Section 23
SEC. 23. Leases made under the provisions of this chapter of land previously surveyed, must be made of contiguous legal subdivisions. All lands leased hereunder, whether previously surveyed or not, in case the tract sought to be leased exceeds sixty-four hectares in area, must be taken, where possible, in the form of contiguous squares which shall contain at least sixty-four hectares each: Provided, That in connection with the lease of lands in one or more tracts of sixty-four hectares there may be leased one rectangular tract of thirty-two hectares, the longer side of which must be contiguous to the square tract of sixty-four hectares, or to one of such tracts if more than one be leased. In no case may lands leased under the provisions of this chapter be taken so as to gain a control of adjacent land, water, stream, shore line, way, roadstead, or other valuable right which in the opinion of the Chief of the Bureau of Public Lands would be prejudicial to the interests of the public.