New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-06-15
GENERAL NATURE-NO. 1911

NAAC hL-4No. AVf
Al act to provide for the sale of lands of
tle United States containing coal.
Be i. enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America IL Congress assembled, That any
person above the age of ;wenty-one years,
whc is citizen OF the United States, or
who has declared his intention to become
such. or any association OF persons sever
ally qualified as above, shall, upon applica-
ton to the register OF the proper land office.
have tae right 10 enter. by legal subdi-
visions. am quantity OF vacant coal lands
OF the United States not otherwise appro.
priaced OF reserved by competent authority,
not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres
to such individual person, or three hundred
and twenty acres to such association, upon
;,ayMen: 20 the receiver OF not less than
TEL; dollars per acre for such lands, where
the sarI.e shall be situated more than fifteen
miles from any completed railroad, and not
Jess tnan twenty dollars per acre for such
lands as sLa.. be within fifteen miles OF
sUc;. road.
SEC. 2. That any person or association
Of persons severaliy qualified as above, who
have opened and improved, or shall here
after open and improve. any coal mine or
minee upon the public lands, and shall be in
actual possession OF the same, shall be en-
titled t. a preference right of entry under
the foregoing provisions, OF the mines SO
opened and improved; provided, that when
any association of not less than four per-
sons. sevecalIy qualified as in section one
cs this act. shall have expended not less
than FIVE thousand dollars in working and
improving any such mine or mines, such
association may enter not exceeding elk
hun ired and forty acres, including such
mining in prOveinents.
SEC =. That all claims under section two
of this act must be presented to the register
OF the proper land district within sixty days
after the date Of actual possession and the
CON mencement of Improvements on the
land. by the fling of deciaratOry state
ment therefor: provided, that when the
township plat is not on file at the date of
such ia.pro vement, fling must be made
within sixty days from the receipt OF such
piat,at the district office; and provided fur
tier that where the improvements shall
have been made prior to the expiration of
tnree months from the passage OF this act,
sixty days from the expiration of said three
mon tbs sual. be allowed for the filing OF a
dec.aratory statement. and no sale under
tie provisions of this act shall be allowed
Unit. the expiration of six months from the
Jat. hereof.
SEC. !. That this act shall be held to
Authorize only one entry by the same per.
scE or association OF persons under lis
provisions: and no association of persons
anv member Of which, shall have taken the
benefit cf this act either as an individual! or
a. a member of any OTHER association, shall
enter CT hold any other lands under the
prov si0ns OF this act; and no member Of
any association which shall have taken the
beIeti. O. this act shall enter or hold any
othe, lands under its provisions and all
persons claiming under section two hereof
shall be required to prove their respective
rights and pay for the lands filed upon
with, one year from the time prescribed
f.: fling their respective claims; and upon
failure 20 file the proper notice, or to pay
for the ia2d within the required period, the
same shall he suhjec. to entry by any other
.Ual.te. app, icant.
SEC. 5. That in case Of conflicting claims
Upon lands where the improvements shall!
be Aereatte: commenced. priority of posses.
son and improvement, followed by proper
t.in: and Continued good faith. shall de-
.eriAine the preference right to purchase.
And 81 where Improvements have already
been Llaf.e at the date Of the passage OF
mi. act. division of the land claim
nay ne made by legal subdivs ons,
t include. as near as may be. the
valuable improvements Of the respective
parties: and Commissioner of the General
Land Office shall be and is hereby author
iz.d 10 ISSUE all nee6ful rules and regula-
tons 70. carrying into effect the provisions
Of this act.
SEC. 6. Tina: nothing in this act shall be
construed to destroy or impair any rights
which may have attached prior to its pass
a &c. or to authorize the sale of lands valu.
able for mines Of gold. silver or copper.
Approved March ), 1873.