Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-05-04
DONATIONS OF PUBLIC LAND.
IN SENATE, APRIL 90.


No o. granting The right of way aud making donation of
land 10 The State of Illinois in aid of the construction of the
Central Railroad the motion was agreed to.
The bill was read q second time, follows;
BILL granting the right of way and making donation OF
land the State of Illinois, in aid of the construction of the
Central Railroad.
BE enacted BY the Senate and House Of Representatives.
the United Of .imerica Congress assembled That
right way through the public lands be and the is
hereby granted the State OF Illinois for the construction
railroad from the southern terminus OF the Illinois and
Michigan canal point the junction OF the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers with branch OF the 60 Chicago,
Lake Michigan with the right also TO take necessary
erals of EARTH stones timber &c for the construction there
OF: PROVIDED That the right OF way shall exceed
hundred feet each side of the length thereof and copy of
the survey said road and branch made under the direction
of Legislature shall be forwarded The proper local land
Offices respectively and to the Genera Land Office at WASH
ngton city within ninety days after the completion oil the
."
Sec 2 .qnd be further enacted That quantity of land.
equal alternate sections six miles wide each side OF said
road and branch for the length thereof hereby granted
the State Illinois, be applied, under the direction of the
Legislature, in the construction OF the and the Cover
said State shall select and report said lands by their de-
scrpye numbers proper local land Offices respectively
and the General Land Office at Washington city, according
TO and within six months sitter completion Of surveys
Provided The construction said road shall be
its southern terminus the unetoa OF the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers and its northern terminus upon the
Illinois and Michigan canal simultaneously and continued from
each of said points until completed when said branch road
hall be constructed according to the survey and location
hereof Provided further That the lands hereby granted
shall be applied the construction of raid road and branch
respectively quantities corresponding with the grant for
EACH thall disposed oil only
and shall be applied other purpose whatsoever.
Sec. s. 4ndbea further enacted, That the United States
shall have the right transport their troops and munitions Of
said and branch OF all charges and their
mails SHALL be transported the Tor the usual COM
pensation paid like railroad service rotded That the
right of way and lands remaining undsposed OF hereby grant
ed shall revert to the United States unless said shall be
within and finished within ten from the
passage OF this act. ...s
The bill then consider as in Committee of the Whele
the pending question being the following substitute report
ed from the Comm ttee Public Lands
Strike all after the enactng clause and insert the fol
lowing:
hereby granted the State OF Illinois for the
ton OF railroad from the southern terminus of the Illinois
and Michigan canal to point at near the Junction OF the
Ohio Mississippi rivers with branch of the to Chi
cago, Lake Michigan, and another the town OF Gaena
in said State with the right also to take materials OF
earth, stones timber Sc for the construction thereof Pro-
vde That the right of way shall not exceed hundred
feet each side length thereof and copy Of the sur
said road and branches made under the direction of the
Legislature shall be forwarded the proper local land offices
respectively the General Land Office at Washington
city within ninety days after the completion OF the same
Sec .4ndben further enacted That there be and shere
by granted the Illinois, for the purpose of aiding
making railroad and branches aforesaid every alternate
of land designated by numbers for six sections
in width each side OF said road and branches but in
il shall appesr that the United States have when the or
route of said and branches definitely fixed by the
hory aforesaid sold OF any section hereby granted
that the right Of has attached to the same then
the Governor said State select subject the approba
ton of the Secretary of The Interior for the aforesaid
thereof alternate parts SO tar as may be prsctiea
BILE And said agent agents subject to the approval
aforesaid select from the lands of the United States
guou the tier OF sections above specified so much land
alternate sections OF sections shall be equal such
lands the United States have Sold to which the right OF
has attached aforesaid which lands being equal
in quantity oneha of six sections in width each side of
said road and branches the State of Illinois shall have and
hold and for the and purpose aforesaid Provided The
construction of said shall be its southern
terminus, the junction Of the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers and its northern terminus upon Illinois and Mch-
pan Imul AM slil
points until completed when said branch roads shall be
sruced according to the and location thereof Pro
ded further That the lands hereby granted shall be applied
in the OF said road and branches respectively in
quantities corresponding with the grant for EACH and shall be
disposed only the work progresses and shall be applied
TO other purpose whatsoever.
Sec g. .indb further enacted, That the sections and
parts of sections of land which, by such shall remain to
the United States within six miles each side of said road
and branches shall be sold for less than double the mini
price OF the public lands when sold.
Sec L. And be further enacted That the said lands here
by granted the said State shall be subject to the disposal OF
the Legislature thereof for the purposes aforesaid and no
other and the said railroad and branches shall be and remain
public higu ay for the Of the Government of the United
States free from toll other charge upon the transportation
of any properly troops of the United States ..-
Sec S. And further enacted That if the said railroad
shall not be completed within the said State of ll
no shall be und to pay to the Uued States the amount
which may be received upon the sale of any part of said lands
by said State the title the purchasers under said State
manning valid and the title to the residue Of said lands shall
in the United States have and hold the in the
same manner as il this act had not been passed.
Sec 7nd be further enacted That the United States
the direction of the Post Office Department. reasonable
price and of disagreement between the State and
the Post Office Department, the matter in difference shall be
referred the United States district judge for the district OF
Illinois.
Mr.. BUTLER. do not rise with any expectation that
my opposition this bill will be available but wish to in
quire of the honorable Senator from Illinois how many such
bills bills similar the under consideration, have been
presented to the committee hear of many bills of SINH
lar character and presume the gentleman give me the
information T. the number of bills of this kind.
Mr. DOUGLAS. Mr.. President, | am really unable to
the question of the honorable Senator to the
Der of bills Of this kind have introduced other not
atng 10 my State, but to the Territory OF Minnesota,
and that is the only of this character of which know
any thing There have been several bills introduced at diff
erent times this bill! introduced two years ago, and
argued at length here in the Senate The Senate amended
it by putting road, the State in another
direction, and making the road nearly double its length This
bill has passed the Senate by of thirty -four to
eleven hut it failed in the other house, the last night OF
the last session, by votes only have
newed the BILL with PROPOSE ion for road, it orr
gnally from the north the south, granting alternate
ons OF land and doubling the price of the other alternate
sections do not wish to put any additions to it for do
not wish to ask for but road and the proposition to
raise the price OF the alternate sections granted TO the
State that the treasury will lose nothing by the grant
most fully argued two years ago, and passed after iu
debate.
Mr.. DAWSON. | should like to be informed as it is the
first bill of the kind that has up during my of Con-
gressoRa SERVICE what number of miles length this roads
TO be- and tn number Of OF land which contemplate
ed appropriate by this b in order may under
sandingly the subject. but consider equva-
lent appropriation Of the public money purposes of
internal improvement for the benefit Of State and hence
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