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Show 388 HISTORY OF PUBLIC LAND LAW DEVELOPMENT which did not exceed 3,500 acres.3 Thus far persons having occupancy or improvement claims had been rewarded by the United States with 400 to 640 acres, the maximum being the more common. Donations Acts Indian troubles in Florida were responsible for the adoption of the Armed Occupation Act of August 4, 1842, whereby any man capable of bearing arms who made a settlement south of Gainesville, and who resided upon and improved his tract for 5 years should receive title to 160 acres, provided he had not previously been a resident of the territory or did not already own a quarter-section of land. A total of 200,000 acres of land was authorized for distribution under this measure.4 Thomas H. Blake, Commissioner of the General 3 Act of March 3, 1823, 3 Stat. 754. 4 5 Stat. 671. Land Office, in his report for 1842, said of the Armed Occupation Act: "The National Legislature has thus presented to the enterprising and industrious citizen a strong inducement to seek a home in a country represented to be of good climate and unsurpassed fertility, and affording abundant facilities for obtaining a competency and independence with comparatively little labor." Two years later, despite the danger from Indian depredations, the office could report that 1,048 permits had been granted for settlements covering claims to 167,680 acres.5 If the Armed Occupation Act was intended to attract settlers to a danger spot, the Oregon Donation Act of September 27, 1850, was meant both to reward those Americans who had voluntarily, and with- 5 S. Doc, 27th Cong., 3d sess., Vol. II, No. 10 (Serial No. 414), p. 5; S. Doc, 29th Cong., 1st sess., Vol. Ill, No. 16 (Serial No. 472), p. 4. Homestead Certificate of Daniel Freeman Bureau of Land Management |