The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-09-28
Chicago and Mobile Rail Road.

The following is copy Of the law which re.
Gently passed Congress:
An Act granting the RICH, Of way, mud making q
grant Of land to the States Of Illinois Misses.
ippi and Alabama, in aid Of the construction of
Railroad from Chicago to Mobile
BE IL enacted tic. That the right of way through
the public lands be. and the same Is hereby gran
ted to the State Of Illinois for the construction ol
railroad from the southern terminus OF the Hi.
nois and Michigan Canal to poin, at or near III,
junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, with
branch Of the same TO Chicago on Lake Mich.
gan, and another to the town of Galena in said
State, with the right, also, to take the necessary
materials OF earth, stones timber etc, for the con.
structon thereof; Provided, That the right Of way
shall not exceed one hundred feet On each side Of
the length thereof and copy Of the survey Of
said road and branches made unde. the direction
Of the Legislature, shall be forwarded to tho pro
per local land Offices respectively aud to the q en-.
era Land Office ut Washington City, within nine.
~ days after the completion Of the same
See. {? That there be, aud is hereby granted to
the state OF Illinois, for the purpose OF aiding in
making the railroad and branches aforesaid, every
alternate section of land designated by even mum.
bers for six sections in width on each side of the
road and branches; but in case il shall appear
that the United States have, when the line or
route Of said road ana branches is definitely fix
ed by the authority aforesaid, sold any part of
any section hereby granted. or that the right of
pre-emption has attached to the same then it
shall be lawful for any agent or agents to be- ap.
pointed by the Governor Of said state, 10 select,
subject to the approval aforesaid, from the lands
Of the United States most contiguous to the tier
Of sections above specified so much land in alter.
nate sections or parts Of sections, rs shall be
quail to such lands as the United States have Sold
or to which the right Of presumption has attached
rs aforesaid, which lands being equal in quantity
to one half Of six sections in width on one side Of
said road and branches the state Of Illinois shall
have and hold to and for the Use and purpose
aforesaid; Provided, That the lands to be so loca,
ted shall in no case be further than fifteen miles
from the line of the road; And provided further,
The construction Of said road shall be commenced
at Its southern terminus ut or near the junction 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 roads
shall be constructed, according to the survey and
location thereof: Provided, further, Thst the
lands hereby granted shall 10 applied to the con
struc,ion Of said road and branches respectively
in quantities corresponding with the grant for
eack, and shall DO disposed Of only Us the work
progresses, and shall be applied to no other pur
poses whatsoever; And provided further. That
any and all lands reserved TO the United States
by the act entitled IAN act to grant quantity Of
land TO tho State Of Illinois for the purpose Of
aiding in opening canal 10 connect the waters Of
he Illinois river with those Of lake Michigan