Chapter LIV. *to create an additional Land District in the Territory of Wisconsin, and for other Purposes.* March 3, 1847. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That all that portion Chippewa land District created.of the public lands lyi
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Chap. LIV.— An Act *to create an additional Land District in the Territory of Wisconsin, and for other Purposes.* March 3, 1847. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That all that portion Chippewa land District created.of the public lands lying within the Territory of Wisconsin, north and west of the following boundary, to wit: commencing at the Mississippi River on the line between townships twenty-two and Boundary.twenty-three north, running thence east along said line to the fourth principal meridian, thence north along said meridian line to the line dividing townships twenty-nine and thirty, thence east along said township line to the Wisconsin River, thence up the main channel of said river to the boundary line between the State of Michigan and the Territory of Wisconsin, shall form a land district, to be called the Chippewa Land District; and, for the sale of the lands in said district, 180Land office to be established.a land office shall be established at such place therein as the President of the United States may select.
Geological examination of lands in said district to be mode. Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause a geological examination and survey of the lands embraced in said district to be made and reported to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. And the President is hereby authorized to cause such of said lands as may contain copper, lead, or other valuable Mineral and other lands to be exposed to sale.ores, to be exposed to sale, giving six months’ notice of the times and places of sales in such newspapers of general circulation in the several States as he may deem expedient, with a brief description of the lands to be offered; showing the number and localities of the mines known, the probability of discovering others, the quality of the ores, the facilities of working the mines, and the means and expense of transporting their products to the principal markets in the United States.
And all the lands embraced in said district, not reported as aforesaid, shall be sold in the same manner as other lands under the laws now in force for the safe of the public lands, excepting and reserving 16th sections, &c., to be reserved.from such safes section sixteen in each township for the use of schools, and such reservations as the President shall deem necessary for public uses. Preemption right to actual occupants of mines. Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted,* That every person or persons who shall be in possession, by actual occupancy, of a mine or mines, actually discovered previous to the passage of this act, and who shall pay the same rents as those who hold under leases from the Secretary of War, and which rents accruing from such occupants and lessees shall be paid and delivered to such officer of the government as the Secretary of the Treasury shall direct, shall be entitled to purchase the lands on which the same is or are situated at any time prior to the day of sale fixed by the President, in legal subdivisions, not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred and sixty acres, to include such mine or mines, paying to the United States therefor at the rate of Proof to be made.five dollars per acre: *Provided,* That, prior to any entry being made under the provisions of this section, proof of possession and occupancy as aforesaid of the mine or mines claimed shall be made to the register and receiver of the land district, together with the evidence of the payment of all rents due the United States, agreeably to such rules as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury for that purpose, which register and receiver shall each be entitled to receive Appeals may be made to Secretary of Treasury.
Joint occupation.one dollar for his services therein: *Provided,* That an appeal from the decision of the register and receiver to the Secretary of the Treasury may be had, under such regulations as the said Secretary may prescribe. And if two or more persons are in possession of the same quarter-section, the first occupant shall be entitled to a preference, unless the same can be so divided by legal subdivisions as to give to each the discovery claimed by him. How mineral lands shall be offered for sale.
Sec. 4. *And be it further enacted,* That, the said mineral lands shall be offered for sale in subdivisions of quarter-quarter sections, and no bid shall be received at a less rate than five dollars per acre; and if such lands shall not be sold at public sale, they shall be subject Occupied lands to be withheld.to entry at private sale at that price: *Provided,* That no legal division or subdivision of any of said lands, upon which there may be an outstanding lease or leases from the Secretary of War unexpired or undetermined, and which is actually occupied for mining purposes, and the occupants of which have complied with all the requisites of such lease or leases, and continued to perform the same, shall be sold until after the determination of such lease or leases by efflux of time, voluntary surrender, or other legal extinguishment thereof, except in such cases as are provided for in the third section of this act; and the lessees, respectively, shall be entitled to the privilege secured by said TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Sess. II. Ch. 55, 56. 1847. 181section upon the voluntary surrender of the lease or leases held by them. Sec. 5. *And be it further enacted,* That the management and control Management and control of mineral lands to be transferred to Treasury Department, &c.of the mineral lands shall be transferred from the War Department, and placed under the jurisdiction and control of the Treasury Department, and all books, maps, papers, instruments, and other property procured to be used and employed in the management, survey, exploring, or conducting of said mineral lands by the War Department, shall be delivered over and made subject to the disposition of the Secretary of the Treasury.
Sec. 6. *And be it further enacted,* That the President, by and with Register and receiver to be appointed.the advice and consent of the Senate, so soon as a sufficient number of townships are surveyed, and returns thereof made to the General Land Office, to authorize the commencement of the sales in said district, shall appoint one register and one receiver for the land office in said district, who shall reside at the place designated by the President for the land office, receive such compensation, give security, and discharge all duties pertaining to such office, as are prescribed by law.
Approved, March 3, 1847.