Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-04-17
SOLDIERS HOMESTEAD ACT.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 8, II.


The following important act, which
became law by signature of the Presi-
dent on Thursday last, has not hitherto
been published in full:
Be IL enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives. Of the United
States Of america, an Congress as
sen16Led
SECTION l. That every private sol
der 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 remained loyal TO the Government,
including the troops mustered into the
service of the United States by virtue Of
the third section of an act entitled Gan
act making appropriations for complet
ing the defenses of Washington and for
other purposes" approved February
Ii, 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 was honorably discharged
has remained loyal to the Government,
shall on the compliance with the pro-
visions of an act entitled can act to Sc
cure homesteads to actual settlers on the
domain, and the acts amendatory there
Of, as hereinafter modified, be entitled
to enter upon and receive patents for a
quantity public land (not mineral) not
exceeding one hundred and sixty acres,
or one quarter section, to be taken in
compact form according to legal subdi
vision, including the alternate 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 loca-
ting his Homestead within which to
commence his settlement and improve
ments and provided also, that the
time which the homestead seller shall
have served in the army, navy or ma
rine corps aforesaid sshal befsdeducted
from the time heretofore required to
perfect title, or if discharged on ac-
count of wounds received or inability in
Cured in the line Of duty, then the
term of enlistment shall be deducted
from the time heretofore required to
perfect title, without reference to the
length of time he may have served
Provided, however. that no patent shall
issue to any homestead settler who has
not resided upon, improved and cult
waited his said homestead for period
of at least one year after he shall COM
mence his improvements as aforesaid.
Sec. 2. That any person entitled un-
der the provisions of the foregoing sec
tons to enter homestead, who may
have heretofore entered under the
homestead laws quantity of land less
than one hundred and sixty acres, shall
be permitted to enter under the provis-
ions Of this act as much land as, when
added to the quantity previously en-
tered, shall not exceed one hundred
and sixty acres.
Sec. 3 That in the 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 the case of her
death or marriage, then his minor Or
phan children. by guardian duly APP
pointed and officially accredited at the
department of the Interior, shall be
entitled to all the benefits enumerative
in this act, subjected to all the provis-
ions to settlement and improvements
therein contained (; Provided, That if
snch person died during his term of en-
lstment the whole term of his enlist
ment shall be deducted from the time
heretofore required to perfect the title.
SEC. 4, That where a party at the
date of his entry of tract of land un-
der the Homestead laws, or subsequent
ly thereto. was actually enlisted and
employed in the army or navy of the
United States, his service therein shall,
in the administration Of said Home
stead laws, be constr ued to be equiva-
lent, to all intents and purposes, TO
residence for the same length of time
upon the tract SO entered; Provided,
that if his entry has been cancelled by
reason of his absence from said tract
while in the military Or naval service
of the United States, and such tract
has been disposed Of his entry shall be
restored and confirmed and Provided
further, that if such tract has been dis
posed of, said party may enter another
tract subject to enter under said laws,
and his right to patent therefor shall
be determined by the proofs touching
his residence and cultivation Of the
first tract, an his absence therefrom in
such service.
Sec. 5. That any soldier, sailor,
marine, officer, or other person coming
within the provisions of this act may
as we'll by an agent as in person, enter
upon said homestead: Rovided, That
the said claimantin person shall, with
in the time prescribed, commence set
Element and improvement on the same
and thereafter fulfil all the require
ments Of this act.
Sec. 6 That the Commissioners of
the General Land Office shall have
authority to make all needful rules and
regulation to carry into effect the pro-
visions Of this act
ANOTHER BoRGIA.--The telegraph |