Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-06
NATIONAL CENTRAL HIGHWAY, -
From 81. Louis. on the Mississppi Rivsr, to the,
Bay Of San Francisco, on the Pacific Ocean.
Mn. BENToN,s BILL.

Bay 81 San francisco, on me Pacific Ocean.
Mn. BENTON'S BILL.
The following is the bill for the National Cen
trail Highway from st. Louis to the Bay of San
Francisco, of which Mr.. BENTON gave notice on
Thursday, in the Senate, of his intention to ask
leave to introduce yesterday, but the Senate not
being in session, to enable him to comply with his
notice, and desiring the bill to be published this
week ne has left il at this office TO be published in
the National Intelligencer:
BILL for the location and construction Of Central Ma
iona Highway from the Mississippi river to the Pacific
Be it enacted &C. That the proceeds Of the sales If tho
public lands shall be set apart and applied far as needed
and anticipated by hypohecaton when necessary in OPEN
ing communications with Califomia, New Mexico, Oregon
and the Salt Lake settlements, by of nation
al highway from ST. Louis in the State of Missouri the
Bay OF San Francisco, TO connect with navigation in
that bay with branch Of said highway Santa Fe in
New Mexico ALSO branch the de-wa region ia the
Columbia river so to connect with navigation to
that river and also branch the Mormon settlement on
the Great Salt Lake. if the said highway should not pass
sufficiently near that lake.
Sec. q Aad be further enacted That the said central
national highway shall consist Of system of parallel roads,
adapted todeen modes of travel and transportation and
margin for lines Of electro eegphic wire whereof
common road, and railroad shall be immediately
opened and and such Other roads shall be here
after opened and constructed Congress from time to tns
may authorize and. in order that the said national central
importance and adapted wants of present and ntur
time and in order TO allow convenient space for all the paral
lei lines OF road which and travel may require
thereon, breadth of mile shall be reserved through the
public lands and the said branch roads shall equally consist
OF common road and railway, and such other roads as
Congress may from time to time authorize and direct with
margin for line OF electro telegraph wires and breadth of
thousand feet shall be reserved through the public lands
for SUCH branch roads, each respectively and each track for
road shall be entitled to space of three hundred feet wide
and the telegraph lines to space of hundred feet wde
1 Iryhan Ec,,h II a.
be subject any toll beyond that which may
sary to provide REPAIRS and the said roads shall be
forever free from any toll whatever and shall be kept
in travelling order by the and expense of the Federal
Government.
Sec. g. And be further enacted That the President be-
authorized and requested all the authentic inorma-
ton in possession Of the Government its power pro-
cure, necessary to show the pacticaby Of for said
central highway, to be collected and dgesed into brief
mors, illustrated by Typographical and profile map be
laid before Congress possbe also, that be be
authorized and requested to further surveys and
nations be made and the results be laid before Congress
possible and for that purpose employ many
| citizen civil engineers may be necessary.
Sec. A. And be further enacted, That, Con-
gress shall fix upon the route for said central highway and
branches the President shall be- and hereby is authorized
and requested to the Indian title be extngushed
upon breadth Of one HUNDRED miles, the of
said central highway and also to extnguih the Indian title
upon suitable beadhs covering the said branch roads and
the location and construction Of the highway shalt
Immediately be commenced, both for the common road and
anu Win calculated 10 nnsh the
road in year, be passabe for wagons and car
nages, and the railway in seven wears.
Sec 5. And be further enacted That as soon as the
said common road is finished, the shall be post road
and daily mail carried thereon in wagons coaches or
seighs when necessary the rate Of least hundred
miles in twenty four hours and daily horse mail for light
letters and printed Slips the of least hundred
miles in twenty four hours
Sec 8. And be further enacted That soon as said
railway any sufficient part thereof shall be completed and
fit for USE the use thereof shall be granted for limited time
to such individuals companies SHALL by contract with
the Government, agree transport pers ,ns mails munitions
OF war; and freight Of all kinds public and prvae vehicles
furnished by themselves the same, such reasonable
rates shall be agreed upon Propidd That if other roads
shall hereafter be constructed the ground reserved for
roads by this act the company persons shall not be
allowed to have the contract for transportation interest,"
in more than one road at the time
Sec T. And be further enacted, That military stations
shall be established the line OF the central highway and
branches, at such places the President shall direct.
Sec 8. And be further enacted, That donations Of land,
to the extent of hundred and sixty acres shall be made
to each head OF family, widow single man, egh.
teen OF who shall be settled the line of said
ra highway and branches and within tho bounds of the
nguished Indian claim, within twelve months after the time
Of such extinction of title and presumption rights to the
same extent shall be allowed to all similar settlers after
twelve months.
Sec g. And be further enacted That the sum Of three
hundred thousand dollars of any money the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated shall be and the hereby is
appropriated and placed the disposition of the President
defray the expenses of carrying into effect the third and fourth
sections OF this act for the collection and preparation of
and the extinction of Indian titles necessary the
selection and location Of the route for said central national
highway and branches
Rnfor tn - 49,