The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-07-05

MINNESOTA LAND BILL.

The following is correct copy of the Bill,
" hck has = Gently passed both Houses Of Con-
gress, making grant of lands for the cons,ruc
lion Of a railroad in the Territory OF Minnesota.
The Bull differs in SINE particulars firm the
original Bill, butts nevertheless a very I'D, raj
gran, to that Territory.
In the Ssnate little Unitsd States June q,
1854 Rad ticies dnd referred to the Commit
tee On Public Lands
AN ACT.
To aid the Territory nf Mime sofa in the con.
structicn Of railroad herein.
Be Il enacted by the Senate and Hoase NJ
Represt ntaiioes Of the United States IF .7mertca
in Congress assembled, That there BE ARD is
he re by, granted To the Territory OF Nlnnesota
for the purpose OF adm in the construction ola
railroad from the southern line Of slid Territory,
commencing at u point between township ranges
nine and seventeen, thence by the way ut 81
Paul, by the most practicable route, I" the
eastern lire Of said Territory, IN the direction "f
Lake Superior, every alternate st c,ion OF land,
designated by odd numbers, for six sections III
wild h on each side OF said road within SAID Ter
rirory ; but IN cas- il shall appear tina, the Uni-
| ted States have, when the line of said road ~
definitely fixed BY the authority atorr said, sold
any section or any part thereof granted Us
afure said, or that the right CT pre- etnpt"n mas
attached TO the same, then it shall he lawful Tor
any agent or agents to be appointed by the
governor Of said Territory, subject to the APPROX
al Of the Secretary Of The Interior, TO se't CT from
the lands of,he United States, nearest TO the
tier of sections above specified, so much land IN
alternate sections or pats OF sections as shall be
equal 10 such lands as the United States have
| IN NH oh ryht bf
attached as afnre said, which lands, (hu' select
ed in lieu Of those sold, and TO which pre- emp
ton has attached as aforesaid, togeth, r wih The
| sections or parts of sections deslgnaPd by ODD
numbers az aforesaid, aud appropriated az ore
said y shall be held by the Territory OF Mlnue-
snta for The use and purpose aforesaid: Pioo'-
aed, That the lands t., be 81 located shall In II"
case be further than ft,etn miles from The line
Of the r ad in each C" g., aud selected tor aht
On account Of said road Prorided further, lha
the lands hereby granted shall br exclusively
applied in The construction of that road for whtcf
ii was granite and selected and shall b. dIspns
ed of only as the work progresses. and ths
same shall be applied t. 40 other purpose what
ever: find propidsd further, That any and al
lands heretofore reserved To the I nlsd States
ct'by any act of Congress or IN any other manne
r by competent authority, tor the purpose oil aid'
ing in any object o. internal Improvement, u
, for anv othe, purpose whatsoever, be, aud IN
same are hereby, reserved IL the United State
from the oreralttn Of this act, except so FAR o
it NAV be found necessary TO locate the rout
Of SAID railroad through such reserved lands, Il
r which case he'rgh, ofway only shall be grant
the United States.
ssc.2 7ad be 1t further enacted, That TIL
sections and parts OF sections o! land, which b
|. such grants shall remain TO the United States
within ak miles OH each side of said road sha
, not be sold for less than double the minimum
, price.
, SEC 3 .7aG be 1t further enacted, That tn
4 said lands hereby'grahted To the said TerritoT
, shall be subject 10 the disposal OF any iegtla
. ture thereof. for the purpose Aforesaid and n
o other, nor shall they enure To the benefit {
. any company heretofore constituted and organ
lied aud the said railroad shall be and remain
. public highway for the use OF the governmer
a of the United States, free from toll or olht
charge upon the transportation OF any propert
:. or troops orthe United States, nor shall any
Il said lands become subject to private entry unit
\ III. sane shall have been first offered at publ
= sale at the increased price.
SEC a. .9nd be it further enacted, That til
= lands hereby granted to said Territory shall |
a disposed OF by said Territory only in mann,
;. following that is to saw, no title shall vest
- the said Territory of Minnesota, nor shall an
patent issue fer any part of the lands hereinbe
) fore mentioned until a continuous length oftwe
= ty miles ofslid road shall be- completed tn oug
the lands hereby granted, ard when the Secrets
y ~ If ne anterior shall be sa isfed that 81
: twenty miles of said rosd are completed then
> patent shall issue for quantity of land n
', exceeding one hundred and twenty section
. and included within cnulinurus length
=; twenty miles Of said road, and from time
- time patents shall be issued in like manner up'
the completion of each additional tweaty NIL
y Of said road unrll ii shai! lie completed, und
'e said road is not completed within ten years
: further sale shall be made, and the land ulrso
~ shall rever, to the United States.
IL SEC. =. And be it further enacted, That Il
Is limited States mail shall lie transported at
= times on said railroad under the direction of /,
u Post Office Department, at :nch price as Co
"a qress NAV by law direct: Pr0nidod That IN
'' such price is fixed by !aw the P"sttnaser O.
- eral shall have The power to deie I
" same
= Passed the House of r, prescn:atvos, Ju
q, 90, 1854
III Attest
% J. W. FORNEY, Cierk