§423c Exchange of Unpatented Entries; Entries, Farms or Private Lands, Eliminated From Project; Rights Not Assignable; Rights of Lienholders; Preference to Ex-service Men

Summary

Allows settlers who lost unpatented claims or had water rights cut so their land can’t support a family to swap those claims for other public land in the same or another federal reclamation project. They keep credit for living on, improving, and farming the original land and get credit on the new land for any construction costs they paid. If they already proved their original claim, they do not have to prove the replacement claim again. Farm units reduced by permanently useless land can take an equal nearby piece of public land with the same credits. Private owners so removed may, with Interior Department approval and free of encumbrances, give up up to 160 acres and pick an equal irrigable area elsewhere with credit for construction costs. The Interior Secretary can revise farm units to make this work. These exchange rights cannot be transferred. The Secretary must consider lienholders’ rights. If two people apply for the same unit and one is a veteran, the veteran has priority.