The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-12-28
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RAIL ROAD BILL.

RAIL ROAD BILL.
The following is copy ola Bill, introduced
in the Senate Dec. 18th, by Senator A. e.
Dodge, for a grant of land for the construction
OF railroads in Iowa. The bill is drawn up in
conformity with the memorials Of the Legisla-
ture.
Agrant is asked, for four roads, one from
Burlington and Keokuk, TO the Missouri, one
from Davenport and Muscatine, to the Mssou-
ri, one from Dubuque, to the Missouri and
one from McGregor's Landing, TO the Miss
our.
ABIL
Making grant Of land to the State of Io,ca
IN alternate sections to aid in the construction
Of certain railroads In said State,
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives. fthe United States of .q,aerica
in Congress assembled, That there be, and is
hereby, granted to the State of Iowa, for the
purpose OF aiding in the construction of rail-
roads " from the City of Burlington and the
City OF keokuk to some convenient point of
junction northeast Of the Desmoines river
thence on the most feasible route to point on
the Missouri river at or near the month of
Platte River"
| "From the city Of Davenport, in Scott
county, by the way Of the city of Musca,ine
Muscatine county to Council Bluffs on the Mis-
sour river provided that said road go by the way
of Kanesyille.
! From Dubuque, on the Mississippi river, to
a point on the Missouri river at or near Kanes
vile, IN the county Of Pottawa,amic, by the way
Of Fort Desmoines'
From McGregor's Landing in Clayton
county, on the Mississippi river, to the Missou-
u river, at or near the mouth Of the Big Soux
river, in Iowa. every alternate Section of
land designated by even numbers, for six sec
tons in width on each side of said roads but
in case it shall appear that the United States
nave, when the lines or routes Of SAID roads are
definitely fixed by the authority aforesaid. sold
any sectonor any part thereof granted as afore-
said, or that the right of pre-emption has attach.
ed to the same, then it shall be lawful for any
agent or agents to be appointed by the Cover
nor OF said State to select, subject TO the appro-
val OF the Secretary of the Interior, from the
lands of the United States most contiguous To
the tier of sections or parts of sections above
T specified, SO much land in alternate sections OF
I parts OF sections as shall be equal to such
lands as the United States have sold, or tt
f which the right of presumption has attached a.
aforesaid, which lands thus selected in lieu o
d those sold, and to which pre- emption rights hav.
attached as aforesaid, together with the sections
: and parts OF sections designated by even mum
oers as aforesaid and appropriated as afore sal,
shall be held by the State OF Iowa, for the US
:, and purpose aforesaid Provided, That tn
lands to be SO located shall in no case be furthe
). than fifteen miles from the line of the road i,
4 each case, and selected for and on account O
each sand roads PrOrided further, That tn
: lands hereby granted shall be exclusively ami;
inpp fL,t.
I. was granted and selected, and shall be dispose
OF only as the work progresses, and the sam
. snaii De applied to no other purpose whatsoever
. IND pr0raded III Their, That any and all land
: heretofore reserved to the United States by an
dc' "' congress, or IN any other manner b.
y coa'Pe'ent authority, for the purpose of adn
. n any object OF internal improvement, or fo
any DINER purpose whatsoever, be and the sam
: are hereby reserved to the United States fror
the operation of this act except SO far as il ma
= be found necessary TO locate the routes of m
!. SAID railroads through such reserved lands. i
ted.
SECT, 8. find be II further enacted, Tha
the sections and parts of sections OF land which
: by such grant, shall remain to the u. S With
s miles on each side of each of said roads, sha
y not De sold for less than double the minmur
e price OF the public lands when sold, which land
shal' from TINE to time be offered at public sal
t. The highest bidder, under the direction of III
IS Secretary ofthc Interior, and shall not be sub
Ject to entry until they shall have been offere
, at public sale
: Sea. find be 1t further enacted, That tn
{ SAID LANDS hereby granted to the said State sha
Is be subject to the disposal of the Legislator
e 'here"f, Tor the purpose aforesaid and no other
{ and the said railroad shall be and remain
pubic highway, for the use of the Governmer
!, OF the Y. >. free from toll or other charge upo
q the transportation of any property Of the Unite
y States.
9 SEC. s. find be it further enacted, That
u the saic railroads shall not be completed within
y ten years, the said State Of Iowa shall be boun
to pay to The Unit~d States the amonnt whicc
may be received upon the sale of any part q
: SAID ands by said State, the till, to the purch
sers under said State remaining valid, and tn
title to the residue of said lands shall re inves
IN the United ates TO have and hold The sam
e ia the same manner as if this act had not beef
0 passed.
Q SECT. 8. And be it further enacted, Tha
. Inc United States mail shall at all times, b.
transported on sail railroads under the direction
$ OF the Post Once Department, as such price a
the Congress may by law direct.
!, THE EASTERN WAR.
:, The Y. Tribune of last Friday contain
the following significant paragraphs
London weekly paper, TIE Press. contain
The following F" We have authority to stat
that the Court at ST. Petersburg, has addresse,
, brief and conclusive note to the Government,
M nnIa and and