The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-10-08
GENERAL StTURE-No. 1871.
AN ACT to amend an act relating to S IIdlers
and sailors hOmCsteadS.

i'''
Be HsRacted on the S-p0ic on1 House IF ReOra.
sCH'aticrS IF hbe Enited states Of Americ0 in Coa.
grrSs assembled, Thut the act entitled An act
TO enable honorably discharged soldiers and
sailors, their widows and orphan children, to ac.
quiIc homesteads on the public lands of II t
United States approved April fourth, eighteen
hundred and Sevcnty-two, be, and the same is
hereby, amended 20 as to read rs
follows; That every private soldier
and officer 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 gov
eminent, including the troop! mustered into the
service of the United States by virtue of the 3rd
section of au act entitled AN act making ap-
preparations for completing the detenses of
Washington, and for other purposes, approved
February thirteenth eighteen hundred and six
ty-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 vino was hOnorably discharged,
and has remained loyal to the government, shall,
on compliance with provisions of an act entitled
An act 10 secure hOmeSteads 10 actual settlers
on the public domain" and the acts amendatorv
thereof, as hereinafter modified, be entitled TO
enter upon and receive patents for q quantity
of public lands mot mintra) not exceeding one
hundred and sixty acres, or one quartersec.
tiOn, TO be taken in COmpaC form, according
to legal subdivisions, including the alternate re-
served sections of public lands along the line of
any railroad or other public works, not otherwise
reserved or appropriated, and other lands subject
TO entry under the homestead laws of the Unilei
States Provided, That said homestead settler
shall be allowed six months after locating his
homestead, and filing his deClatOry statement,
within which to make his entry and
his settlement and improvement: AHd prOriIed
also, That the time which the homestead settled
shall have served in the army, navy, or marine
COZ us aforesaid shall be deducted from the time
heretofore required TO perfect title, or if dia-
charged on account of wounds received, or disa.
Dility incurred in the line of dlty, then the term
of enlistment shall be deducted from the time
heretofore required TO perfect title, without
reference TO the length of time he may have
served Pr0rided, hOiGecer, That no patent shall
issue to any homestead settlerwho has not resided
upon, improved, and cultivated his said home
stead for Il period of at least one year after he
shall his improvements rs afo 'esaid.
SEC. 2. That any person entitled, under the
provisions of the foregoing section, TO enter a
homestead who may have heretofore entered.
una r the homestead laws, q quantity of land
less than one hundred and sixty acres, shall be
permitted to enter under the proyi ions of this
act, SO much land contiguous 10 the tract en-
braccd in the first entry rs, when added to the
quantity previously entered, shall not exceed one
hundred and sixty acres.
Sc. 3. That in case of the detth of
any person who would be emitted TO a
homestead under the provisions of the ilrst
section of this act, his widow. if unmarried, or
in case OF her death or m1rIilgr, then his MINOR
o pAan children, by Il guardian duly appointed
and Officially accredited at the Department of the
lateriOr, shall be entitled 10 all the benefits
enumerated in this act, subject to all the Iro-
visions as to settlement AID improvements there
Ill contained fTOrtItd, mat SuCn person
died during his term OF enlistment, the whole
term of enlistment shall be deducted from the
time heretofore II quired to perfect the title.
SEC. 4. That where a parry at the date of his
entry 10 a tract OF land under the homestead
laws, or subseQueT tly thereto, was actually en-
listed and employed in tho army or navy of the
United States, his services therein shall, in the
administration OF said homestead laws, be con-
strucd to be equivalent, to all intents and pur-
poses, TO u residence for the same lcugth of time
upon the tract so en- cred: PfOUideI,
That if his entry has been can
Cellrd 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 prorifed .fttrther, That if such tract has
been disposed of, said party may enter another
tract subject to entry under said laws and his
right 10 patent therefor may be determined by
the PROOFS touching his residence and cultivation
of the first tract and his absence theretrom in
saCh service.
SEQ. .. That ansrso!dier, sailCr, marine officer,
or other person coming within the provisions of
This act may, as Well by an agent as in person,
enter upon said homestead by filing a declaratory
statement rs in pre- emption cases: Proriist,
That said claimant i'll person shall within the
time prescribed make his actual entry, m
settlements and improvements on the same, and
thereafter fulfill al! the require ments of this
act.
SEC 6. That the Commissioner of the General
Land Office shall have authority to make all
uecdIul rules and regulations to cary into effect
the provisions Of this act.
Approved, June 5, 1872.