Columbia gazette., 1854-02-11
CALIFORNIA RAILROADS
SENATOR GWIN'S BULL.

The following important bill has been
introduced by Senator Gwin:
A BILL making grant of land to the
State of California, TO aid in the con
struction of Railroads from San Fran
cisco to San Jose; Benicia to Marys-
vile; Sacramento City, via Auburn,
to Nevada City, and Stockton to So
nora.
Be 1t enacted By the Senate and House
of Representatives. of the United States
of 1merica IN Congress Assembled:
That there be, and is hereby, granted
to the State of California, for the pur-
pose of aiding in making Railroads from
San Francisco to San Jose; Benicia to
Marysville; Sacramento City, via Au-
burn, to Nevada City, ana from Stock
ton to Sonora, every alternate section of
agricultural land, designated By the odd
numbers, for six sections in width on
each sile Of said roa Is; but in case it
shall appear that the United States
have, when the lines or routes Of said
roads are definitely fixed, sold any part
of any section hereby granted, or that
the right Of pre-emption has attached to
the same, or that the same or any por-
tion is N neral land, or in any way has
been disposed Of, then it shall be lawful
Tor any agent or agents, to be appoint
ed by the Governor of said State, to Sc
lect, from the agricultural lands or the
United States, most contiguous to the
tier of sections above specified, so much
land in alternate sections, or parts OF
sections, as shall be equal to such lands
as the United States have reserved or
disposed Of as aforesaid: which lands,
selected as aforesaid, the State of Cali
fornia shall have and hold to ana for the
use and purpose aforesaid; Prorided,
i hat the lands to be located sh I'll be in
no case further than fifteen miles from
the lines Of said roads, should sufii-
cient quantity, subject to such location.
be found within that distance; and if
not, then it shall be located on any lands
subject to such location, and nearest to
the lines of sail roads respectively. And
proculed further, l hat the land hereby
! granted Shall be applied in the co>struc-
tion of sal roads, and shall be disposed
pf only as the work progresses, and shall
I be applied to no other purpose whltse-
ever. Ind pro riIeA further, That any
and all lands reserved to the United
States by any act of Congress, for the
purpose of ailing in any object of inter-
nal improvement, or in any manner for
any purpose whatsoever, be, and the
same are hereby reserved to the United
States from the operations of this act,
except so far as it nay be found neees-
sary 10 locate the routes Of the said rail
roads through such re served lands.
SEC. 2. lnl be it FURTHER enacted
That the sections and parts of sections
of land which, by such grant, shall re-
main to the United Stltes within six
miles on each side of said roads, shall
not be sold for less than double the
minimum price OF the public lands when
sold.
SEC. a. Ind be i further enacted,
That the said lands, hereby granted to
the said State, shall be subject to the
disposal of the said State, for the pur-
poses aforesaid and no other; and the
said railroads shall be and remain pub
lie highway for the use of the Govern
ment of the United States, free from
toll or other charge upon the Transport
tation OF any property or troops of the
United States.
SEC. 4. And be IL further enacted,
That the lands hereby granted to said
! State shall be disposed of by said State
only in manner following; that is to say,
that a quantity of land, not exceeding
one hundred and twenty sections, and
included within continuous length of
twenty miles of each of said roads may
s be sold; aud when the Governor of said
State shall certify to the Secretary of
the Interior that twenty continuous
miles of either of said roads are COM
pleted, then another Ike quantity of
land hereby granted may be sold; and
SO from time to time, until said roads or
either of them are completed; and if
not completed within ten years, no fur
ther sales shall be made, and the land
unSold revert to the United States.