PREFACE. This volume was prepared by the codification committee of the Public Land Commission, which was created by an act of Congress approved March 3, 1879 (Statutes at Large, Vol. 20, p. 394), and continued by an act of Congress approved June 16, 1880 (Statutes at Large, Vol. 21, p. 245). It contains the existing legislation of Congress of a general and permanent nature concerning the disposition and survey of the public domain. The present laws have been compiled in an orderly manner, but without changing either their substance or text. Each general subject of legislation is collated in a separate chapter, but the sections are, for convenient reference, numbered consecutively throughout the volume. Under each section complete references are given to the antecedent legislation upon the same subject and out of which said section has grown. Copious citations are also made under each section of all decisions construing the same in any manner, and embracing decisions by the Federal courts, the supreme courts of the several public land States and Territories, the Department of Justice, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Commissioner of the General Land Office. All legislation of a local or temporary character has been omitted from this volume. The same appears in a second volume, wherein the entire chain of Congressional land acts is arranged chronologically for each State and Territory, and properly connected. It contains a table of authorities, wherein all judicial and executive decisions bearing upon each subject-matter are cited. WASHINGTON, December 1, 1880. J. A. WILLIAMSON, Commissioners. m thority of Secretary. SECTION 1. The Secretary of the Interior is charged with Supervisory authe supervision of public business relating to the following subjects: * Second. The public lands, including mines. 2 Stat. 716; 5 id. 107; 9 id. 395; R. S. 441. Wilcox v. Jackson, 13 Pet. 498; Maguire v. Tyler, 1 Black, 195; Snyder v. Sickles, 8 Otto, 203; Wolsey v. Chapman, S. C., Oct. T., 1879, in manuscript; Patterson v. Tatum, 3 Saw. C. C. 164. 3 Op. Att. Gen. 137; 12 id. 250. 2 Laws, Instructions and Opinions, 104; 1 Lester, 681. Hesters v. Brennan, 50 Cal. 211. SEC. 2. He shall grant warrants to parties entitled to land heretofore or hereafter given by the United States for military services. 2 Stat. 717; R. S. 456. Power to grant military bounty. land warrants. tions. SEC. 3. Copies of papers filed in the Interior Department Exemplificaand remaining therein shall be authenticated under the hand of the Secretary and the seal of the General Land Office. 3 Stat. 721; 5 id. 111; R. S. 460. |