Chapter 12. For relief of occupants of lands included in the Algodones grant, in Arizona
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CHAP. 12.— An Act For relief of occupants of lands included in the Algodones grant, in Arizona. January 14, 1901. Whereas the title to the lands in that section of the country in the Algodones grant, Arizona.Preamble.county of Yuma and the Territory of Arizona, and included within the boundaries of the old Mexican laud grant known as the Algodones 730grant, was tried by the United States Court of Private Land Claims, created for the settlement of titles to such grants, in the years eighteen hundred and ninety-five and eighteen hundred and ninety-six; and Whereas in the hearing of said contest before said court the alleged grantees under said grant were successful and their title thereto by said trial court confirmed, and immediately thereafter the said alleged grantees, for large and valuable considerations, sold to numbers of people, citizens and bona fide settlers on said lands, in tracts of less than forty acres to each, and said settlers, then believing that they had a bona fide title to said lands sold, made lasting and valuable improvements and permanent homes thereon; and Whereas the Government of the United States appealed said cause from the decision of said court below, and on said appeal the said decision of the said court below was reversed, and the title to said grant in said alleged grantees adjudged to be void, and that the said lands included within the boundaries of said grant, and sold as aforesaid, belonged to the United States; and if said settlers, citizens, and occupants of said lands who so purchased the same as aforesaid be not permitted to retain the same, and pay the Government therefor, they will be deprived of their homes, at ruinous consequences to them:
Therefore, *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Settlers on, who purchased from grant claimants may retain and repurchase land, etc. That where such persons in good faith and for valuable considerations purchased from the grant claimants prior to May twenty-third, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, portions of the land covered by the said grant, and have occupied and improved the same, such persons may, within six months from and after the passage of this Act, or within three months after the said lands shall be restored to entry, purchase the same at the price of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, upon making proof of the facts required by this Act under regulations to be provided by the Commissioner of the General Land Office and approved by the Secretary of the Interior, joint entries being admissible where two or more persons have *Proviso*.—limit.purchased lands on the same forty-acre tract: *Provided*, That no one person shall purchase more than forty acres, and no purchase shall be allowed for a less quantity than that contained in the smallest legal subdivision.
Sec. 2. Entries under homestead or desert-land laws.That where persons duly qualified to make entry under the homestead or desert-land laws have occupied any of said lands with the intention of entering the same under the homestead or desert-land laws, such persons shall be allowed three months from and after the passage of this Act, or after the said lands shall be restored to entry, within which to make their entries, and the fact that such persons have impoved or reclaimed such desert lands shall be no bar to their making such entries.
Approved, January 14, 1901.