engaged in cultivating any lands in your district owned by the United States to enter the same for preemption to the extent of one, or at the option of the preemptor, two tracts of twenty acres each, paying therefor one dollar and twenty five cents per acre. You will give preference in all cases to heads of families, and married women whose husbands are engaged in the service of the United States, or are necessarily absent.
2. You will permit each soldier, sailor or marine actually engaged in the service of the United States, or any who may have been, or hereafter shall be honorably discharged to preempt and purchase in person, or by authorized agents, at the rate of one dollar, twenty five cents per acre, one tract of twenty acres of land, if single and, if married, two tracts of twenty acres each, in addition to the amount, a head of family, or married woman in the absence of her husband, is allowed to preempt and purchase under the general privilege to loyal persons.
3. Each preemptor on filling his claim and receiving a certificate of preemption must pay in United States notes, two fifths of the price, and the residue on receiving a deed for the parcels of land preempted, and a failure to make complete payment on receipt of the Deed will forfeit all rights under the preemption, as well as all partial payments for the land.
4. When persons authorized to purchase by preemption desire to enter upon, and cultivate lands not yet surveyed, they may do so, but they will be required to conform in their selection, as nearly as possible, to the probable lines of the surveys, and to take and occupy them subject to correction of title and occupation by actual surveys when made.
5. In making surveys, such reservations for paths and roadways will be made as will allow easy and convenient access to the several subdivisions entered for sale and occupancy by preemption or otherwise. Approved December 31. 1863.
A. LINCOLN.