Washington telegraph., 1854-02-01
En- the Senate of the United States.
DECEMBER % lS52

DECEMBER 90, 1853.
agreeable to 7oiire Mr.. Johnson asked and obtained
core to bring the Jotio,ring 6i qciich tr1s ,rad
ttcace, referred 10 the COMMITTEE OH Pi15hc Lands
and ordered TO be printed.
A BILL granting the right of way and making
grant OF land to the State of Arkansas to aid in
the construction of a railroad from point on
the Mississippi. In the region of Gaines Land
ing, via Camden, to the Texas boundary near
Fulton, in Arkansas.
BE It enacted by The Senate and House of Re,,e-
sentatres of the United STATES of .4aerica IL, Con-
gress assembled, That the right of way through
the pubic lands be, and the same is hereby grant
ed to the State of Arkansas. tor the construction
OF a railroad from point on the Mississippi river
in the region OF Gaines Landing via Camden. to
the Texas boundary line near Fulton in Arkan-
sas with branches from Camden. via Princeton,
to intersect the Cairo and Fulton railroad or in
the vicinity of Rockport or Benton and also from
Camden to the Louisiana boundary line in the
region of Ell Dorado in said State with the right
to take necessary materials of earth, stone. tim
ber, etc, for the construction thereof: P,ori9ei
That the right of way shall not exceed one hun
dred feet on each side of the length thereof and
copy Of the survey of said road, made under the
direction of said State, shali be orw arded TO the
proper local land Offices respectively. and to the
general land office at Washington city. within
ninety days after the completion of the same.
Sec 2. .4ad be 1t furthe, enacfed, That there be,
and is hereby granted to the State of Arkansas
for the purpose OF aiding in making the railroad
and branches aforesaid every alternate section of
land designated by even mum bers tor six sections
III width on each side OF said road and branches;
but in case it shall appear that the United States
have, when the line cr route of said road is defn-
Iteiy fixed by the authority aforesaid. sold any
part of any section hereby granted, or that the
right Of pre-empton has attached to the same
then it shall be lawful for any agent or agents to
ba hxf - &c.
lect. subject TO approval. as aforesaid. from the
lands OF the United States most contiguous to the
tier OF sections above specified, so much land in
alternate sections parts of sections as shall be
equal to such lands as the United States have sold
or to which the right OF presumption has attached
as aforesaid. which lands being equal in quantity
to one-halt of six sections in width on each side
of said road. the State OF Arkansas shall have and
hold for the use and purpose aforesaid: Prcrid-
e.. That the lands to be located shall in no case
be further than fifteen miles from the line of the
road; -4ild ProDidea further That the lands here
by granted shall be applied in the construction OF
said road. and shall be disposed of only as the
work progresses, and shall be applied to no other
purpose whatsoever .4na proaded further That
any and all lands reserved to the United States by
any act OF Congress, for the purpose of aiding in
any object OF internal improvement or in any
manner for any purpose whatsoever. be and the
same hereby reserved to the United States
from the operation of this act except so far as it
may be found necessary to locate the routes OF
the said railroad and branches through such re.
served lands.
Sec. 3. .4nd be IL further enacted That the Sec
tions and parts of sections of land which by such
grant shall remain to the United States within
six miles on each side of said road. shall not be
sold for less than double the minimum price of the
public lands when sold
Sec. 4. .4nd be 1t further e,actei. That the said
lands hereby granted to the said State shall be
subject to the disposal of the said State for the
purposes aforesaid and 10 other and the sait rail-
road and branches shall be and remain public
highway for the use of the government of the
United States free from toll or other charge upon
the transportation OF any property troops OF the
United States.
Sec. 5. find be IL further enacted That the lands
hereby granted to sand State shall be disposed of
by said State only in manner following that is to
say, that quantity of land not exceeding one
hundred and twenty sections, and included within
a continuous length of twenty miles OF said road
may be sold; and when the governor of said State
shall certify to the secretary of the interior that
twenty continuous miles OF said road is completed
then another like quantity of land hereby granted
may be sold; and from time to time until said
road is completed; and if said road is not compile
ted within ten years, further sales shall be-
made. and the land unso!d revert to the United
States.
Sec. G. .2nd be At fiaiher paacted That the Uni
ted States mail shall at all times be transported
said road and branches. under the direction OF
the post office department. at such price as Con-
gress may by law direct.