Copies of records, etc., of Gen 2 S., 717. CERTIFIED COPIES OF RECORDS. Revised Statutes.-Secs. 891, 2469, 2470-Exemplification of records and use of such copies as evidence. Act of August 24, 1912 (37 Stat., 497)-Cost of copies and admissibility of same in evidence. UNITED STATES REVISED STATUTES. SEC. 891. Copies of any records, books, or papers in the eral Land Office. General Land Office, authenticated by the seal and cerApr 25, 1812, tified by the Commissioner thereof, or, when his office is vacant, by the principal clerk, shall be evidence equally with the originals thereof. And literal exemplifications of any such records shall be held, when so introduced in evidence, to be of the same validity as if the names of the officers signing and countersigning the same had been fully inserted in such record. Copies of records, etc., to be July 4, 1836, 5 SEC. 2469. The Commissioner of the General Land certified. Office shall cause to be prepared, and shall certify, under 8., 111: Mar. 13, the seal of the office, such copies of records, books, and 3, 1875, 18 S., 481. papers on file in his office, as may be applied for, to be used in evidence in courts of justice. 1874,18 S., 21; Mar. tions valid with cers signing and Exemplifica- SEC. 2470. Literal exemplifications of any records out names of offi- which have been or may be granted in virtue of the precountersigning. ceding section shall be deemed of the same validity in all Mar. 3, 1843, 5 proceedings, whether at law or in equity, wherein such exemplifications are adduced in evidence, as if the names of the officers signing and countersigning the same had been fully inserted in such record. S., 627. Interior Department, copies of nished. ACT OF CONGRESS PASSED SUBSEQUENT TO THE REVISED STATUTES. An Act To make uniform charges for furnishing copies of records of the Department of the Interior and of its several bureaus. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives records to be fur- of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior, the head of any bureau, office, or institution, or any officer of that department, may, when not prejudicial to the interests of the Government, furnish authenticated or unauthenticated copies of any official books, records, papers, documents, maps, plats, or diagrams within his custody, and charge Schedule of fees. therefor the following fees: For all written copies, at the rate of fifteen cents for each hundred words therein; for each photolithographic copy, twenty-five cents where such copies are authorized by law; for photographic official use. Authenticated copies of printed copies, fifteen cents for each sheet; and for tracings or blue prints the cost of the production thereof to be deter- Verification. mined by the officer furnishing such copies, and in addition to these fees the sum of twenty-five cents shall be charged for each certificate of verification and the seal attached to authenticated copies: Provided, That there No charge for shall be no charge for the making or verification of copies required for official use by the officers of any branch of the Government: Provided further, That only a charge of twenty-five cents shall be made for furnishing authenti- rules, etc. cated copies of any rules, regulations, or instructions printed by the Government for gratuitous distribution. SEC. 2. That nothing in this act shall be construed to Inspection of limit or restrict in any manner the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe such rules and regulations as he may deem proper governing the inspection of the records of said department and its various bureaus by the general public, and any person having any particular interest in any of such records may be permitted to take copies of such records under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior. records. SEC. 3. That all authenticated copies furnished under Acceptance this act shall be admitted in evidence equally with the evidence. originals thereof. SEC. 4. That all officers who furnish authenticated copies under this act shall attest their authentication by the use of an official seal, which is hereby authorized for that purpose. * * * * * Use of seal. of SEC. 6. That all sums received under the provisions of Deposit of rethis act shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of ceipts. miscellaneous receipts. Approved, August 24, 1912 (37 Stat., 497). Entry of coal lands. S., 607. COAL LANDS. For surface entry, selection, etc., of coal lands, see "Homesteads." Revised Statutes.-Secs. 2347-2352-Entry of coal lands-Limits of area-Price-Preemptions-One entry-Priority of rights. UNITED STATES REVISED STATUTES. SEC. 2347. Every person above the age of twenty-one Mar. 3, 1873, 17 years, who is a citizen of the United States, or who has declared his intention to become such, or any association of persons severally qualified as above, shall, upon application to the register of the proper land office, have the right to enter, by legal subdivisions, any quantity of vacant coal lands of the United States not otherwise appropriated or reserved by competent authority not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres to such individual person, or three hundred and twenty acres to such association, upon payment to the receiver of not less than ten dollars per acre for such lands where the same shall be situated more than fifteen miles from any completed railroad, and not less than twenty dollars per acre for such lands as shall be within fifteen miles of such road. Preemption of coal lands. Ibid. Preemption claims of coal sixty