Chapter 779. For the relief of certain homestead settlers in the State of Alabama
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CHAP. 779.— An Act For the relief of certain homestead settlers in the State of Alabama. February 24, 1905. [[S. 6017](/us/bill/58/s/6017).] [[Public, No. 101](/us/pl/58/101).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That where any homesteadAlabama.Transfers allowed for canceled homestead entries on railroad lands.Vol. 11, p. 18. entry heretofore allowed under ruling of the Land Department, for lands within the limits of the grant made by Art of Congress approved June third, eighteen hundred and fifty-six (Eleventh Statutes, page eighteen), to the State of Alabama in aid of the construction of the railroad known as the Mobile and Girard Railroad has been canceled because of a superior claim to the land through purchase from the rail-road company, which claim has been held to have been confirmed and a confirmatory patent issued for the land under the provisions of section four of the Act of March third, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven (Twenty-fourth Statutes, page five hundred and fifty-six), such homesteaderVol. 24, p. 556. is hereby accorded the privilege of transferring his claim thus initiated under the homestead laws to any other non mineral unappropriated public land subject to homestead entry, with full credit for the period of residence and for the improvements made upon his home-stead hereinbefore first described prior to the order of its cancellation, provided he has not forfeited or voluntarily abandoned his homestead claim and that his application for transfer is presented within one year from the date of the passage of this Act, Should he elect, however,Relinquishment of patented title. to retain the tract embraced in his homestead entry heretofore canceled, the holder of the patented title through the railroad grant shall thereupon be invited to relinquish or reconvey the land included in such former homestead entry, and upon filing such relinquishment or reconveyance such bolder of the patented title shall be entitled to select and receive patent for an equal quantity of nontimbered, non-mineral and unappropriated public lands subject to homestead entry, and upon the filing of such relinquishment or reconveyance all right, till and interest under and through the railroad grant and the confirmatory patent hereinbefore refected to shall revert to the United States, and the tract thus relinquished or reconveyed shall be treated and disposed of as other public lands of the United States: *Provided, however,**Proviso*.Reinstatement of homesteader.
That such previous homesteader shall be reinstated in his rights and permitted to complete title to the land previously entered, as though no cancellation of bis homestead entry had been made. Sec. 2. That the Secretary of the Interior shall prescribe rulesRules, etc. and regulations for the administration of this Act. Approved, February 24, 1905.