, 1874-02-05


SALE OF TIMBER LANDs.-Mr. Sargent
of California, has introduced the follow
ing bill into the U. S. Senate, and Mr..
McFaoden writes us he thinks it will
become law:
A Bill for the sale of Timber Lands in
the States of California and Oregon
and Washington Territory.
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives of the
United States of America IN Congress
assembled: That surveyed public lands
of the United States within the States
of California ard Oregon and Washing
ton Territory, not included within mill
tary, Indisn, or other reservations of
the United States, valuable for timber
bnt unfit for cultivation, may be sold to
citizens of the United States, or persons
who have declared their intention to
become such, in quantities not to ex-
ceed six hundred and forty acres to any
one person or association of persons, at
the minimum price of two dollars and
fifty cents per acre; and lands valuable
chiefly for stone may be sold on the
same terms as timber lands; Provided,
that nothing herein contained shall de-
feat or impair any bona fide claim under
any law of the United States, or author
ize the sale of any mining claim, or the
improvements of any bonafide settler:
or lands containing gold, silver, copper,
cinnabar, or coal, in quantities sufficient
to render mining gremunerative; or lands
selected by said States under any law of
the United States donating lands for
internal improvements, education. or
other purposes: And provided further.
That none of the rights conferred by
the act approved July 26th, 1865, enti-
tied can act granting the right of way
to ditch and canal owners over the pub.
nc lands. and for other purposes, shall
be abrogated by this act, and the same
are hereby extended to all public lands
affected by this act; and all patents
granted shall be subject to any vested
and accrued water rights, or rights to
bitches and reservoirs used in connec-
ton with such water rights, as may have
been acquired under or recognized by
said act, and such rights shall be ex-
pressly reserved in any patent issued
under this act.
Sec. 2. That any person desiring to
avail himself of the provisions of this
act shall file with the register of the
proper district written statement in
duplicate, one of which is to be trans
mitted to the General Land Office, de-
signaling by legal subdivisions the par
ticular tract of land he desires to pur-
chase, setting forth that the same is unit
for cultivation, and valuable chiefly for
its timber or stone, that it is uninhabit-
ed; contains no mining or other inn
proven ents, except for ditch or canal
purposes, save such as were made by or
belong to the applicant. nor. as deponent
verify believes, any valuable deposit of
gold, silver, cinnibar, copper or coal;
that deponent has made no other appli..
cation under this act; that he does not
apply to purchase the same on specula-
ton, but in sood faith to appropriate it
to his own exclusive use and benefit;
and that he has not. directly or indi-
rectly, made any agreement or contract,
in any way or manner, with any person
or persops whatsoever, by which the
title be might acquire from the Govern
mept of the United States should inure.
in whole or part, to the benefit Of any
person except himself; which statement
must be verified by the oath of the ap-
plicant, before the register or receiver
of the land Office, within the district
where the land is situated; and if any
person taking such oath shall swear
falsely in the premises, be shall be sub
ject to all the pains and penalties OF per-
INV ,nJ eb,lI forfeit the money which