New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-16
fGENERAL NATCRE-No. 1911

| Au ACT W pToNiue loF the sale OIL ldDuS o.
the United States containing coal.
| Be it enacted By the Senate and House Of
| Representatives OF the United States OF
| America IN Congress- assembled, That any
! person above the age of iwenty-One years
1 who 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 the right to enter. by legal subdi-
visions, any quantity Of vacant coal lands
OF the United States not otherwise appro
ptiated or reserved by competent authority,
not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres
to such individual person, or three hundred
and twenty acres 20 such association, upon
payment to the receiver of not less than
ten dollars per acre for such lands, where
the same shall be situated more than fifteen
Miles from any completed railroad, aud not
less than twenty dollars per acre for such
lands as shall be within fifteen miles of
such road.
SEC. 9. That any person or association
OF persons severaily qualified as above. who
have opened and improved, or shall here
alter open and improve, any coal mine or
miues upon the public lanGs 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 and improved; provided, that when
any association of not less than four per
sons, severally qualified as in section one
OF 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 six
hundred and forty acres, including such
mining improvements.
SEC. 3. That all claims under section two
of this act must be presented to the register
49, b.. ,J.,~ Il Al
after the date of actual possession and the
commencement of improvements ON the
land. by the filing OF q deciaratory state
ment therefor; provided, that when the
township plat is hot on file at the late of
such Improvement, filing must te made
within sixty days from the receipt of such
plat at the district office; and provided fur
ther, that where the improvements shall
have been made prior to the expiration of
three months fron the passage of this act,
sixty days from the expiration OF said three
months shall be allowed for the fling of a
declarat0ry statement. and no sale under
the provisions of this act shall be allowed
until the expiration Of six months from the !
date hereof. |
SIC. 4. That this &C. 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 |
uhy u-SuVCA VI WulCu nave taken the
benefit OF this act either an individual on |
As member of any other association, shall !
enter or hold any other lands under the
provisions OF this act; end no memb Der of |
any association which shall have taken the
benefit OF this act shall enter or hold any
other lands under it's provisions and all |
persons claiming under section tvs hereof
shall be required TO prove their respective
tights and pay for the lands filed upon
within one year from the time prescribed
or filing their respective claims; and upon
allure to file the proper notice, or to pay
or the land within the required period, the |
anne shall be subject to entry by any other
qualified applicant. I
Sec. S. That in case of conflicting claims
lpon lands where the improvements shall 4
" hereafter commenced, priority of posses /
ion and improvement, followed BY proper
ling and continued good faith. shall de-
ermne tho preference right to purchase
md also where Improvements have already
cen made at the date of the passage of
his act. division of the land Claim
lay be made by legal subdivisions,
} include, rs near as may be, the
aluable improvements of the respective |
arties; and Commissioner OF the General
and Office shall be and is hereby author
ed to issue all needful rules and regula-
ons for carrying into effect the provisions
this act.
SEC. q. That nothing in thi. act shall be
nstrued to destroy or imns.ir any rights
lich may have attached prior 10 its pass- I
,e. or to authorize the sale of lands valu- i
Nc tor mines of gold, silver or coppe.. IL
Approved March :. 1879. 1t