The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-01-20
Misrellaneons.
THE HOMESTEAD LAW.
Important 10 Returned Soldiers.

We have received number Of letters
from returned soldiers. inquiring upon
what terms they can secure farms upon the
public lands. .As the most satisfactory an.
swer. We publish the following sections Of
the Homestead Law rs it was approved by
the late Presiden, Lincoln on the 10Th Of
May. lsG2. II il as follows:
Be Il enacted hy the Senate and House
OF Representatives. OF the niicd States Of
America in Congress assembled. That any
person who is the head Of family, or who
has arrived at the ngc Of twen,y.one years.
and 10 citizen OF the United States. or
who shall have filed his declaration OF in.
tenton TO become SUCH as required by the
naturalization laws of the Uhited States.
aud who has never borne arms against the
United States Government or given aid and
comfort toiis enemies. shall, from and after
the hrst OF January. eighteen hundred and
sixty.;hree, he entitled 10 enter one quarter
section, or a less quantity Of unappropriatcd
public lands, upon which said person may
have filed pre-emption claim, or which
may. at the time the application is made
be subject to pre.empiion ut one dollar and
twenty-five cents. or less, per acre or
eighty acres, or less. Of unappropriated
lands. at two dollars and fifty cents per
acre, 10 be located in a body. in conformity
10 the legal subdivision OF the pubic lands.
and after the same shall have been survey.
ed Provided. That any person owning or
residing on land. may. under the provisions
Of this act. enter other land lying coniig.
uous 10 his or her said land. which shall
not. with the land so already owned aud
occupied, exceed in the aggregate Que
hundred and sixty acres.
sec ,. Ind be u further enacted. ThA, ihe
person applying Tor the benefit OF this act
shall. upon application 80 the register OF
the land Office in which he or she is about
10 make such entry. make affidavit before
tho said register or receiver that he or she
is the head Of family. or is twenty .one
years or more Of age. or shall have perform.
ed service IN the army or navy OF the Uni.
ted States. and that he has never borne
arms against the Government Of tho Uni.
ted States. or given aid and comlurt 20 its
enemies, and that such application is made
for his or her exclusive use or benefit. and
that said entry is made for the purpose Of
actual settlement aud cultivation. and no,
either directly oT indirectly fvT tho Use O.
benefit OF any other person or persons
whomsoever. and upon fling the said
"Ah hHN tNElohtT OT ItCtlNcTs anu
on payment OF ten dollars, he or she shall
thcrefrom be permitted 10 enter the quaint.
~ Of land specified: Provided however.
that no certificate be given or patent issued
therefor nntii the expiration OF ave years
from the date OF such entry and IT, ut the
expiration OF such time or at any time
within two years thereafter. the person
making such entry or. il he be dead his
trfinsr In II 4. 4
devises. or in case OF widow making such
entry. her heirs or deyiscs, in case OF her
death. shall prove BY two credible witness.
es, that he. she or they have resided upon
or cultivated the same for the term of fyc
years immediately succeeding the time OF
hling the affidavit aforesaid, aud shall
make atidavit that no part of said land has
been aiienated. and that he has borne true
iailh and allegiance 10 the Government Of
'he |. =. then in such case. he. she or they.
u al that time citizen oftlre United States.
shall be entitled TO patent. as in other Gu.
ses, provided Tor by Law. And provided
further. That in case Of the death OF both
lather aud mother leaving an infant child.
or children under twenty. y.One years Of age.
the right and fee shall inurc TO the benefit
Of said infant child or children and the cx
ecutor, administrator or guardian may. At
any time within two years after the death
OF the surviving parent. and in accordance
with the laws Oi the State in which such
children for the timo being have their
domicil. sell said land for the benefit Of
said infants. but for no other purpose and
the purchaser shall acquire an absolute
title by the purchase. and he entitled TO a
patent from the United States. on payment
OF the fees aud sun OF money herein speei.
fed.