§991 Title of Purchasers of Unconfirmed Lands in Arkansas Confirmed

Summary

Confirms that anyone who, on April 29, 1898, had bought unconfirmed swamp land from Arkansas and held a deed keeps full title to that land against any claim by the United States, and those buyers, their heirs, or assigns do not have to pay anything to the United States or to Arkansas. Arkansas gives up and transfers to the United States all lands it held before April 29, 1898 that were entered under the public land laws, and it gives up any rights under the Acts of September 28, 1850; March 2, 1855; and March 3, 1857 to lands the United States already granted or patented. The titles already granted are confirmed in the grantees, their heirs, successors, or assigns. This has no effect unless Arkansas accepts these terms by a law or by a written instrument signed by the governor (with authority from the legislature) and files that with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of the Interior within one year after April 29, 1898. Because Arkansas’ legislature accepted on March 10, 1897, the terms became effective on April 29, 1898.