Saturday, January 8, 2011

The Homestead Bill . . .

. . . has passed both Houses of Congress, and is probably now a law.  It goes into effect on the 1st day of January next.  The following is a synopsis of its provisions:

All the lands owned by the Government are open to settlement under it in quantities not exceeding 160 acres to each person.

Any person who is a citizen of the United States, or has declared intention to become such, who is 21 years old, or the head of a family, or has served in the military or naval services of the country during this Rebellion, can make the entry on the payment of ten dollars, and the fees of the Register and Receiver of the Land Office. – That is all the settler has to pay at any time.

The act takes effect on the 1st of January next, and requires a residence and cultivation of five years to perfect the title.

Any person can enter, under this act, land on which he has a pre-emption claim.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 2

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