from the expiration of such three months shall be allowed for the filing of a declaratory statement, and no sale under the provisions of this section shall be allowed until the expiration of six months from the third day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-three. allowed. SEC. 2350. The three preceding sections shall be held Only one entry to authorize only one entry by the same person or association of persons; and no association of persons any member of which shall have taken the benefit of such sections, either as an individual or as a member of any other association, shall enter or hold any other lands under the provisions thereof; and no member of any association which shall have taken the benefit of such sections shall enter or hold any other lands under their provisions; and all persons claiming under section twenty-three hundred and forty-eight shall be required to prove their respective rights and pay for the lands filed upon within one year from the time prescribed for filing 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. claim. Ibid. SEC. 2351. In case of conflicting claims upon coal-lands Conflicting where the improvements shall be commenced, after the lab. third day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, priority of possession and improvement, followed by proper filing and continued good faith, shall determine the preference-right to purchase. And also where improvements have already been made prior to the third day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, division of the land claimed may be made by legal subdivisions, to include, as near as may be, the valuable improvements of the respective parties. The Commissioner of the General Land Office is authorized to issue all needful rules and regulations for carrying into effect the provisions of this and the four preceding sections. Ibid. SEC. 2352. Nothing in the five preceding sections shall Rights reserved. be construed to destroy or impair any rights which may have attached prior to the third day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, or to authorize the sale of lands valuable for mines of gold, silver, or copper. of the General COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. Revised Statutes.-Secs. 446, 453, 455, 456, and 2478-Appointment, salary, and duties. UNITED STATES REVISED STATUTES. Commissi o ner SEC. 446. There shall be in the Department of the Land Office. Interior a Commissioner of the General Land-Office, who Apr. 25, 1812,2 shall be appointed by the President, by and with the 1836, 5 Stat., 107; advice and consent of the Senate, and shall be entitled Mar. 3, 1873, 17 508. to a salary of four thousand dollars a year. (Now Stat., 717; July 4, Stat., Duties of Commissioner. Stat., 716; July 4, Stat., 62; Feb. 18, $5,000.) * * * * * SEC. 453. The Commissioner of the General LandApr. 25, 1812, 2 Office shall perform, under the direction of the Secretary 1836, '5 Stat., 107 of the Interior, all executive duties appertaining to the June 6, 1874, 18 surveying and sale of the public lands of the United 1875, 18 Stat., 317. States, or in anywise respecting such public lands, and, also, such as relate to private claims of land, and the issuing of patents for all grants of land under the authority of the Government. Plats of lands surveyed. Stat., 717. * * * * * SEC. 455. The Commissioner of the General Land Apr. 25, 1812, 2 Office shall, when required by the President or either House of Congress, make a plat of any land surveyed under the authority of the United States, and give such information respecting the public lands and concerning the business of his office as shall be directed. SEC. 456. All returns relative to the public lands shall Apr. 25, 1812, 2 be made to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. Stat., 717; July 31, SEC. 2478. The Commissioner of the General Land Office to enforce Office, under the direction of the Secretary of the Intethly 26, 1866, 14 rior, is authorized to enforce and carry into execution, by appropriate regulations, every part of the provisions of this Title not otherwise specially provided for. Stat., 253. 60 |