Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-04-27
AiseeIIaneuns.
Homestead Law.

An ACT to enable honorable discharged
eoldicrs and sailors, their widows and
orphan children, to acquire homC:tcads
on the public lands of the United States
BE ii enacted Ly tie Senate and House Of
Representatives. Of hG United States OF
1aerica IN Congress 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 honorably discharged, and
has remand 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 An act
making appropriations for completing tho
dctenses 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
government, shall, on compliance with the
provisions of an act entitled IAN act to
secure homesteads 10 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 lands mot mineral) not
one quarter section, 10 be taken in com
pact from according to legal subdivisions,
including the alternate reserved sections
of public lands along The llue of any rail
road or other public work, not otherwise
reserved or appropriated, and other lands
subject to entry under the homestead laws
of the United States PY0rided, That said
homestead settler shall be allowed six
months after locating his homestead within
which to commence his settlement and inn
prOvemcnt And prOuided 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
if discharged on account of wounds receiy
ed, or disability incurred in the line of duty,
then the term ofenlistmcnt shall be deduct
ed from the time heretofore required to
perfect title, without reference to the length
Of time he may have served: Prorided,
ho,ceuer, That no patent shall issue to any
homestead settler who has not resided
upon. improved, and cultivated his home.
stead for n period of at least one year after
/ he shall commence his improvements as
aforesaid.
SEC. 2. That any persons of the forego-
( ing section to enter q homestead, who may
have heretofore entered under the home
/ stead laws a quantity of land less than one
/ hundred and sixty acres, shall be lermlt-
| ted to enter under the provisions ofthis act
so much land as, when added to the guam
| tity previously entered, shall not exceed
! one hundred and sixty acres.
| SEC. 2. That in case of the death of any
person who would be entitled to a home
| stead under the provisions of the first sec
| ton of this act, his widow, if unmarried,
| or i'm case of her death or marriage, then
! his minor orphan children, by guardian
| duly appointed and officially accredited at
at the Department of the Interior, shall be
! entitled to all the benefits enumerated in
! in this act, subject to all the provisions as
| to settlement and improvements therein
| contained Prouided That ii such person
| died during his term of enlistment, the
whole term of his enlistment shall be de-
Quoted from the time heretofore required TO
perfect the title.
SEC. 4. That where party at the date
of his entry off tract of land under the
homestead laws, or subsequently thereto,
was actually enlisted and employed in the
army or navy of the United States, his ser
vices therein shall, in the administration
| of said homestead laws. be construed to be
| equivalent, TO all intents and purposes, TO
| a residence for the same length OF time up
on the tract SO entered: Provided, That
/ II his entry has been cancealed by reason OF
| his absence from said tract while in the
military. or naval service OF the United
States, aud such tract has not been dispos-
ed of, his entry shall be restored and con.
! nrmed And .pror'ded further, That II