days, etc. Ibid. SEC. 2348. Any person or association of persons severally qualified, as above provided, who have opened and improved, or shall hereafter open and improve, any coal mine or mines upon the public lands, and shall be in actual possession of the same, shall be entitled to a preference right of entry, under the preceding section, of the mines so opened and improved: Provided, That when any association of not less than four persons, severally qualified as above provided, shall have expended not less than five thousand dollars in working and improving any such mine or mines, such association may enter not exceeding six hundred and forty acres, including such mining improvements. SEC. 2349. All claims under the preceding section land to be pre- must be presented to the register of the proper land dissented within trict within sixty days after the date of actual possession and the commencement of improvements on the land, by the filing of a declaratory statement therefor; but when the township plat is not on file at the date of such improvement, filing must be made within sixty days from the receipt of such plat at the district office; and where the improvements shall have been made prior to the expiration of three months from the third day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, sixty days from the expiration of such three months shall be allowed for the filing of a declaratory statement, and no sale under the provisions of this section shall be allowed until the expiration of six months from the third day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-three. allowed. SEC. 2350. The three preceding sections shall be held only one entry to authorize only one entry by the same person or association of persons; and no association of persons any member of which shall have taken the benefit of such sections, either as an individual or as a member of any other association, shall enter or hold any other lands under the provisions thereof; and no member of any association which shall have taken the benefit of such sections shall enter or hold any other lands under their provisions; and all persons claiming under section twenty-three hundred and forty-eight shall be required to prove their respective rights and pay for the lands filed upon within one year from the time prescribed for filing their respective claims; and upon failure to file the proper notice, or to pay for the land within the required period, the same shall be subject to entry by any other qualified applicant. claim. Ibid. SEC. 2351. In case of conflicting claims upon coal-lands Conflicting where the improvements shall be commenced, after the third day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, priority of possession and improvement, followed by proper filing and continued good faith, shall determine the preference-right to purchase. And also where improvements have already been made prior to the third day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, division of the land claimed may be made by legal subdivisions, to include, as near as may be, the valuable improvements of the respective parties. The Commissioner of the General Land Office is authorized to issue all needful rules and regulations for carrying into effect the provisions of this and the four preceding sections. Ibid. SEC. 2352. Nothing in the five preceding sections shall Rights reserved. be construed to destroy or impair any rights which may have attached prior to the third day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, or to authorize the sale of lands valuable for mines of gold, silver, or copper. of the General Stat., 717; July 4, 2 COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. Revised Statutes.-Secs. 446, 453, 455, 456, and 2478—Appointment, salary, and duties. UNITED STATES REVISED STATUTES. Commissioner SEC. 446. There shall be in the Department of the Land Office. Interior a Commissioner of the General Land-Office, who A 727: Jul, shall be appointed by the President, by and with the 1836, 5 Stat. 107; advice and consent of the Senate, and shall be entitled to a salary of four thousand dollars a year. (Now $5,000.) Mar. 3, 1873, 17 Duties of Commissioner. Staf., 716; July 4, Stat., 62; Feb. 18, SEC. 453. The Commissioner of the General LandApr. 25, 1812, 2 Office shall perform, under the direction of the Secretary 1836, 5 Stat., 107; of the Interior, all executive duties appertaining to the June 6, 1874, 18 surveying and sale of the public lands of the United 1875, 18 Stat., 317. States, or in anywise respecting such public lands, and, also, such as relate to private claims of land, and the issuing of patents for all grants of land under the authority of the Government. Plats of lands surveyed. Stat., 717. * * * * * SEC. 455. The Commissioner of the General Land Apr. 25, 1812, 2 Office shall, when required by the President or either House of Congress, make a plat of any land surveyed under the authority of the United States, and give such information respecting the public lands and concerning the business of his office as shall be directed. Power of Com missioner of Land this title. SEC. 456. All returns relative to the public lands shall be made to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. * * * * * SEC. 2478. The Commissioner of the General Land Office to enforce Office, under the direction of the Secretary of the InteJuly 26, 1866, 14 rior, is authorized to enforce and carry into execution, by appropriate regulations, every part of the provisions of this Title not otherwise specially provided for. Stat., 253. 60 |