Chapter 1810. For the relief of small-holding settlers within the limits of the grant of land to the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company in the Territory of New Mexico
410 words·~2 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-33/chapter-1810-2735934·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 1810.— An Act For the relief of small-holding settlers within the limits of the grant of land to the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company in the Territory of New Mexico. April 28, 1904.[[H. R. 5075](/us/bill/33/hr/5075).][[Public, No. 212](/us/pl/33/212).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, New Mexico.Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company, etc., may relinquish, etc., certain lands in.Vol. 14, p. 294.Lands occupied by settlers.
That the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company, its successors in interest, and its or their assigns, may, when requested by the Secretary of the Interior so to do, relinquish or deed, as may be proper, to the United States any section or sections of its or their lands in the Territory of New Mexico the title to which was derived by said railroad company through the Act of Congress of July twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, in aid of the construction of said railroad, any portion of which section is and has been occupied by any settler or settlers as a home or home-stead by themselves or their predecessors in interest for a period ofVacant public binds exchanged in lieu of.Minimum occupation period. not less than twenty-five, years next, before the passage of this Act, and shall then be entitled to select in lieu thereof, and to have patented other sections of vacant public land of equal quality in said Territory, as may be agreed upon with the Secretary of the Interior.
Sec. 2. Survey of holdings.That the Secretary of the Interior shall, as soon as may be after the passage of tins Act, cause inquiry to be made of all lands so held by settlers, and shall cause the holdings of such settlers to be surveyed, and on receiving such relinquishments or deeds shall at once, Patents to settlers.*Proviso.*Maximum acreage.without cost to the settlers, cause patents to issue to each such settler for his or her such holdings: *Provided,* That not to exceed one hundred and sixty acres shall be patented to any one person, and such recipient must possess the qualifications necessary to entitle him or her to enter such land under the homestead laws.
Sec. 3. Remaining lands subject to entry.That any fractions of any such sections of land remaining after the issuance of patents to the settlers as aforesaid shall be subject to entry by citizens the same as other public lands of the United States. Approved, April 28, 1904.