Chapter 608. to provide for the sale of the Cherokee Reservation in the State of Arkansas
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CHAP. 608.— An Act to provide for the sale of the Cherokee Reservation in the State of Arkansas.July 2, 1886. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Cherokee Reservation, Arkansas, to be sold. That the lauds known as the old Cherokee Reservation, in townships seven and eight north, of range twenty-one west of the fifth principal meridian, in the State of Arkansas, be, and are hereby, placed under the control of the General Land Office, to be sold and disposed of in the same manner and under the same regulations as other public lands of the United States, except as hereinafter provided.
Sec. 2. That such homestead and pre-emption entries as have beenHomestead entries confirmed. made, under instructions from the General Land Office, upon the odd-numbered sections of said reservation, as shall appear to be in all respects fair and regular, except as to time of sale, are hereby confirmed, and patents shall be issued thereon as in other cases. Sec. 3. That all actual settlers, and settlers upon adjoining lands,Actual settlers to have preference of entry. who are duly qualified to make entries under the homestead laws of the United States, and who settled upon or improved either odd or even numbered sections of said reservation at any time prior to the date of this act, and arc now residing thereon, or cultivating the same and residing upon adjoining lands, shall be entitled to a preference right of entry under said laws, not to exceed one hundred and sixty acres, including the tract on which they reside, if residing on adjoining lauds, with credit, for actual settlement and residence or cultivation heretofore made in computing the time necessary to perfect title; but in no case shall actual settlers on adjoining lands be permitted to abandon any part of their claims upon which settlements have been made to secure a larger or increased amount of the reservation: *Provided*, That*Proviso.*Applications to be tiled within three months. all such parties shall file their applications under the homestead laws within three months from date of receipt by the local land-officers of instructions under this act from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and make proof and payment as in other cases.
Approved, July 2, 1886.