The Empire County argus., 1854-09-09
Approved 29th June, 1854.
Public, No. 81
AN ACT to aid the Territory of Minnesota in the constr

AN All 10 alu Inc territory OF Minnesota the cOrStruc
ton of railroad therein.
Be enacted By the Senate aad Huse Of Representatives.
Of the United States # An1eric@ IN L0nggess assembled
That there be- and hereby granted the Territory of
Minnesota fox the purpose of aiding in the construction of
railroad from the southern line Of said Territory,
mencing point between township ranges nine and sew
enteen thence by the way of ST. Paul. by the pract-
cable route to the eastern line of said Territory in the d
rection of Lake Superior every alternate section of land
designated by odd numbers for six sections in width
each side of said road within said Territory but
shall appear that the United States have when the line
of said road is definitely fixed by the authority aforesaid
sold any section any part thereof granted aforesaid
that the right OF eemption has attached to the
then it shall be lawful for any agent agents be ap
pointed by the governor of said Territory, subject to tie
approval Of the Secretary of the interior to EJECT from the
lands of the United States nearest to te tier of sections
above specified much land in alternate sections parts
OF sections as shall be equal 70 such lands as the United
States have Sold or to which the right of pre-epion has
attached aforesaid which lands hus selected in lieu of
ihoSe sod ana 20 Which presumption has attached aore
SAID together with the sections parts of sections desig
mated hy odd numbers aforesaid and appropriated
as aforesaid, shall be held by the Territory Of Mnnes
the lands to be located shall in no case be further
than fifteen miles from the line of the road in each
case, and selected for and of said road Proyi
dI further That the lands hereby granted shall be ex
cusively applied the construction of that road for which
granted and selected and shall be disposed of only
the work progresses and the shall be applied to
no other purpose whatever -4ad prooaed furtle That
any and all lands heretofore reserved to the United States
by any act of Congress or in any other by
petent authority for the purpose of aiding in any object
Of internal improvement for other purpose whaso
be- and the are hereby reserved to the United
States from the operation of this act except far
may be found necessary TO locate the route of said rail
road through such eservedands in which the right
of way only shall be granted subject the approval of
the President of the United States. r- f..- -..ty
SEC g Ind be fu1ther enacted That the sections and
parts Of sections Of land, which by such grants shall
main to the United States within six miles each side of
said road shall not be sold for less than double the mini
mum price. ~ q -fT 5aI c4 zgUl. .r4..l p
SEC 3. And be further enacted That the said lands
hereby granted to the said Territory shall be subject to
the disposal of any legislature thereof for the purpose
aforesaid and other shall they to the benefit
of company heretofore constituted and organized and
the said railroad shall be and remain public highway for
the of the government Of the United States free from
toll other charge upon the transportation of any prop
erty troops Of the United States shall any of said
lands become subject to private entry until the shall
have been first offered at public sale at the increased
price. - 49,
SEC. A. Ind be uther enacted, That the lands hereby
granted to said Territory shall be disposed of by said
Territory only in manner following, that is to say no title
shall vest in the said Territory of Minnesota shall
patent issue for any part of the lands herenbefore
toned until continuous length of twenty miles of said
road shall be completed through the lands hereby granted
and when the Secretary of the Interior shall be satisfied
that any twenty miles of said road completed then
patent shall quantity of land not exceeding one
hundred and twenty sections and Included within contn
length of twenty miles of said road and from time
TO time patents shall be issued in like upon the
completion Of each additional twenty miles of said road
until it shall be completed, and said road is not compile
ted within ten years. further sale shall be made, and
the land unsod shall revert to the United States ti7r
SEC. 8. And be ID further enacted, That the United
States mail shall be transported at all times said railroad
under the direction of the Post Office Department at such
price Congress may by law direct Provided That
I'll such price fixed by law tho Postmaster General shall
nave the power to determine the Gt 81 LTl.
Approved 2ath June, 1884, .-a r-- I