New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-31
GENERAL .NAruRE-No. 39.l

lGENERAL .NATURE-NO. 81.
An act to enable honorably discharged
soldiers and sailors, their widows and
orphan children, to acquire homesteads
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
! ficer 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 IAN act
making appropriations for completing the
defenses 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
ernment shall, on compliance with The pro
visions of an act entitled 'An act to secure
hOmesteads to actual settlers on tie public
domain and the acts amendatory thereof,
as hereinafter modified, be entitled to enter
upon and receive patents for aquantty of
public lands mot mineral) not exceeding
one hundred and sixty acres or One-quarter
section, to be taken in compact form aC-
cOrding to legal subdivisions, including
the alternate reserved sections of public
lands along the line of any rsilrOad
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 inn
1,ppy hot ha
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 if
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 be 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 period of at least one year after
he shall commence his improvements as
aforesaid.
SEC. 2. That any person entitled under
the provisions of the foregoing section to
enter homestead who may have heretofore
entered under the homestead laws a guam
tity of land less than one hundred and sixty
acres shall be permitted to enter under the
added to the quantity previously entered,
shall not exceed one hundred and sixty
acres
SEC g. That in case of the death Of any
person who would be entitled to homestead
under the provisions of the first section of
this act his widow, if unmarried, or in case
Of her death or marriage, then hls minOF
orphan children, by guardian duly APP
pointed and officially accredited at the De
partment Of the Interior, shall be entitled
to ali the benefits enumerated III this act,
subject to all the provisions as tO.settle-
1nent and improve 4nts therein contained;
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 at the date Of
his entry of 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, h.s services
therein shall, in the administrator of said
homestead law, be construed to be equiVa-
lent, to all intents and purposes, to resi-
dence for the same length of time upon the
tract 20 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 to 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 Of this act may, as wei by an
agent as in person, enter upon said home
stead: provided, that said claimant in per
son shall, withIu the time prescribed, com
mence settlements and improvements on
he same, and thereafter fulfill all the re-
quiremonts Of this act.
SEC. 6. That the Commissioner Of the
General Land Office shall have authority 10
make all needful rules and regulations TO
carry into effect the provisions Of this at.
Approved April 4, 1872.