SEC. 2396. The boundaries and contents of the several sections, halfsections, and quarter-sections of the public lands shall be ascertained in conformity with the following principles: First. All the corners marked in the surveys, returned by the surveyor-general, shall be established as the proper corners of sections, or subdivisions of sections, which they were intended to designate; and the corners of half and quarter sections, not marked on the surveys, shall be placed as nearly as possible equidistant from those two corners which stand on the same line. Second. The boundary-lines, actually run and marked in the surveys returned by the surveyor-general, shall be established as the proper boundary-lines of the sections, or subdivisions, for which they were intended, and the length of such lines, as returned, shall be held and considered as the true length thereof. And the boundary-lines which have not been actually run and marked shall be ascertained, by running straight lines from the established corners to the opposite corresponding corners; but in those portions of the fractional townships where no such opposite corresponding corners have been or can be fixed, the boundary-lines shall be ascertained by running from the established corners due north and south or east and west lines, as the case may be, to the water-course, Indian boundary-line, or other external boundary of such fractional township. Third. Each section or subdivision of section, the contents whereof have been returned by the surveyor-general, shall be held and considered as containing the exact quantity expressed in such return; and the half-sections and quarter-sections, the contents whereof shall not have been thus returned, shall be held and considered as containing the one half or the one-fourth part, respectively, of the returned contents of the section of which they may make part. 11 Feb., 1805, c. 14, s 2, v. 2, p. 313. Bates vs. Illinois Central R. R., 1 Bl., 208; Railroad Comm'rs vs. Schurmeir, 7 Wall., 272. SEC. 2397. In every case of the division of a quarter-section the line for the division thereof shall run north and south, and the corners and contents of half quarter-sections which may thereafter be sold, shall be ascertained in the manner and on the principles directed and prescribed by the section preceding, and fractional sections containing one hundred and sixty acres or upwards shall in like manner as nearly as practicable be subdivided into half quarter-sections, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, and in every case of a division of a half quarter-section, the line for the division thereof shall run east and west, and the corners and contents of quarter quarter-sections, which may thereafter be sold, shall be ascertained as nearly as may be, in the manner, and on the principles, directed and prescribed by the section preceding; and fractional sections containing fewer or more than one hundred and sixty acres shall in like manner, as nearly as may be practicable, be subdivided into quarter quarter sections, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior. 5 April, 1832, c. 65, v. 4, p. 503. 24 April, 1820, c. 51, s. 1, v. 3, p. 566. SEC. 2398. Contracts for the survey of the public lands shall not become binding upon the United States until approved by the Commis sioner of the General Land-Office, except in such cases as the Commissioner may otherwise specially order. 30 May, 1862. c. 86, s. 1, v. 12, p. 409. Maguire vs. Tyler, 1 Bl., 201. SEC. 2399. The printed manual of instructions relating to the public surveys prepared at the General Land-Office, and bearing date February twenty-second, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, the instructions of the Commissioner of the General Land-Office, and the special instructions of the surveyor-general, when not in conflict with such printed manual, or the instructions of the Commissioner, shall be taken and deemed to be a part of every contract for surveying the public lands. 30 May, 1862, c. 86, s. 2, v. 12, p. 409. SEC. 2400. The Commissioner of the General Land-Office has power, and it shall be his duty, to fix the prices per mile for public surveys, which shall in no case exceed the maximum established by law; and, under instructions to be prepared by the Commissioner, an accurate account shall be kept by each surveyor-general of the cost of surveying and platting private land-claims, to be reported to the General LandOffice, with the map of such claim, and patents shall not issue for any such private claim until the cost of survey and platting has been paid into the Treasury by the claimant. 