New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-25
GENERAL NATURE-No. 39.I

An act to enable honOrably discharged
soldiers and sailors, their widows and
orphan children, to acquire hOmcsteads
on the public lands Of the United States
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
! of America, in Congress assembled,
That every private soldier and Of
fcer who has served in the army
of the United States during the
recent rebellion for ninety days, or more,
and who was honorably discharged and
has remained loyal to the government, in
Guiding the troops mustered into the SER
vice OF the United States by virtue of the
third section of an act entitled can act
making appropriations for completing the
detenses Of Washington. and for other pur-
pOses,' approved February thirteenth,
eighteen hundred and sixty-twO, and every
seaman, marine, and officer who has served
in the navy Of the United States, or in the
marine corps, during the rebellion, for
ninety days, and who was honorably dis.
charged, and has remained loyal to the gov.
eminent, shall, on compliance with the pro .
visions of an act entitled "Ar act to secure
hOmcsteads to actual settlers on the public
domain" and the acts ameudatOry thereof
as hereinafter modified, be entitled to enter
upon and receive patents for quantity of
public lands mot minGral) not exceeding
one hundred and sixty acres, or One-quartep
section, to be taken III compact form &C
cOrding to legal subdivisions, including
the alternate reserved sections Of public
lands along the line of any railroad
or other public work, not otherwise re-
served or appropriated, and other lands
subject to entry under the homestead laws
of the United States; provided, that said
homestead settler shall be allowed SIX
months after locating his homestead within
which to commence his settlement and im-
provemeut; and provided, also, that the
time which the homestead settler shall have
served in the army, navy, or marine corps
aforesaid, shall be deducted from the time .
heretofore required to perfect title, or il
discharged on account of wounds received,
or disability incurred in the line Of duty,
then the term of enlistment shall be de-
Quoted from the time heretofore required to
perfect title, without reference to the length
of time lie may have served provided,
however, that no patent shall issue to any
homestead settler who has not resided upon,
improved, and cultivated his said home
stead for a period Of at least one year after
he shall commence his improvements a9
aforesaid.
SEC. ,. That any person entitled un8egn
the provisions of the foregoing sectS3n to
enter homestead who may have heretofore
entered under the homestead laws guam
tity of land less than one hundred and sixty
acres shall be permitted to enter under the
provisions of this act so much land as, when
added to the quantity previously entered,
shall not exceed one hundred and sixty
acres.
SEC 3. That in case of the death Of any
person who would be entitled to q homestead
under the provisions Of the first section Of
lis act his widow, if unmarried, or In case
of her death or marriage, then his minUF
orphan children, by guardian daily ap-
pointed and officially accredited at the De-
partment Of the Interior, shall be entitled
to ali the benefits enumerated III TINS acJ,
subject to all the provisions as to settle
ment and improve 1nts therein cOntainedi
provided, that if such person died during
his term Of enlistment, the whole term OF his
enlistment shall be deducted from the time
heretofore required to perfect the title.
SEC 4. That where party a the date Of
his entry Of a tract Of land under the home.
stead laws. or subsequently thereto, was
actually enlisted and employed in the army
or navy of the United States =: services
therein shall, in the administration Of said
homestead law, be construed to be equiya-
lent to all intent5 and purposes, TO "a resi-
dence for the same length of time upon the
tract 50 entered; provided, that if his entry
has been cancelled by reason Of his absence
from said tract while in the military or
naval service of the United States, and
such tract has not been disposed Of his
entry shall be restored and confirmed: and
provided further, that if such tract has
been disposed Of, said party may enter
another tract subject 10 entry under
said laws; and his right to a patent
therefor shall be determined by the proofs
touching his residence and cultivation OF
the first tract, and his absence therefrom in
such service.
SEC. ). That any soldier, sailor. marine.
officer, or other person coming within the
provisions q this act may, as wei. br an
agent as in person, enter unon said home
stead; provided, that said claimant ia reI--
son shall, within the time prescribed. com
nence settlements and Improvements on
me same, and thereafter fuinjl all the re-
Iuirements Of this act.
-, SEC. 8. That tue Commissioner of the
General LAM ONCE SHALL have authority In
make all ncedful rules and regulations to
carry into effect the provisions Of tIis az,
Approved April /, 1872.