New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-07-27
OF r ICAA L.
Laws of che United states Passed at the
Third Session Of she forty.Secend
C0uGress,

Thlr0 SeSS1oD q Sne KOTtysSeCOuo
Congress.
GENERAL NArURE-No. 1917
An act to provide for the sale of lands OF
the United States con taining coal.
Be il enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America N Congress assembled, That any
person above the age of iweuty-one years,
who is a citizen of the United States. or
who has declared his intention to become
such, or any association OF person. sever
ally qualified as above, shall, upon applica-
ton to the register OF the proper land Once
have the right 10 enter. by legal subdl-
visions, any quantity OF vacant coal lands
OF the United States not otherwise appro-
prlated or 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
payment to the receiver OF not less tnan
ten dollars per acre for such lands. where
the same shall be situated more than fifteen
miles from any completed railroad, and not
less than twenty dollars per acre for such
lands as shall be within fifteen miles OF
such road
SEC. =. That any person or association
OF persons severally qualified as above, who
have opened and improved, or shall here
after open and improve, any coal mine or
mines upon the public lands, and shall be in
actual possession of the same, shall be en-
titled to preference right OF entry, under
the foregoing provisions, OF the mines SO
opened aEd improved; provided. that when
any association of not less than four per-
sons, scveIaily qualified as in section one
OF this act. shall have expended not lees
than FIVE thousand dollars ID workir and
improving any such mine or mines. such
association NAV enter not exceeding six
hundred and forty acres, including such
mining improvements.
SEC. :. That all claims under section two
Of thi. act must be presented to the register
Of the proper land district within sixty days
after the date OF actual possession and the
commencement Of Improvements on the
land. by the filing OF . deeiaratory state
ment therefor; provided. that when the
township plat is not on file at the date OF
such improvement, fling must he made
within sixty days from the receip. of such
plat at the district office; and provided tur:
Their. that where the Improvements shall
have been made prior to the expiration OF
ehree months from the passage of this act,
sixty days from the expiration OF said three
month. shall be allowed for the filing of a
declaratory statement. and no sale under
she provisions of this act shall be allowed
until the expiration OF SIX months from the
date hereof.
SEC. !. That this act shall be held to
authorize only one entry by the same per-
son or association OF persons under Its
provisions and no association OF persons
any member of which shall: have taken the
benefit of this act either as an individual or
a. a men. Der of any other association. snail
enter or held any other lands under the
provisions of this act: and no member OF
any association which shall have taken the
beneti: OF this act shall enter or hold any
ether lands under ITS provisions and all
persons claiming under section two hereof
shall be required 20 prove their respective
sights and paw for the lands fled upon
within ors year from the time prescribed
for fling their respective claims: and upon
failure to file the proper notice. or to pay
for the land within the required period, the
same shall be subject to entry by any other
qualified applicant.
SEC. 5. That in case of conflicting claims
upon lands where the improvements shall
be hereafter commenced, priority of posses
zion and improvement, followed by proper
Gling and continued good faith. shall &C.
termine the preference right to purchase.
And also where Improvements have already
been made at the date Of the passage OF
this act. division OF the land claim
may be made by legal subdivisions,
valuable improvements Q. tie respective
parties; and Commissioner OF the General
Land Office shall be and is hereby author
lied to issue all needtul rules and regula-
lions 70. carrying into effect the provisions
Of this act.
SEC G. That nothing IL this act shall be
construed to destroy Or impair any rights
which may have attached prior 20 its pass
age, or to authorize the sale OF lands valu-
abe tor mines Of gold. silver OK copper.
Approved March 3, 1873.