30 May, 1862, c. 86, s. 3, v. 12, p. 409. SEC. 2401. When the settlers in any township, not mineral or reserved by Government, desire a survey made of the same, under the authority of the surveyor-general, and file an application therefor in writing, and deposit in a proper United States depository, to the credit of the United States, a sum sufficient to pay for such survey, together with all expenses incident thereto, without cost or claim for indemnity on the United States, it may be lawful for the surveyor-general, under such instructions as may be given him by the Commissioner of the General Land-Office, and in accordance with law, to survey such township and make return thereof to the general and proper local land-office, provided the township so proposed to be surveyed is within the range of the regular progress of the public surveys embraced by existing standard lines or bases for the township and subdivisional surveys. 30 May, 1862, c. 86, s. 10, v. 12, p. 410. SEC. 2402. The deposit of money in a proper United States depository, under the provisions of the preceding section, shall be deemed an appropriation of the sums so deposited for the objects contemplated by that section, and the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to cause the sums so deposited to be placed to the credit of the proper appropriations for the surveying-service; but any excesses in such sums over and above the actual cost of the surveys, comprising all expenses incident thereto, for which they were severally deposited, shall be repaid to the depositors respectively. 1 July, 1864, Res. No. 60, v. 13, p. 414. SEC. 2403. Where settlers make deposits in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-four hundred and seven, the amount so deposited shall go in part payment for their lands situated in the townships, the surveying of which is paid for out of such deposits. 3 March, 1871, c. 127, v. 16, p. 581. SEC. 2404. The Commissioner of the General Land-Office may authorize, in his discretion, public lands in Oregon, densely covered with forests or thick undergrowth, to be surveyed at augmented rates, not exceeding eighteen dollars per mile for standard parallels, fifteen dollars. for township, and twelve dollars for section lines. 15 July, 1870, c. 292, s. 1, v. 16, pp. 304, 305. SEC. 2405. The Commissioner of the General Land-Office, in his discretion, may hereafter authorize public lands in California and in Washington Territory, densely covered with forest or thick undergrowth, to be surveyed at augmented rates, not exceeding eighteen dollars per linear mile for standard parallels, sixteen dollars for township, and fourteen dollars for section lines. 10 June, 1872, c. 415, s. 1, v. 17, p. 358. SEC. 2406. There shall be no further geological survey by the Government, unless hereafter authorized by law. The public surveys shall extend over all mineral lands; and all subdividing of surveyed lands into lots less than one hundred and sixty acres may be done by county and local surveyors at the expense of claimants; but nothing in this section contained shall require the survey of waste or useless lands. 21 July, 1852, c. 66, s. 1, v. 10, pp. 15, 21. 9 July, 1870, c. 235, s. 16, v. 16, p. 218. SEC. 2407. Whenever, in the opinion of the President, a departure from the ordinary method of surveying land on any river, lake, bayou, or water-course would promote the public interest, he may direct the surveyor-general in whose district such land is situated, and where the change is intended to be made, to cause the lands thus situated to be surveyed in tracts of two acres in width, fronting on any river, bayou, lake, or water-course, and running back the depth of forty acres; which tracts of land so surveyed shall be offered for sale entire, instead of in half quarter sections, and in the usual manner and on the same terms in all respects as the other public lands of the United States. 24 May, 1824, c. 141, v. 4, p. 34. SEC. 2408. In extending the surveys of the public lands in the State of Nevada, the Secretary of the Interior may vary the lines of the subdivisions from a rectangular form, to suit the circumstances of the country. SEC. 2409. The Secretary of the Interior, if he deems it advisable, is authorized to continue the surveys in Oregon and California, to be made after what is known as the geodetic method, under such regulations and upon such terms as have been or may hereafter be prescribed by the Commissioner of the General Land-Office; but none other than township-lines shall be run where the land is unfit for cultivation; nor shall any deputy surveyor charge for any line except such as may be actually run and marked, or for any line not necessary to be run. 27 Sept., 1850, c. 76, s. 3, v. 9, p. 496. 3 March, 1853, c. 145, s. 4, v. 10, p. 245. SEC. 2410. Whenever, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Interior, a departure from the rectangular mode of surveying and subdividing the public lands in California would promote the public interests, he may direct such change to be made in the mode of surveying and designating such lands as he deems proper, with reference to the existence of mountains, mineral deposits, and the advantages derived from timber and water privileges; but such lands shall not be surveyed into less than one hundred and sixty acres, or subdivided into less than forty acres. 