The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-07-15
FRIDAY MORNING. JULY IA, 1854.
The Rail Road Again,

terlal errors which appear in the reply of the
Times, to our article of Wednesday. There
can, with US, he no newspaper controversy on
this subject for if there be any legal questions
arising in regard to the matter, the courts will
settle them, and not newspaper editors. We
trust, and believe, there will he no occasion for
interference on the part Of either, and that the
Minnesota and North Western Railroad COM
pany, will be allowed to 60 on and drive the
great work ahead with that degree of energy
and dispatch, which has already been q lead
ing characteristic ofits financial operations and
plans Of speedy construction. In order that
the public may understand all the points and
full bearing of the matter, We here publish an
authenticated copy of the enrolled act grant
ing the lands, as it was approved by tn, Pres-
dent on the 18th of June. The validity of this
copy of the iap mot the printed J1l) is certi-
fled to by Gen. jones' Senator from Iowa. OF
course there can be no mistake about il. COM
ing in this shape:
An ACT to aid the Territory in the construc-
ton Of a railroad therein.
BE enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives. Of the United States of liner
tea ia Congress assembled, That there he, and
is hereby, granted to the Territory of Minncso-
Ia for the purpose Of aiding in the construction
Of a railroad from the southern line of said Ter
ritory, commencing at a point between town
ship ranges nine and seventeen, thence by the
way OfSt. Paul. by the most practicable route,
to the eastern line of said Territory. in the di
rection OF Lake Superior. every alternate sec
ton OF land. designated by odd numbers, for
xix scctions in width on each side of said road
within said Territory but in case it shall ap-
pear that the United States have, when the
line OF said road is definitely fixed by the au-
thOrity aforesaid, sold any section or any part
thereof granted aforesaid, or that the right
ofpre- emption has attached to the same then
1t shall be lawful for any agent or agents to be
appointed by the governor of said Territory
subject to the approval of the Secretary of the
Interior, to select from the lands of the United
States nearest 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 sold. or to which the
right OF presumption has attached as aforesaid
which lands. (thus selected in lieu of those sold
and to which presumption has attached as aforc-
said, together with the sections or parts of sec
tons designatedby odd numbers as aforesaid, and
appropriated as atOrcsaid.) shall be held by the
Territory of Minnesota for the use and purpose
aforesaid: PrOrided, That the lands to be so
located shall in no case be further than fifteen
miles from the line of the road in each case, and
selected for and on account of said road Pro-
rided further, That the lands hereby granted
shall lie exclusively applied in the construc-
tion Of that road for which it was granted and
selected and shall he disposed of only rs the
work progresses. and the same shall be applied
TO no other purpose whatever: lind prorid-
td further. That any and all lands heretofore
reserved to the United States by any act of
Congress, or in any other manner by cOmpe-
tent authority, for the purpose Of aiding in any
object OF internal Improvement or for any 9TH
purpose whatsoever. be. and the same are
hereby, reserved to the United States from the
operation of this act, except SO far as it may be
found necessary to locate the route of said rail
road through such reserved lands. in which
case the right OF way only shall be granted.
subject to the approval of the President of
the United States.
SEC. 2. lind be IL further enacted, That the
sections and parts of sections of land. which by
such grants shall remain to the United States.
within six miles on each side Of said road, shall
not he sold for less than double the minimum
price.
SEC. ,. find be IL further enacted That the
said lands hereby granted TO the said Territory
shall be subject TO the disposal of any lcgisla-
ture thereof. for the purpose aforesaid and no
other, nor shall they enure to the benefit ofany
company heretofore constituted and organized,
and the said railroad shall be and remain a
Pubic nishmay 'or tdc use vi the government Oh
lne on,tea states. lree from Toll OF othcf charge
uPon the transportation VI auy property vi
aid i.nJs hccne snoct ~ '' nr sn ', o1tr ~
until the same shall have been first offered at
public sale at the increased price.
otc. ;. ina oe J"rthef emdcfed' mat the
DO S;,,nsoJ - H., ~ To.n;t So. ani,, ,r,n
manner following. that is to saw. no title shall
vest in the said Territory of Minnesota. nor
snail any patent issue Tor any part OF the lands
i.e,t nen;ioner Ga'.a ,'i
pleted through The lands hereby Granted. and
when the Secretary of the Interior shall be sat
isfed that any twenty miles OF said road are
conp,eteu; 'ncn pa'ent snail issue LOT aquan-
twenty sections and included within a contin-
uous length of twenty miles of said road and SO
from time to time patents shall be issued IN IKE