Arizona citizen., 1872-08-10

SHlAOIST MANUFACTURERS OuucE Cue
 Act of Congress Approved June g. IS72.
 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, l
 GENERAL LAND OFFICE, June l3, 1872.
 Gentlemen: Attached is a copy of
 the amended law of Congress granting
 homesteads to soldiers and sailors,
 their widows and orphan children.
 This law allows:
 1st. Every soldier and officer of
 the army, and every seaman, marine
 and officer of the navy, who served
 for not less than ninety days in the
 army or navy of the United States
 "during the recent rebellion" and
 who was honorably discharged, and has remained loyal to the Government,
 to enter, under the provisions of the homestead law, one hundred and sixty acres of the public land, including the double minimum lands.
 2d. That the time of service, or the whole term of enlistment, when dis charged on account of wounds or dis ability, shall be deducted from the time heretofore required to perfect title: provided, however, that the per son shall reside upon, improve and cultivate his homestead for a period of at least one year after he shall commence his improvements. It is required that the period (whether one year or more) of actual residence, i'm provement and cultivation that may be found necessary to perfect each case of entry under this Act, shall fol- low immediately upon the date of entry.
 Sd. That any person entitled to the benefit of this Act, and who has heretofore made homestead entry of less than one hundred and sixty acres. may enter under this Act an additional quantity of land contiguous to the first entry, which shall make in the aggregate one hundred and sixty acres.
 4th. That the widow, if unmar- ried, or in case of her death or mar riage, then the minor orphan children of person who would be entitled to the benefits of this Act, may enter lands under its provisions, with the additional privilege accorded, that if the person died during his term of en- listment, the widow, or minor chil- dren, shall have the benefit of the whole term of enlistment.
 5th. That where person may heretofore have made an entry under the homestead laws while in the United States military or naval ser vice, or before entering such service, the time of service shall be equivalent to residence for the same length of time upon the tract entered; pro- vided, that the party shall show at least one years continued residence lpon, and improvement and cultiva- .isn of, the tract. The law also rein states such entries as may have been cancelled because of the party's ab- ,ence from the land while in the mill ;ary or naval service, provided the and has not been disposed of. And | where it has been disposed of, the statute authorizes another entry and he application to the second entry of he proofs touching his residence and on the first tract.
 9th. That any person entitled to he benefit of this Act may file his laim for tract of land through an gent, and shall have six months within which to make his ntry and commence his settlement nd improvement upon the land.
 The last section of the Act author zes the commissioner of the general and office "to make all needful rules nd regulations to carry into effect the rovisions of the Act.
 Therefore, when application shall { @ made to enter tract of land under he provisions of this Act, you will , ermit: (
 l. In case of original claimants, entry to be made; but if ( le party so elects, he may file a to the effect that he claims I specified tract of land as his home ( cad, and that he takes it for actual Y 'ttlement and cultivation. These atements you will enter upon your I cords and report in an abstract as c declarations, commencing c le series with number one. | Thereafter, and at any time within X months from the date of said a you will allow the prin- r pal to make, in the usual manner, d omestead entry of the tract. These u ffI | .,