Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-07-03
Soldiers H0mesteadS.

| The following is the text of the bill
passed Just before the adjournment, to
amend the law relating to soldiers and
sailors homesteads
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and
House OF Representatives of the United
States OF -Americd, IN Ccngress as
senlb5ed, That the act entitled "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" ap
proved April 4, 1872, be, and the same
is hereby amended so as to read as fol.
lows That every private soldier and
officer who has served in the army of
the United States during the recent re-
belllon tor ninety days, or more. and
who was honorably discharged, and has
remained loyal to the Government. in
Guiding the troops mustered into the
service of the United States by virtue
OF the third section of the act entitled
" An act making appropriations
for completing the defenses of
Washington, and for other purposes, -
approved February 13, 1862 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
has remained loyal to the Government.
shall, on compliance with the provis-
ions of an act entitled s'An act to sec
ure homesteads to actual settlers on
the public domain and the acts
amendatory thereof, as hereinafter
modified, be entitled to enter upon and
receive patents for a quantity of public
land (not mineraD not exceeding one
hundred and sixty acres, or one quar-
ter section, to be taken in compact
form, according to legal subdivisions.
the alternate reserved sec
tions of public lands along the line of
any railroad or other public work, not
otherwise reserved or appropri.
ated, 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
and filing his declaratory statement
within which to make his entry and COM
mence his settlement: Ind prouided |
also, That the time which the home
stead settler may have served in the
army. navy or marine corps aforesaid
shall be deducted from the time hereto.
fore required to perfect the title, or if
discharged on account of wounds re-
ceived or disability incurred in the
line of duty, then the term of enlist
ment shall be deducted from the time
heretofore required to perfect title.
without reference to the time he NAV
have served. ProUided, ho,DeUer.
That no patent shall issue to any home
stead settler who has not resided upon.
and cultivated his said home
stead for q period of at least one year
after he shall commence his improve
ments as aforesaid
Sec. 2. That any person entitled, un-
der the provisions of the foregoing sec
tion, to enter homestead, who NAV
have heretofore entered, under the |
Homestead laws, quantity of land |
less than one hundred and sixty acres,
shall be permitted to enter, under the |
provisions of this act. SO much land |
to the tract embraced in
the first entry 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
homestead under the provisions of the
first section of this act, his widow, if
unmarried, or in case of her death or
marriage, then his minor orphan child
rem, by guardian duly appointed and
officially accredited at the Department
of the Interior, shall be entitled to all
the benefits enumerated in this act,
subject to all the provisions as to set
tlement and Improvements therein con-
tanned: ProUided, That if such parsons
died during his term of enlistment, the
whole term of his enlistment shall be
deducted from the time heretofore re-
quired to perfect the title.
Sec. f. That where a party at the
date of his entry of tract of land
under the Homestead laws, or subse-
quently thereto, was actually enlisted
In the army OF navy of the United
States, his services therein shall, in the
administration of said Homestead
laws, be construed to be equivalent, to
all lntents and purposes, to residence
of the same length of time upon the
tract SO entered Provided,
That if his entry had been cancelled by
reason of his absence from said tract
while in the military OF naval service
of the United States, and such tract has
not been disposed OF, his entry shall
be restored: And prouided 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 patent therefor may be
determined by the proofs touching his
residence and cultivation of the first
tract and lis absence therefrom In
such service
SEC. 5. That any soldier, sailor, or
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 and file a declar-
atory, statement as in pte-emption
cases: Provided, That said claimant
in person shall within the time pre-
scribed make his entry, commence set
| Elements and improvements on the
same, and thereafter fulfill all the re-
quirements of this act.
| SEC. 6. That the Commissioner OF
the General Land Office shall have au-
thority to make all needful rules and
regulations to carry into effect the pro-
visions of this act.
Calamity in New FORK.