Extension of time for pay cases. which he is in nowise responsible, is unable to make the payment on his homestead or preemption claim required by law, the Commissioner of the General Land Office is hereby authorized to extend the time for such payment for not exceeding one year from the date when the same becomes due. Approved, September 30, 1890 (26 Stat., 684). An Act Extending the time for final proof and payment on lands claimed under the public land laws of the United States. SEC. 2. That the time of making final payments on ments in certain entries under the preemption act is hereby extended for one year from the date when the same becomes due in all cases where preemption entrymen are unable to make final payments from causes which they can not control, evidence of such inability to be subject to the regulations of the Secretary of the Interior. Approved, July 26, 1894 (28 Stat., 123). PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS. Page. Revised Statutes-Sec. 2447-Patents to issue for confirmed claims.. 213 Act of July 31, 1876 (19 Stat.,121)-Cost of survey to be paid before patent issues.. 213 Act of March 3, 1891 (26 Stat., 854)—Court of private land claims Act of April 28, 1904 (33 Stat., 485)-Surveys to be approved by 214 215 Private land claims originated, for the most part, under grants by foreign governments prior to the cession to the United States of the territory involved. They have been confirmed by Boards of Commissioners acting under authority of Congress, by acts of Congress, and by the courts. Patents are issued whenever the present owners of the land make applications for the same, accompanied by affidavit as to ownership. UNITED STATES REVISED STATUTES. Patents to issue Dec. 22, 1854, 10 SEC. 2447. In case of any claim to land in any State or for claims heretoTerritory which has heretofore been confirmed by law, fore confirmed. and in which no provision is made by the confirmatory s., 599. statute for the issue of a patent, it may be lawful, where surveys for the land have been or may hereafter be made, to issue patents for the claims so confirmed, upon the presentation to the Commissioner of the General LandOffice of plats of survey thereof, duly approved by the surveyor-general of any State or Territory, if the same be found correct by the Commissioner. But such patents shall only operate as a relinquishment of title on the part of the United States, and shall in no manner interfere with any valid adverse right to the same land, nor be construed to preclude a legal investigation and decision by the proper judicial tribunal between adverse claimants to the same land. ACTS OF CONGRESS PASSED SUBSEQUENT TO THE REVISED STATUTES. Extract from the sundry civil appropriation act approved July 31, 1876 (19 Stat., 121). Cost of survey to be paid before That an accurate account shall be kept by each surveyor general of the cost of surveying and platting every patent issues. private land claim, to be reported to the General Land Office with the map of such claim; and that a patent shall not issue nor shall any copy of any such survey be furnished for any such private claim until the cost of survey and platting shall have been paid into the Treasury of the United States by the party or parties in interest in said grant or by any other party. Court of privateland claims established. Claimants un der certain un may petition court. An Act To establish a court of private land claims, and to provide for the settlement of private land claims in certain States and Territories. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there shall be, and hereby is, established a court to be called the court of private land claims, to consist of a chief justice and four associate justices, who shall be, when appointed, citizens and residents of some of the States of the United States, to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to hold their offices for the term expiring on the thirty-first day of December, anno Domini eighteen hundred and ninety-five; any three of whom shall constitute a quorum. Said court shall have and exercise jurisdiction in the hearing and decision of private land claims according to the provisions of this act. SEC. 6. That it shall and may be lawful for any person confirmed grants or persons or corporation, or their legal representatives, claiming lands within the limits of the territory derived by the United States from the Republic of Mexico and now embraced within the Territories of New Mexico, Arizona, or Utah, or within the States of Nevada, Colorado, or Wyoming by virtue of any such Spanish or Mexican grant, concession, warrant, or survey as the United States are bound to recognize and confirm by virtue of the treaties of cession of said country by Mexico to the United States which at the date of the passage of this act have not been confirmed by act of Congress, or otherwise finally decided upon by lawful authority, and which are not already complete and perfect, in every such case to present a petition, in writing, to the said court in the State or Territory where said land is situated and Institution of where the said court holds its sessions, but cases arising in the States and Territories in which the court does not hold regular sessions may be instituted at such place as may be designated by the rules of the court. cases otherwise. claimants claim apply for confirmation. * * * * * Certain other SEC. 8. That any person or corporation claiming lands ing under com- in any of the States or Territories mentioned in this act plete title may under a title derived from the Spanish or Mexican Government that was complete and perfect at the date when the United States acquired sovereignty therein, shall have the right (but shall not be bound) to apply to said court in the manner in this act provided for other cases for a confirmation of such title; and on such application said court shall proceed to hear, try, and determine the validity of the same and the right of the claimant thereto, its extent, location and boundaries, in the same manner and with the same powers as in other cases in this act mentioned. Procedure. |