The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-04-19
TIE HOMESTEAD LAW.

Interesting to Discharged Soldiers
and Sailors, Their Widows and
Orphans. 1r. f IIe-
The following is the text of the bill
signed on Thursday by the President
by which special privileges are granted
to honorably discharged soldiers and
their heirs. Two important changes in
the law are made by it. 1t allows. the
time enlisted for or served in the army
or navy to be deducted from the five
years of residence required by the home
stead act to acquire title and it further
provides that the entry may be made
by an agent: a
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
OF America, in Congress assembled i:
That every private soldier and officer
who has served in the army of the
United States, during the recent rebel
lion, for ninety days or more, aud who
vas hOnorably discharged, and has re-
manned loyal to the government, inclu-
ding the troops mustered into the SER
vice of the United States, by virtue of
the third section Of act entitled can act
making appropriations for completing
the dcfences Of Washington, and for
other purposes" approved February
thirteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty
two, and every seaman, marine, and Off
Ger who has served in the navy of the
United States, OF in the marine corps
during the rebellion, for ninety days,
and who was hOnorably discharged, and
has remained loyal to the government,
shall, in compliance with the provis-
ions of an.act entitled can act to secure
hOmesteads to actual settlers on the pub
lie domain" and the acts amendatory
thereof, as hereinafter modified, be ell
titled to enter upon and receive patents
for a quantity of public land mot min
eraO not exceeding one hundred and
sixty acres, or one-quarter section, to
be taken in compact form, according to
legal subdivisions, including the alter-
nate reserved sections of public lands
along the line of any railroad or other
public work. not otherwise reserved 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 | coating his homestead
within which to commence his settle
IIlVut otlu <hIo DtoNl lGtt
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 dischar-
ged 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 requir-
! ed to perfect title, cithOut reference to
| the length of time he may hare serred.
| Provided. however. that no patent shall
iseuc to any homestead settler who has
not resided upon, improved and c~ultiva-
ted his saiI homestead for 8 period Of at
least ole year after he shall commence
his improvements rs aforesaid.
Sec. =. That any person entitled, un-
der the provisions of the foregoing sec.
ton, to enter a homestead, who may
have heretofore entered under the
homestead laws a quantity Of land less
than one.hundrcd and sixty acres, shall
be permitted TO enter, under the provis'
ions of this act, SO much land as, when
added to the quantity previously enter.
ed, shall not exceed one hundred and
sixty acres.
Sec. 8. That in case OF death of any
person who would be entitled to {
homestead, under the provisions of thu
first section of this act, his widow, |
unmarried. or in case Of her death o.
----L- L. -.----.P,'.. riiIi
drcn. by a guardian duly appointed ant
officially accredited at the Department
Of the Interior. shall be entitled to al
the benefits enumerated in this act
Provided. that if such person died du
ring his term Of enlistment shall be dc
Quoted from the time heretofore re
quired to perfect title.
Sec. 4. That where a party at tn
date Of his entry OF a tract of land un
der the homestead laws Or Subsequent
/, thereof. was actually enlisted an'
employed in the army and navy Of tn
United States, services therein shall, j
the administration Of said hOmestea'
laws. be constructed to be equivalen
to oil intents and purposes, to res
; dence for the same length of time uI
OH the tracts SO entered; Provided tina
: ifhis entry has been Cancelled by rcasO
Of his absence from said tract, while
the military or naval service Of 1.-THE I'm
: ted States. and such tract has not bee
. disposed Of his entry shall be restore
$ and confirmed /; And provided furthe
that il such tract has been disposed o
said party may enter another tract sui
/ ject to entry under said laws: and b
right to n patent therefor shall be d.
termined by the proofs touching his re
idcncc and cultivation of the first trac
n aud his absence thcrcfrom in such SER
v ice. So
Sec. 3. That any soldier, sailor, m
rinc, officer, or other person conil
within the provisions Of this act ina
' as we'll by an agent as in person. cnt'
!. upon said homestead. provided TIL
said claimant in person shall, within Il
II time prescribed, commence settleme1
~ and improvements oil the same, al
c thereafter fulfill all the requirements
il this act. -
c Sec. 6. That the Commissioner Of q
/. General Land Office shall have authO
" ity to make all ncedful rules and reg
/" lations to carry into effect the prov
ions of this aci.
=, a STORY is told ola youthful memb
al rL l. CO AlJ,onc who nlunU