The Van Buren press., 1867-02-22
Fr. LARAMIE, Feb. II.
Homestead Law of 1866,


The Homestead law, approved June 81.
1866, though entitled an act for the di>pOs-
al of land under certain conditions in Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, FLORIDA and
Arkansas, has in some portions OF it a
general application.
In those States named above, enhiss are
restricted to not more than a half quarter
section. or 50 acres, when the land is held
at 81 20 per acre, or to not more than 40
acres when it is held at 50 90 per acre
This restriction is In force, however, for
only two years from the passage OF the law,
at the expiration Of that time, in the alb
senre OF fursher lcgisl=tion eairies in those
States. so i.r AS relates to quantity of land
entered will bs governed by the provisions
Of the iirst section Of the act of May Goth,
1862 a further provision applicable to
these States IS, that in lieu OF paying SO
at the time Of entry, the party entering the
land shall pGy only 50 and be permitted to
pay the reduced fee, not at the time Of en-
try, but when he receives his patent An.
other provision, also Of special application,
is that entries may bs made by citizens
without respect to "race or co!ot,' aud
that no mineral land can be entered under
the act
The part Of The law, which applies gen
olally, required Of the applicant for entry
to make an affidavit that he has not borne
arms against the United States or given
aid and comfort to its enemies. But as
that restriction was to continue enl ly til
the lst Of January, 1867, the affidavit re,
ferred to is no longer required. That part
OF the law also reduced the fee upon egsry
to IS, where no more than eighty acres,
valued at 81 25 per acre, were entere t.
Entries of larger quantity are subject to
the fee fixed by the original act-that is
S1O-payable at time of entry. ..he lNna
Officers commissions are to be paid ip ad
dtion. The cost therefore to q party TAX
ing the benefit Of the homestead act is, for
forty acres, six dollars; for eighty acres,
seven dollars; for l20 acres, thirteen dol
lars, and for 100 acres, fourteen dollars,
payable at the time of entry.
AS the provisions of the law as it now
stands are matter of interest to large
number Of persons within the range Of our
circulation, we add a statement OF what is
required Of applicants for land under the
law, besides the fees above mentioned, and
its operation in case of the decease OF GER
tain parties
The person applying must make affidavit
before the Register or Receiver Of the Land
Office, that be or she is the head Of a family,
or is twenty one years or more Of age, or
has served in the army or navy of the
United States, and that such application is
made for his or her exclusive use and bene-
fit, and that said entry is made for the pur-
pose Of actual settlement and cultivation,
and not either directly or indirectly for the
use or benefit Of any other person or per-
sons whomsoeyer
No certificate OF patent for the land issues
until the expiration of five years from the
date OF such entry and Il, at the expiration
of such time, or at any time within two
years thereafter, the person making such
entry, or, if he be dead his widow, or, in
case of her death, his heirs or deviSec, or,
in case Of widow making such entry, her
heirs or devisee, in case of her death, shall
prove by two credible witnesses that he,
She, they have resided upon or cutivat-
ed the same for the term of five years i'm
medlae-succeeding the time Of filing the
affidavit aforesaid, and shall make affidavit
that no part Of said land has been alenuted,
aud that he will bear true allegiance to the
Government of the United STATES in such
case, he, She, or they if at that time citi.
zen Of the United States, shall be entitled
to a patent as III other cases provided by
law.
lkcrc is n further provision Under this
head that in case Of the death of both faith
er and mother, leaving an infant child or
children under twenty one years of aye, the
right and fee shall inuro to the benefit of
such infant child Or children; and the exccu.
tor administrator, or guardian may, at any
time, within two years after tho death of
the surviving parent, and in accordance
with the laws Of the State in which such
for the time being, have their
domicil, sell said land tor the benefit of
SAID infants, but for no other purpose; and
the purchaser shall acquire the absolute IT,
tie by the purchase, and be entitled to
patent from the United States on the pay.
mcnt OF the office fees and sum Of money
spccidcd -- 81 Lo"is Republican,