New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-09
[GENERAL NAruRn-No. 99.l

An act to enable honorably discharged
soldiers and sailors, their widows ana
orphan children, to acquire homesteads
on the public lands of the United States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and. House
of REPRESENTATIVE of the United States
of America, in Congress assembled
That every private soldier and Of
fcer who has served IN the army
of the United States during tha
recent rebellion for ninety days, or more,
and who was honorably discharged, and
has remained loyal to the governments, 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 Bhe
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, Tor
ninety days, and who was honorably DIS
charged, and has remained loyal to the gov
eminent, shall, on compliance with the pro
visions of an act entitled "An act 60 secure
homesteads to acsAal settlers on the public
domain and the acts amendat0ry thereof
"a hereinafter modified be entitled to enter
upon and receive patents for quantity Oh
public lands met miDerall not exceeding
one hundred and sixty acres, or one-quarter
section to be taken in compact form &c
eOrding to legal subdivisions, including
the alternate reserved sections Of public
lands along the line Of any r5lroad
or ether 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 i'm
provement; and provided, 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 tigey or II
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 10
perfect title, without reference to the length
of time he may have served provided
however, that no patent shall issue 70 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 bis improvements as
aforesaid,
SEC. 2. That any person entitled undeI
the provisions Of the foregoing section TO
enter a homestead who may have heretofore
entered under the homestead laws 2 guam
| titv Of land less than one hundred and sixty
| acres shall be permitted to enter under the
| provisions of this act 80 much land ~, Wnen
| added to the quantity previously entefea,
| shall not exceed one hundred and Sixty
/ acres.
| SIC. 3. That IN case Of the death Of any
| gerson who would be entitled toa homestead
4 under tie provisions of the first section OF
4 this act bis widow, if unmarried, OF IN case
I Of her death or marriage, then his nin0V
/ orphan children, By guardian aMly ap-
pointed and officially accredited Of the pc.
Z r 49, shall fsf HarffFNafi
/ to ali the benefits enumerated in this act,
\ subject to all the provisions az 70 settle
/ ment and improvements therein o0nfanedi
] provided, that IL such person died during
/ his term Of enlistmenf, the whole term Of bis
enlistment shall be deducted FROM the time
4 heretofore required to perfect the title.
SEC 4. That where party at the date OE
! his Entry Of tract of land under the home
| stead laws, or subsequently thereto, was
actually enlisted and employed 10 tue army
For navy Of the United States, his services
therein shall in the administration Of said
homestead law be construed to De equiVt
lent, TO all intents and purposes, to Q resi-
dence for fhe same length Of time upon the
tract so entered; provided, that il his entrJ
has beeu cancelled by reason of bis absbne'
from said tract while in the military o.
naval service Of the United States, ant
such tract has not beeu disposed OF, hl
entry shall be restored and e0ntirmedi an'
provided further that If such tract ma
been disposed Of, said. party may ente
another tract subject to entry unde
said laws; and his right to paten
therefor shall be determined by the proof
touching his residence and cultivation 0
tie iirsf tract, and his absence therefromn
such service
SEC. 5. 1hat any soldier, sailor, marine
officer. or. other person coming Within Tn
I | provisions Of this act may, as well gy a
agent as in person, enter upon SAID nome
{ stead: provided, that said claimant IN PEI
f son shall. within the time prescribed, com
{ menee settlements and improvements o
0 the same, and thereafter fulfill all the II
+ auirementsof this act.
i. SEC. g. That the Commissioner OF u
T General Land Office shah have authority
: make an needful rules and regulations
\ carry into effect the provisions Of this *
n Approved April 4, 1872.