§906 Purchase by Bona Fide Purchasers From Grantees; Removal of Crops and Improvements

Summary

Lets U.S. citizens and people who have declared their intent to become citizens who occupy certain lands buy those lands from the United States. If their possession comes from a deed, written contract, or license given by the State or the original grantee before January 1, 1888, or if they settled the land in good faith intending to buy it once they met the grant rules, they can buy up to 320 acres at $1.25 per acre until January 1, 1899. After paying, they can receive an official U.S. land title. If a person actually lived on and improved the land before January 1, 1890 and paid some or all of the price to the railroad before that date, those payments can be credited toward the United States price at $1.25 per acre, up to that amount; or the person may give up that purchase and claim the land under the homestead law instead. People or companies on the land with permission who are not allowed to buy under these rules have six months to remove growing crops and to take away buildings and movable improvements. The rule does not apply to land in Iowa where someone in good faith has made or claimed a preemption or homestead settlement. Living on the land is not required to buy if the claimant has fenced, farmed, or otherwise improved it. A claimant may buy two or more legal tracts, together not exceeding 320 acres, whether next to each other or not. These rules do not cut down rights given by other laws to buyers or settlers, do not affect a buyer’s lawsuit against a seller for title promises, and do not disturb any adverse claims attached to the land.