Chapter 224. Relating to the use, control, and ownership oí lands in the Canal Zone, Isthmus of Panama
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CHAP. 224.— An Act Relating to the use, control, and ownership oí lands in the Canal Zone, Isthmus of Panama. February 27, 1909.[[H. R. 18694](/us/bill/70/hr/18694).][[Public, No. 284.](/us/pl/70/284)] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the President isCanal Zone.Leases of public lands on. hereby authorized to grant leases of the public lands in the Canal Zone, Isthmus of Panama, for such period, not exceeding twenty-five years, and upon such terms and conditions as he may deem advisable.
No lease, however, shall be granted for a tract of land in excess ofConditions. fifty hectares, nor to any person who shall not have first established, by affidavit and by such other proof as may be required, that such person is the head of a family or over the age of twenty-one years, and that the application for a lease is made in good faith for the purposes of actual settlement and cultivation, and not for the benefit of any other person whatsoever, and that such person will faithfully comply with all the requirements of law as to settlement, residence,Preference to occupants. and cultivation.
In granting such leases preference shall be accorded to actual occupants of lands in good faith. Sec. 2. That no portion of the lands of the United States withinLands excepted. the Canal Zone shall be leased hereunder unless it shall first be made to appear, by a statement or plat filed by the Isthmian Canal Commission with the collector of revenues for the Canal Zone, that it is not contemplated to use such lands in the work of canal construction or to set the same aside as a town site; and all leases shall be madeResumption of public use. subject to the provision that if at any time it shall become necessary, notwithstanding, for the United States to occupy or use any portion of the leased lands, it shall have the right to so do without further compensation to the lessee than for the reasonable value of the necessary improvements made upon said tracts by the lessee, the same to be determined by the courts of the Canal Zone.
Sec. 3. That all leases of lands hereunder shall reserve to theMineral, etc., rights reserved. United States all mineral, oil, and gas rights in the lands leased. Sec. 4. That the President may, in his discretion, require a landSurvey. survey to be made of the Canal Zone. Sec. 5. That the powers conferred upon the President under thisDelegation of authority. Act may be exercised by him through the Isthmian Canal Commission or in such other manner as he may designate. Approved, February 27, 1909.