THATin all cases where lands have been, or may hereafter be, reserved for military, naval, or other purposes, and where they shall no longer be required by the government for public uses, the President of the United States shall be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause the same to be sold, under the laws which may be in force at the time, for the disposal of the public lands, or under such special regulations a he may prescribe: Provided, however, That no pre-emtion right shall attach to any of such lands on which valuable improvements have been made or may be owned by the government.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That where improvements have been, or may be, made on any such lands, by societies or individuals, under the authority of the government, such societies or individuals shall be entitled to a pre-emprtion right to the tract of land so improved by them at the then minimum price, not exceeding in extent the quantity of a quarter section: Provided, however, That when two or more such societies of individuals may have improved the same tract of land under the authority aforesaid, and it cannot be divided so as to secure to them their respective improvements, they shall be permitted to enter the same, each in proportion to the extent and value of his improvements, and a patent shall issue for the whole tract, describing the interest of each therein.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That David B. Sears, or his legal representatives, shall be, and is hereby, authorized to enter, at the minimum price of the public land, the east subdivision of section twenty-nine, and the east part of the east division of the west fraction of section twenty-nine, all in township eighteen north, of range one west, of the fourth principal meridian in the Dixon land district in Illinois, containing fifteen acres, more or less, and to include his improvements.