Chapter 501. To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue patents for lands held under color of title
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CHAP. 501.— An Act To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue patents for lands held under color of title.June 8, 1926.[[S. 4055](/us/bill/69/s/4055).][[Public, No. 357](/us/pl/69/357).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled*, That wheneverPublic lands.Patents to citizens bolding title by adverse possession for more than 20 years to lands in New Mexico. it shall be shown to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Interior that a tract or tracts of public land, not known to be mineral, in the State of New Mexico, not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred and sixty acres, has or have been held in good faith and in peaceful, adverse possession by a citizen of the United States, his ancestors or grantors, for more than twenty years under claim or color of title, and that valuable improvements have been placed on such land, or some part thereof has been reduced to cultivation, the Secretary may, in his discretion, upon the payment of $1.25Payment. per acre, cause a patent or patents to issue for such land to any such citizen: *Provided*, That where the area or areas so held by*Provisos*.Area limited to 160 acres. any such citizen is in excess of one hundred and sixty acres the Secretary may determine what particular subdivisions, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres in the aggregate, to any such citizenCorporation included as citizen. may be patented hereunder: *Provided further*, That the term “citizen” as used herein shall be held to include a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or any State or Territory thereof.
Approved, June 8, 1926.