Stevenson v. Bennett

Citations

• 35 Cal. 424

Syllabus

<p>Imperfect Mexican Grants of Land.—If, at the date of the cession of California to the United States under the laws of Mexico, there remained anything to be done by the Mexican Government, in order to vest the grantee of land in California with title to the specific laud claimed by him, his title was imperfect, and it was necessary for him to present it to the Land Commissioners for approval within two years from the passage of the Act of March 3d, 1851, under the penalty of having the land become a part of the public domain if he failed to do so.</p> <p>Idem as to Pueblo Lands.—Pueblo lands are not exempted from the operation of the above rules.</p> <p>Right of Pueblo to Land. — A pueblo, when onoe legally established, became entitled to four square leagues of land, to be surveyed in the form of a square or quadrangle, and marked by boundaries which could be readily known by official authority.</p> <p>When Right of Pueblo to Land Forfeited.—If, at the date of the cession of California to the United States, a pueblo existed which was entitled to four leagues of land, but the same had not been surveyed and had its boundaries marked by official authority, the title of the pueblo to the land was imperfect, and the same became a part of the public domain, unless an application was made to the Land Commissioners for its confirmation within two years from the . passage of the Act of Congress of March 3d, 1851.</p>