State journal & flag., 1846-12-11
PUBLIC-No, 10,

AN ACT to grant certain quantity of land tc
aid IN the improvement Of the Fox and Wis.
consln rivers, and 10 connect the same BY O
canal, in the Territory of Wisconsin.
[SEc. IL Be it enacted BY the Senate
and House Of Representatives. Of the United
States Of america IN Congress assembled
That there be- and hereby is, granted to the
State of Wisconsin, on the admission of such
State into the Union, for the purpose of mpro-
wing the navigation of the Fox and Wisconsin
rivers, in the Territory of Wisconsin, and OF
constructing the canal to unite the said rivers
at or near the portage, quantity of lard, equal
to one half three sections in width, on each
side of the said Fox river, and the lakes throu yh
which it passes, from its mouth to the point
where the portage canal shall enter the same,
and on each side of the said canal from one
stream to The other, reseryng the alternate
sections to the United States, 10 be selected
under the direction of the governor of said
State. and such selection 10 be approved by the
President OF the United States. The said riy.
ers, when improved, and the said canal, when
finished, shall he and forever remain a public
highway for the use of the Government of the
United States, free from any toll or other charge
whatever for the transportation Of the mails, or
for any property Of the United States, or pers.
ons IN their service passing upon or along the
same: Provided, The said alternate sections,
reserved to the United States, shall not be sold
at a less rate than two dollars and Fifty cents
the acre Provided also, That no pre- -emptive
claim to the lands so reserved shall give the &C
cupant, or any other person claiming through
or under him, right TO said lands al any price
less than the price fixed in this act, at the time
Of the settlements on said lands.
SEQ. 2. And be it further enacted, That as
soon as the Territory of Wisconsin shall be
admitted as State into the Union, all the lands
granted by this act shall be and become the
property of sa d State for the purpose contem.
plated 10 this act, and no other Prooided, That
the Legislature OF said State shall agree to ac..
cept SAID grant upon the terms specified in this
act and shall have power to fix tile price at
which said lands shall be sold, not less than one
dollar and twenty five cents the acre and TO
ad opt such kind and plan Of Improvement on
SAID route as the SAID legislature shall fom time
to time determine tor the best interest of said
State. Propided, also, That the lands hereby
granted shall not be- conveyed or disposed Of by
SAID State, excep, as said improvements shall
that is, the said State may sell so
much of said lands as shall produce the sum Of
twenty thousand dollars, and then the sales shall
cease until the governor of said State shall cer-
THY the fact to the President OF the United
States that one half of SAID sum has been ex
pended upon said improvements, when the said
Staie may sell and dispose ola quantity OF said
lands sufficient to reimburse the amount eApen-
ded and thus the sales shall progress as the
proceeds thereof shall be expended, and the
fact of such expenditure certified in the man.
ner herein mentioned.