The Footprints of Time: And a Complete Analysis of Our American System of Government, with a Concise History of the Original Colonies and of the United States, in Chronological OrderBancroft, Charles
History
The Footprints of Time: And a Complete Analysis of Our American System of Government, with a Concise History of the Original Colonies and of the United States, in Chronological Order
Bancroft, Charles
United States -- History; United States -- Politics and government
5. When it is deemed necessary and expedient to bring the lands in any
particular State or section of the country into market, a surveyor
general is appointed for that State or section, and also a sufficient
number of deputy or assistant surveyors to perform the work; which is
done under the direction of the surveyor general, who is himself directed
by law as to the manner of procedure. He is appointed for four years,
taking the usual oath, and gives bonds for the faithful performance of
his duties.
MODE OF SURVEYING THE PUBLIC LANDS.
6. The law directs how the lands shall be surveyed and mapped. Where
it is practicable, they are laid out into square miles, each of which
contains 640 acres, and is called a section.
These sections are then sub-divided into halves, quarters, and eighths
of sections; that is, into lots of 320, 160, and 80 acres. The boundary
lines are all run north and south, and east and west. Thirty-six of these
sections, which make a plat of six miles square, are put into a township.
These townships are designated by numbers, but when inhabited are named
by the inhabitants as their fancy dictates.
SALE OF THE PUBLIC LANDS.
7. After the lands have been surveyed and properly mapped into townships
and sections, they are brought into market and offered for sale in such
quantities as are wanted by the purchaser; from 40 acres, one-sixteenth
of a section, up to a whole section; or as many sections as the buyer
pleases to take.
DISTRICT LAND OFFICES.
8. District land offices for the sale of lands are established for this
purpose at as many places in the State or Territory where the lands are
situated, as is deemed necessary for the convenience of purchasers. Here
are kept maps of all the lands lying in the district, and buyers may make
their selections both of quantity and location as suits them. Here they
will find
A REGISTER OF THE LAND OFFICE AND A RECEIVER OF PUBLIC MONEY FOR LANDS.
9. The first named officer will register the application made for land
in a book kept for that purpose, and the second will receive the money
paid for it. These officers are appointed by the President and Senate,
and report their proceedings to the General Land Office at Washington.
The receiver transmits all moneys received by him to the United States
Treasury once in a month or once in three months, as directed.
SCHOOL LANDS.
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