United States Statutes at Large/Volume 4/18th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 141
Chap. CXLI.—An Act changing the mode of surveying the public lands, on any river, lake, bayou, or water-course.
Course to be pursued in surveying lands.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, whenever, in the opinion of the President of the United States, a departure from the ordinary mode of surveying land on any river, lake, bayou, or water-course, would promote the public interest, he may direct the surveyor general, in whose district such land is situated, and where the change is intended to be made, under such rules and regulations as the President may prescribe, to cause the lands thus situated, to be surveyed in tracts of two acres in width, fronting on any river, bayou, lake, or water-course, and running back the depth of forty acres; which tracts of land, so surveyed, shall be offered for sale entire, instead of in half-quarter sections, and in the usual manner, and on the same terms, in all respects, as the other public lands of the United States.
Approved, May 24, 1824.