Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-04-18
Public Lands for Soldiers.

The following is the law in full as pass.
ed by Congress and signed by the Press
idant, giving homeste Ids TO soldiers OF
the late war
Be il enacted /. the Senate and House
Of REPRESENTATIVES Of the United States
IF Amsrice IN Ccrg'css assembled, 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 honCrably
discharged, M d has remained loyal to
the government, including the troop,
mustered into the service Of the United
States by virtue of the third section OF
an act entitled IAN act making appro-
priations for completing the delen:es Of
Washington, and for other purposes,
approved February thirteenth, eighteen
hundred and sixty-two, and every sea
man 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
discharged, and ha, remained loyal tc
the government, shall on compliance
with the provisions Of an act entitled
"An act to secure horDestcads to actual
settlers on the public domain, and the
act. amenlatory thereof as herein
after modified be entitled to enter upon
and receive patents for quantity OF pub.
lie lands (uot mncrai} not exceeding one
huadred and sixty acres, or one quarter
section, to be taken in compact fern ac-
coriinr to LEGAL subdivisions, including
the alternate reserved sections Of public
lands along the line OF any railroad or
other public work, not otherwise rcscrv-
ed or appropriated, and other lands subs
iect to entry under the homestead laws
of the United States Prociled, That said
homestead settler shall be allowed six
months after locating his homestead
within which to commences his settlement
and improvement. and prorided aiS0
That the time which the homestead set.
tier shall have served in the army, navy
or marine corps aforesaid, shall he de-
Quoted from the time heretofore required
10 perfect title, or if discharged on aC-
count Of wounds received or disability
incurred in the line OF duty, then the
term Of enlistment shall be deducted
from the time heretofore required - per
feet title, without reference TO the time
he may have served Procided, howecer,
That no patent snail issue 10 any home
stead 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 improve
mcnts rs aforesaid
SEc 2 That any person entitled un-
der the provisions Of the foregoing see
ton to enter homestead, who may have
heretofore entered under the homestead
laws quantity OF land less than one
hundred and sixty acres shall be per-
United to enter under the provisions OF
this act 50 much land "A, when added to
the quantity previously entered shalt
not exceed one hundred and sixty acres.
SEC. 3 That in case of the death Of
any person who would he entitled to a
homestead under tho provisions of the
first section of this act, his widow, If un.
married or in case of her death or mar,
riagc, then his minor orphan children,
by guardian duly appointed and 9th
cialy accredited ut the Department Of
the interior, shall be entitled to all the
benefits enumerated in this act, subject
to all the provisions at to settlement and
improvements therein contained Pro-
ciRed, That if such person died during
his term of enlistment, the whole term ct
his enlistment shall be deducted FROM the
time heretofore required to perfect the
title
SEC 4 That where II party at the
date of his entry OF a tract of land under
the homestead laws, or subsequently
thereto, was actually enlisted and en-
ployed in the army or navy of the
United States, his services therein shall
ia the administration of said homestead
law, be construed to be equivalent 70 nll
intcnts and PURPOSES 60 "a residence tor
the same length of time upon tho traCJ
so entered Proriicd That If his entry
has been Cancelled 10y reason of his uh,
sence from said tract while in the nils
itary or naval service Of the United
States, and such tract has not been dis
posed Of, his entry shall be restored and
confirmed {: And prorjicd tHriher That
il such tract has been disposed of, sni |
party may enter another tract subject to
entry under said laws, and his right 10 n
patent therefor shall be determined hy
the proofs touching his residence and
cultivation OF the first tract, and his alb
scnGe theretrom in such service
SrG ), That any soldier. sailor.
marine, officer, or other person coming
within the provisions of this act may, as
well 10y an agent as in person, enter
upon said homestead Proriiei That
said claimant in person shall, within tho
time prescribed commence settlements
ard improvements en the same, and
thereafter fulfill NIL the rrutliremrnts Of