petitioner shlal be deemed full
ufficent and complete release, grant, relinquish-
lent, and conveyance, in fee simple and in full
eirs and assigns, forever, of all the right, title
nd interest OF the United States in and to the land
escribed in such decree.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That when
yer said district court the circuit court shall
snder final decree under this act concerning |
ny lot tract, piece or parcel of land, such court
lall cause to be transmitted to the commissioner
the general land office full, true, and complete
anscrpt of said final decree, and of the descrip-
Oll OF survey OIL SAID land.
SEC. Z. And be it further enacted That any |
irty TO any final decree rendered by said district
'urt 1t any suit or cause commenced under this
t NAV appeal from said final decree of said is
let court to the circuit court of the United
ates for the district of Missouri, at any time
thin one year from the time of the rendition of
III hnal decree, and not after that time and on
re granting of said appeal, full, true and COM
etc transcript of said final decree and of the pc
=; l9n and all other pleadings and proceedings in
Id cause, and OF the evidence therein, shall be
to said circuit court. And when said
peal small have been completed, said circuit
urt shall have full and complete iuriss lotion
er SAID cause, and may allow the pleadings to
amended If necessary, and may admit new
rhine said cause de novo without regarding
y error, defect, or other imperfection IN the
oceedings of said district court and shall rem
such final decree therein as the facts and the
stice OF said cause may require.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That in case
any difference of opinion between the Judges
the said circuit court upon any question arising
any such cause the same may be certified to
supreme court of the United States, for its de-
ion thereon as in other cases.
SEC. y. An be it further enacted, That all ofthe
ht title, and interest of the United States in |
to all of the wharves, streets, lanes, avenues. |
eys, and other public thoroughfares which are
1ate, lying, and being within the corporate
hts OF the city of ST. Louis in the State OF Mis-
lri shall be, and the same are hereby, granted
and conveyed by the United States, !
fee simple and in full property, to the said city
st. Louis, and to the successors and assigns for
n of said city: Provided, however, That no in
ldual rights or titles acquired previously here
shall be in any manner impaired prejudiced
eby.
Approved, June IL, 1866