Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-02-27
Extension Of the Illinois Central
Railroad ThrO ugh wisconsin.

Extension Of the Illinois Central
Railroad ThrO ugh Wisconsin.
We believe the following Bill to aid
the Territory of Minnesota in building q
Railroad has been passed in Congress-
lit will be seen that the act may be Of
some ultimate interest TO us Of Western
Wisconsin:
Be it enacted BY the Senate and House
of Representatives ofthe United States,
of A merica in Congress assembled, That
for facilitating the transportation Of the
mails, men and munitions of war, and 9TH
Ter purposes, there be and hereby is,
granted to the Territory of Minnesota,
for Railroad from the mouth Of Left
Hand river, at the head of Lake Supe-
rior, via. St. Paul to the southern line
Of said Territory, with the privilege OF
Extending the same to the northern ter
minus of the Illinois Central Hliiroad on
the Mississippi river, every alternate
section Of land designated by odd numbers,
for six sections in width OH each side of
said road but in case that it should APP
pear that the United States have, when
the line or route Of said road is definite
| ly fixed by the authority aforesaid, sold
any section or part thereof granted
as aforesaid, or tint the right Of pre-
emption has attached 10 the same; then
it shall be lawful for any agent Of agents
TO be appointed by the Governor Of said
Territory, TO select, subject to the APP
prevail of the Secretary of the Interior,
from the lands of the United States
nearest to the tier of sections above spe-
lifted, SO much land as the United States
have sold OF otherwise appropriated, or
10 the right of pre-emption has attached
las aforesaid which land (thus selected
in lieu Of those sold, and to which pre-
EN- .'tion rights have attached, as afore-
said, together with the sections and parts
Of sections designated by odd ntimbers
aforesaid, and appropriated as aforesaid
shall De held by the Territory Of Min
ne sofa for the use and purpose aforesaid ;
ProUided That the lands 10 be located
shall in no case be further than fif-
teen miles from the line for and on ac-
count Of said road: PROVIDED further
That the lands hereby granted shall be
exclusively applied 10 the construction Of
said road, and shall be disposed Of only as
the work progresses; and the same shall
be applied to no other purpose whatever
find provided further, That any and all
lands heretofore reserved to the United
States by any act Of Congress, or in any
other manner by competent authority,
for the purpose of Gliding in any object
Of internal improvement, or for any 9TH
Ter purpose whatsoever, be and the same
are hereby, reserved to the United States
from the operation of this act, except so
far as 1T may be necessary to locate the
route of the said Railroad through such
reserved lands, on which case the right
Of way only shall be granted, subject to
the approval Of the President of the Uni
ted States.
Sec. 2. And he it further enacted,
That the sections and parts of sections
Of land which, by such grant, shall re-
main TO the United States, within six
miles. on each side of said road. shall moi
be sold for less than double the minimum
price of the public lands when sold
nor shall any of such lands become sup
ject to private entry until the same have
been first offered at public sale at the in
creased price.
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted,
That the said lands, hereby granted to
the said Territory shall be subject to-
the disposal of the legislature thereof
for the purposes aforesaid and MO 9TH
err; and the said Railroad 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 prop
erty or troops Of the United States.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted,
That the lands, hereby granted to said
Territory, shall be disposed of by said
Territory only in manner following, that
is tosay: that aquantity Of land not ex-
ceeding one hundred and twenty Sec
lions, and included within CONTINUOUS
length Of twenty miles of said road may
be sold, and when the Governor of said
Territory shall certify 10 the Secretary
OF the Interior that any continuous twen-
~ miles of said road is completed, then
afiother like quantity of land hereby
granted may be sold and SO from time
to time until said road is completed; and
if said road is completed within ten
years, no further sales shall be made,
and the land unsold shall revert to the
United States.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted,
That the United States mail shall Le
transported over said Railroad, under the
direction of the Post Office Department
at such price as Congress may by law
direct Provided, That until such price
is fixed by law the Post Master General
shall have the power to determine the
same.
TWe are Unable to present any le-
gislative news this week, the letter OF
our Madison correspondent having fail
ed to arrive, as usual. Judging from our
M adiSon nanerS The T,ev;S},turo - -, -