19th Century

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the disposal of the lands of the United States, directed to be sold by the act, intituled "An act providing for the sale of the lands of the United States, in the territory northwest of the Ohio, and above the mouth of Kentucky river," there shall be four land offices established in the said territory: one at Cincinnati, for lands below the Little Miami, which have not heretofore been granted; one at Chilicothe, for lands east of the Scioto, south of the lands appropriated for satisfying military bounties to the late army of the United States, and west of the fifteenth range of townships; one at Marietta, for the lands east of the sixteenth range of townships, south of the before mentioned military lands, and south of a line drawn due west from the northwest corner of the first township of the second range, to the said military lands; and one at Steubenville, for the lands north of the last mentioned line, and east or north of the said military lands. Each of the said offices shall be under the direction of an officer, to be called "The Register of the Land Office," who shall be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall give bond to the United States, with approved security, in the sum of ten thousand dollars, for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office; and shall reside at the place where the land office is directed to be kept.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the several provisions of an act intituled "An act giving a right of pre-emption to certain persons who have contracted with John Cleves Symmes, or his associates, for lands lying between the Miami rivers in the territory northwest of the Ohio," shall be, and the same are hereby continued in force until the first day of March next, subject to the modifications contained in this act.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any person or persons, and the legal representative or representatives of any person or persons, who, before the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred, had made any contract or contracts in writing, or by any note or memorandum thereof in writing, either with John Cleves Symmes, or with any of his associates, or who had made to him or them, any payment of money for the purchase of lands, situate between the Miami rivers, within the limits of a survey made by Israel Ludlow, in conformity to an act of Congress of the twelfth of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, and not comprehended within the limits of a tract of land, conveyed to John Cleves Symmes and his associates, by letters patent, bearing date the thirtieth of September, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four, in the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio, shall be entitled to a preference, in becoming the purchasers, from the United States, of all the lands so contracted for, at the price of two dollars per acre, exclusive of the surveying fees, and other incidental expenses; and payment may be made therefor, to the treasurer of the United States, or the receiver of public monies for the lands of the United States at Cincinnati, in like instalments, and under the same conditions, as directed by the act, intituled "An act to amend the act, intituled 'An act providing for the sale of the lands of the United States, in the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio, and above the mouth of Kentucky river.'"Provided however, that no interest shall be charged upon any of the instalments until they respectively become payable.