---
kind: "range"
citation: "30 U.S.C. §§ 71–74"
title: "30"
from: "71"
to: "74"
count: 4
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/71..74"
---

# §71. Entry of unappropriated or unreserved Federal coal lands; eligibility; application; acreage limitation; price per acre


Every person above the age of twenty-one years, who is a citizen of the United States, or who has declared his intention to become such, or any association of persons severally qualified as above, shall, upon application to the register of the proper land office, have the right to enter, by legal subdivisions, any quantity of vacant coal lands of the United States not otherwise appropriated or reserved by competent authority, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres to such individual person, or three hundred and twenty acres to such association, upon payment to the register of not less than $10 per acre for such lands, where the same shall be situated more than fifteen miles from any completed railroad, and not less than $20 per acre for such lands as shall be within fifteen miles of such road.


# §72. Preference right of coal mine entry; acreage limitation


Any person or association of persons severally qualified, as provided in [section 71 of this title](/usc/30/71.md), who have opened and improved, or shall open and improve, any coal mine or mines upon the public lands, and shall be in actual possession of the same, shall be entitled to a preference right of entry, under [section 71 of this title](/usc/30/71.md), of the mines so opened and improved: Provided, That when any association of not less than four persons, severally qualified as provided in [section 71 of this title](/usc/30/71.md), shall have expended not less than $5,000 in working and improving any such mine or mines, such association may enter not exceeding six hundred and forty acres, including such mining improvements.


# §73. Presentation of claims


All claims under [section 72 of this title](/usc/30/72.md) must be presented to the register of the proper land district within sixty days after the date of actual possession and the commencement of improvements on the land, by the filing of a declaratory statement therefor; but when the township plat is not on file at the date of such improvement, filing must be made within sixty days from the receipt of such plat at the district office.


# §74. Number of coal land entries; other entries upon noncompliance with conditions


[Sections 71 to 73](/usc/30/71..73.md) of this title shall be held to authorize only one entry by the same person or association of persons; and no association of persons any member of which shall have taken the benefit of such sections, either as an individual or as a member of any other association, shall enter or hold any other lands under the provisions thereof; and no member of any association which shall have taken the benefit of such sections shall enter or hold any other lands under their provisions; and all persons claiming under [section 72 of this title](/usc/30/72.md) shall be required to prove their respective rights and pay for the lands filed upon within one year from the time prescribed for filing their respective claims; and upon failure to file the proper notice, or to pay for the land within the required period, the same shall be subject to entry by any other qualified applicant.