GENERAL STATEMENT

This publication is a compilation of the circulars and regulations of the General Land Office which are of the greatest importance at the present time. The regulations necessarily must be considered as of the dates under which they were issued, and must be construed in the light of subsequent regulations, decisions, and practice. Regulations which have been amended by subsequent regulations have been noted to show that fact and regulations published in the land decisions. have been noted to show the volume and page where they appear.

The regulations have been grouped under appropriate classifications, arranged in alphabetical order, and listed and indexed, as shown in the table of contents on pages III and IV.

To avoid duplication, regulations which have been entirely superseded by later regulations, or which have been entirely or in substance. incorporated as parts of later instructions, have been omitted from this publication. In some cases regulations under which rights can not be acquired at the present time are carried for reference purposes in connection with pending applications which were presented at a time when the regulations were effective. Circulars not containing present governing instructions or not of present general value for reference purposes are not included herein,

Acts of Congress and forms have not been reproduced except where they were made essential parts of the original regulations. Where they were carried as parts of the original regulations but have been omitted in this publication, that fact is shown by the words "Acts omitted," or "Forms omitted," or similar notation, immediately following the particular regulations.

V