Notice: The uscode.house.gov website is currently operating in a temporary format. While the United States Code remains available from its authoritative source, some website features and functionality are temporarily unavailable.
The United States Code Online is current through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
Search & Browse Currency and Updating Classification Tables Popular Name Tool Positive Law Codification Editorial Reclassification Downloads
43 U.S.C. 177: Patents for lands in New Mexico held under color of titleText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 43-PUBLIC LANDSCHAPTER 7-HOMESTEADS
Jump To: Source Credit

§177. Patents for lands in New Mexico held under color of title

Whenever it shall be shown to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Interior that a tract or tracts of public land, not known to be mineral, in the State of New Mexico, not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred and sixty acres, has or have been held in good faith and in peaceful, adverse possession by a citizen of the United States, his ancestors or grantors, for more than twenty years under claim or color of title, and that valuable improvements have been placed on such land, or some part thereof has been reduced to cultivation, the Secretary may, in his discretion, upon the payment of $1.25 per acre, cause a patent or patents to issue for such land to any such citizen: Provided, That where the area or areas so held by any such citizen is in excess of one hundred and sixty acres the Secretary may determine what particular subdivisions, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres in the aggregate, to any such citizen may be patented under this section: Provided further, That the term “citizen” as used in this section shall be held to include a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or any State or Territory thereof.

( June 8, 1926, ch. 501 , 44 Stat. 709 .)