Public Law 70–649

That the Secretary

Public lands.

Adjustment of claims of lands in Lake County, Fla., arising from faulty surveys, etc.

of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to equitably adjust disputes and claims of settlers, entrymen, selectors, grantees, and patentees of the United States, their heirs or assigns, against the United States and between each other arising from incomplete or faulty surveys in township 19 south, range 26 east, and in sections 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 30, 31, township 19 south, range 27 east. Tallahassee meridian, Lake County, in the State of Florida, and to issue directly

Patents to settlers, etc., for land claimed through settlement, etc.

or in trust as may be found necessary or advisable patent to such settlers, entrymen, selectors, grantees, and patentees, their heirs or assigns, for land claimed through settlement, occupation, purchase, or otherwise in said described area, preserving, as far as he may deem

Rights of possessors.

equitable, to those claimants now in possession of public land the right to have patented to them the areas so occupied: Provided, That

Provisos.

Not less than appraised value to be charged.

a charge of not less than the appraised value of the land, exclusive of any improvements placed thereon, be made for each acre or fraction thereof of Government land patented under the provisions of this Act, except that adjustment may be effected by exchange of

Adjustment by exchanges.

lands patented for lands substantially equal in area, in which event payment shall be required of the difference in appraised values where the value of the land owned by the Government exceeds that of the land offered in exchange: Provided further, That rights acquired

Rights not recognized.

subsequent to the withdrawal of December 23, 1925, shall not be recognized or be subject to adjustment hereunder.

Sec. 2.

That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to accept

Acceptance of conveyances.

any and all conveyances of land and to cause all necessary surveys to be made, to effect the purposes of this Act. All adjustments hereunder shall conform to the approved plats of such survey or resurvey, and no other survey will be recognized.

Sec. 3.

That in fixing the appraised price of such lands the Secretary of the Interior shall consider and give effect to the good faith and equities of the occupants of any of the areas found to be public

Tavares, Fla.

Town site survey of lots, etc., accepted.

land; and if the whole or any part of such land be within the corporate limits of the town of Tavares, the survey of the lots, blocks, streets, and alleys shall be considered as executed under the provisions

R. S., sec. 2384, p. 436.

U. S. Code, p. 1378.

of section 2384, Revised Statutes, but as far as practicable shall conform to the existing surveys and plats of the lots in such

Proviso.

Patent to Lake County of courthouse, etc.

town: Provided, That the Secretary may, in his discretion, issue a patent to Lake County, Florida, to not exceeding one acre upon which the county courthouse is located, such patent to provide that

Reversion if sold, etc.

the land shall revert to the Government of the United States if the county sells any part thereof or devotes it to any use other than as a site for a courthouse and grounds.

Sec. 4.

That the provisions of section 2382, Revised Statutes, as modified by sections 2384 and 2385, Revised Statutes, shall extend to all areas surveyed as within and a part of the town of Tavares: Provided, That subject to adverse rights any person entitled to a preference right to purchase under the provisions of this Act may secure under this section lands in his actual possession, whether in a single tract or in surveyed lots, of a maximum area of eighty-four thousand square feet, upon payment therefor at a rate not exceeding $10 for four thousand two hundred square feet, but any applicant

Town site provisions hereof extended to other towns in area hereof.

may elect to proceed under section 1 of this Act: Provided further, That all the provisions hereof applicable to the town of Tavares shall be extended to any other established town within the area affected by this Act.