THE NATIONAL FOREST MANUAL 



CLAIMS. 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, 



Washington, D. C. 



By virtue of the authority vested in the Secretary of Agriculture 

 by the act of Congress of February 1, 1905 (33 Stat., 628), amenda- 

 tory to the act of Congress of June 4, 1897 (30 Stat., 11), I, James 

 Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, do make and publish the following 

 regulations relating to claims on National Forest lands, the same to 

 supersede all previous regulations for like purpose and to be in force 

 and effect from the 1st day of February, 1912, and to constitute a 

 part of the Use Book. 



In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official 

 seal at Washington, D. C., this 19th day of December, 1911. 



JAMES WILSON, 

 Secretary of Agriculture. 



KEGTJLATIONS. 



Reg. L-41. Xo Forest officer shall, except as hereinafter provided, 

 request a homestead entryman to relinquish his 



R e 1 1 n q u ish- claim or suggest for any reason whatsoever that such 

 a course is desirable. If any homestead entryman 

 voluntarily offers to relinquish his claim, the Forest officer may sug- 

 gest that the relinquishment be transmitted to the local land office, 

 but shall not encourage this to be done. Forest officers who receive 

 by mail relinquishments from claimants must return the same, with 

 the suggestion in every case that if the entryman desires to relinquish 

 he should send the relinquishment to the local land office. No 

 Forest officer shall be a party to a compromise whereby any claims 

 or trespass case is settled by requiring the claimant to relinquish a 

 claim to the United States. 



When relinquishments are offered which cover lands needed for 

 administrative purposes, and when it is desired to pay the claimant 

 for improvements thereon, a recommendation, accompanied by the 

 reasons in each specific case, shall be submitted to the Forester, who 

 may authorize the purchase of the improvements upon the filing of 

 the relinquishment in the local land office. 



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