KINDS OF LAND AND METHODS OF ACQUIR ING SAME. The public lands may be divided with respect to their character into, first, agricultural lands, which are acquired un der the various laws, such as pre-emption, homestead, etc., at the price of $1.25 per acre when they lie without, and $2.50 per acre when they lie within, the limits of any grant made by congress in aid of the con struction of a railroad; U. S. R. S. § 2357; U. S. v. Healey, 160 U. S. 136, 16 Sup. Ct. 247, 40 L. Ed. 369 ; second, mineral lands, which are sold at $5.00 per acre, under which term we include lands containing placer deposits of minerals, which are sold at $2.50 per acre; third, coal lands, which are sold at $20.00 per acre when situated within 15 miles of any completed railroad, otherwise at $10.00 per acre; fourth, desert lands, which are sold at $1.25 per acre, provided they do not lie within the limits of a railroad grant ; U. S. v. Healey, 160 U. S. 136, 16 Sup. Ct. 247, 40 L.„Ed. 369; and fifth, saline, lands, sold at $1.25 per acre.
Various methods for the sale or other disposition of the public domain have been enacted from time to time, a very interest ing history of which may be found in Don aldson's History of the Public Domain 196, 208, 676. The provisions of law which for merly existed relative to the acquisition of public lands by private entry and public sale and through the timber culture laws have been repealed ; R. S. 1 Supp. pp. 682, 940. The methods of acquiring the agricul tural lands of the ,United States are now, through the operation of the pre-emption law, superseded by the provisions of the amended • homestead law and the desert land act.
Preemptions. The provisions of the law formerly existing with relation to the ac quisition of title under the pre-emption laws were repealed and superseded by the act of March 3, 1891; Rev. Stat. 1 Supp. pp. 939, 940, especially section 3 of said act, p. 942. The acts of March 3, 1877, 19 Stat. L. 404, May 27, 1878, and June 14, 1878, 20 Stat. L. 63-113, permitting pre-emptioners who have changed to homestead entries to cred it their time from original settlement, are superseded as to future permanent opera tions by the act of March 3, 1891, supra.
See also act of March 2, 1889 ; R. S. 1 Supp. P. 682. Various other acts contain provi sions common to pre-emption and homestead entry, and are by this act superseded as to the former. This act, however, does not af fect entries made under the pre-emption laws prior to its passage. See sec. 4 of said act, and 15 Land Decisions 482.
Desert Land Act. Desert lands are such as will not, without artificial irrigation, raise an agricultural crop. These lands are confined to what is known as the arid re gions which are situated in certain western states and territories. provision is made for the acquisition of lands of this character by conducting water thereon, and performing certain other requirements, as provided in the act of March 3, 1877; R. S. 1 Supp. p. 137. For sections 4 and 8 added to this act, see act of March 3, 1891, R. S. 1 Supp. pp. 940, 941.
Saline lands. Provision for, the sale of land of this character is made by the act of January 12, 1877 ; R. S. 1 Supp. 127. Under its provisions a bearing is ordered and wit nesses are examined as to the character of the, land in question, and the testimony taken at the hearing is transmitted to the general land office for its decision. Should the tract be adjudged agricultural, it will be subject to disposition as such. Should the tract be ad judged to be of saline character it will be offered at public sale to the highest bidder for cash at a price of not less than $1.25 per acre. In case it is not sold, it is subject to private sale at a price not less than $1.25 per acre, in the same manner as other pub lic lands are sold. Qucere: Whether this act is repealed by section 9 of the act of March 3, 1891? U. S. R. S. 1 Supp. 943.
Coal lands. For the provisions relating to the acquisition of lands of this character, see Rev. Stat. U.• S. § 2347. See also Don aldson's History of the Public Domain 1277.