3 March, 1853, c. 145, s. 4, v. 10, p. 245. SEC. 2411. Whenever the public surveys, or any portion of them, in the States of Oregon and California, are so required to be made as to render it expedient to make compensation for the surveying thereof by the day instead of by the mile, it shall be lawful for the Commissioner of the General Land-Office, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, to make such fair and reasonable allowance as, in his judgment, may be necessary to insure the accurate and faithful execution of the work. 3 March, 1853, c. 145, s. 8, v. 10, p. 247. SEC. 2412. Every person who in any manner, by threats or force, interrupts, hinders, or prevents the surveying of the public lands, or of any private land-claim which has been or may be confirmed by the United States, by the persons authorized to survey the same, in conformity with the instructions of the Commissioner of the General LandOffice, shall be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than three thousand dollars, and be imprisoned not less than one nor more than three years. 29 May, 1830, c. 163, s. 1, v. 4, p. 417. SEC. 2413. Whenever the President is satisfied that forcible opposition has been offered, or is likely to be offered, to any surveyor or deputy surveyor in the discharge of his duties in surveying the public lands, it may be lawful for the President to order the marshal of the State or district, by himself or deputy, to attend such surveyor or deputy surveyor with sufficient force to protect such officer in the execution of his duty, and to remove force should any be offered. Sec. 2420. Militia and volunteers in service since 1812. 2421. Persons entitled under preceding sections. 2422. Period of captivity added to actual service. 2423. Warrant and patent to issue when. 2424. Widows of persons entitled. 2425. Additional bounty-lands, &c. 2426. Classes under last section specified. 2427. What classes of persons entled under section 2425, without regard to length of service. 2428. Widows and children of persons entitled under section 2425. 2429. Subsequent marriage of widow. 2430. Minors under section 2428. 2431. Proof of service. 2432. Former evidence of right to bounty-land to be received in certain cases. 2433. Allowance of time of service for distance from home to place of muster or discharge. 2434. Indians included. 2435. Former evidence of right to a Sec. pension to be received in certain cases, on application for bounty-land. 2436. Sales, mortgages, letters of attorney, &c., made before issue of warrant to be void. 2437. Warrants to be located free of expense by Commissioner of Land-Office, &c. 2438. Deserters not entitled to bounty-land. 2439. Lost warrants, provisions for. 2440. Discharges, omissions, and loss of, provided for. 2441. New warrant issued in lieu of lost warrant. 2442. Regulations by Secretary of Interior. 2443. Mode of issuing patents to the heirs of persons entitled to bounty-lands. 2444. Death of claimant after establishing right, and before issuing of warrant. When proofs may be filed by legal representatives. 2445. 2446. Relocation of military bountyland warrants in cases of error. SEC. 2414. All warrants for military bounty-lands which have been or may hereafter be issued under any law of the United States, and all valid locations of the same which have been or may hereafter be made, are declared to be assignable by deed or instrument of writing, made and executed according to such form and pursuant to such regulations as may be prescribed by the Commissioner of the General Land-Office, so as to vest the assignee with all the rights of the original owner of the warrant or location. 22 March, 1852, c. 19, s. 1, v. 10, p. 3. 3 June, 1858, c. 84, s. 2, v. 11, p. 309. SEC 2415. The warrants which have been or may hereafter be issued in pursuance of law may be located according to the legal subdivisions of the public lands in one body upon any lands of the United States, subject to private entry at the time of such location at the minimum price. When such warrant is located on lands which are subject to entry at a greater minimum than one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, the locator shall pay to the United States in cash the difference between the value of such warrants at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre and the tract of land located on. But where such tract is rated at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and does not exceed the area specified in the warrant, it must be taken in full satisfaction thereof. 22 March, 1852, c. 19, s. 1, v. 10, p. 3. SEC. 2416. In all cases of warrants for bounty-lands, issued by virtue of an act approved July twenty-seven, one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, and of two acts approved January twenty-seven, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, therein and thereby revised, and of two |