The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-23
THE NEW GOSS LAND LAW.
Most lmportant Land Measure of
Recent Years.
PROVIDES FOR A RECONSTRUCTION.
Agricultural Lands to lie Sold Mt n
Dollar and n Half. Grnzing
ut One Dollar.
R0yIDFS FOR A RECONSTRUCTION.

Austin, Texas. May 2l.-The following
bill by Senator Goss amending and perfect
ing the general land act OF 1895 has become
law:
Section l. Be it enacted by the legisla-
ture of the State of Texas that articles
i2lSd and 42lSi chapter 12A. tide a. Of the
Revised Civil Statutes OF the State of Texas
be and the same are hereby repealed. and
that articles i21sf and 42lSfn be added
thereto. aud articles 42lse l91sf, 42lsh.
i2lSs and 42lSy of said chapter aud title be
amended SO as to hereafter read as fol.
lows:
Article 42lSe. The commissioner OF the
general land office may from time to time,
as the public interest may require. CLASSIFY
any or all OF the lands belonging to the
several funds mentioned in This chapter
that have not been heretofore CLASSIFIED
upon such facts as may be satisfactory TO
him. designating the same as agricultural
grazing or timbered land, according to the
fact in the particular case, aud he nav
prescribe such regulations in relation
thereto as he may deem necessary to Sc
cure correct classification lie may also
reclassfy any lands heretofore erroneous
~ CLASSIFIED upon the official certificate of
the commissioners court of the county IN
which said land is situated or of ;he coun-
ty TO which such county is attached for
judicial purposes, certifying what the
proper classification should be. said cer-
tiiicatc 10 he signed BY the entire com.
lnlsslonerS court, including the county
Judge. or upon sueh other evidence is may
be satisfactory 10 the commissioners.
Article I2lNf. When any portion OF said
lana has been CLASSIFIED 10 the satisfaction
Of The commissioner of the general land
office under the provision of this chapter
or former laws. such land shall be subject
To sale. but 10 actual settlers only, except
whore otherwise provided by law and In
quantities of not less than eighty acres
or mutipes thereof. nor more than four
sections contain 6i0 acres more or less;
provided that the purchaser shall BOT in
GUIDE IN his purchase more than Two sec
tons Of agricultural land and provided
( mat where there is a fraction less than
eighty acres OF any section left unsnld such
/ traction may be sold. Any bona lde pur-
chaser who has heretofore purchased or
who may hereafter purchase any lands as
| provided herein. shall have the right TO
purchase Other lands In addition thereto
| provided that the total Of his purchases
shall not exceed four section, and that IT
shall not include more than two sections
nj agricultural land. upon his making oath
! mat he Is not acting In collision with
! others for the purpose OF buying tie land
! Tor any othor person or corporation, and
that no other person or corporation is in
! terested In the purchase thereof And If
he or his vendor has already resided upon
! his home section for three years. or when
| ne or his vendor or both together shall
| have resided upon IT for three years the
| additional lands purchased may be patented
! at any time. In all cases where a settler
| purchases more than one section. the lands
| IN excess Of one section so purchased p,ust
| bo situated within radius of i've miles
! OF the lands occupied by him Where any
/ OF the lands referred TO In this act have
/ been sold prior to July 30, 1895. in quanti.
ties greater or less than forty acres or mui-
| tples thereof and are In good standing as
I to interest payments, they may be patented
/ In such quantities. In any eases whore
lands nave been forfeited 10 the
state for the nonpayment of interest
1 the purchasers or their yendses mny have
their claims relnstated on their written
request, by paying INTO the treasury the
| fun amount due on such claim I'm to d1te
| of rUinstate mcnt' provided. thar no right
of third persons may have interviewed In
all such cases the original obligations ami
| penalties shall thereby become "a bind
/ ing as II no forfeiture had ev r occurred
Article i2lSn When any purchaser buys
! end settles upon section or part Of n
, section OF school lands. and buys. either az
me same timo or subsequently. other lands
/ IN addition thereto. a forfeiture fer any
! legal cause OF the part on which he resides
at Any time before the three years resl.
. dence thereon has been complied shall
work forfeiture of the entire purchase
except such part thereof as may have been
. previously sold TO another. Hut alter ths
three years residence has been comprsiad
| forfeiture Of the home tract shall MOI
/ az Itself work forfeiture of the cher
( tract or tracts In case ~ sale Of 1nv nj
{ said tracts before the three years' fcsldepce
! has been completed, the yander n,usf rc.
side theron until he has rnmpletrd tba
three years occupancy from the d1tc ~ ,bc
( original purchase, and I failure Ia 10 20
shall subject his land 20 forfeiture. hut
, IN case OF sale Of any Of said tracts inter-
the completion OF the three wears resi-
| dcnce. the Nendce shall be cxenpt frotn ths
| conditions Of settlement and occupancy
| Article i2lSifi Any actual, bona fdo
| owner OF and resident upon any other lands
| contiguous To said lands. or within a ra
dius of five miles thereof may also buv an.
Of the aforesaid lands, but in such case
failure To reside upon either mis- o,h,r
lands or uuon part OF The additional lana,
so purchased By h.pl . IA IN w - ,"' AZ
ownership and occupancy thereof rnntir'
nous Tor three years shall work a fortoi,
ure OF such additional lands 40 bomch,
from the state, unless he shall hava soIs
LIE iand 10 another. who may and does