Washington telegraph., 1855-02-28
Mississippi Branch Railroad

and TO adopt the Memphis and Little Rock
Plank and Railroad survey as said eastern |
branch ,-'~ e-e--st- fA
Be il enacted 6y the General Assembly Of tie State
of .arkamsas That the lands within this State
along the length OF the Memphis and Little Rock
Railroad, from Hopefeld. Opposite the city OF /
Nemphisl in the State of Tennessee to Little
Rock with the right conferred by the act OF Con-
gress of selecting other lands lieu OF such lands
as NAV have been sold, or otherwise appropriated
'by the United States, and which lands Were gran
ted by an act of Congress 20 the otate OF Arkan-
',,;road from uoiot on the Mississippi river op-
posite the mouth of the Ohio river by the way Of
i Little Rock to the Texas boundary near Fulton
Arkansas. with branches to Fort Smith and the
Mississippi river approved February ninth. eigh-
teen hundred and hfty-three, are hereby granted
to the Memphis and Little ROCK naiiroaa Com,
pany. 50 that they may be legally applied in aid
Of the construction of said branch railroad separ-
ate,v from said main trunk line, or Fort Smith
branch thereof and that the line or route OF said
road surveyed bv the said Memphis and Little
Rock Railroad Company, under and by authority
of an act OF the General Assembly of this State.
entitled, san act to incorporate the Memphis and
Little Rock Plank and Railroad Company" ap-
approved January 11th, 1853, which survey has
been approved by the Board of Directors of said
company be and the same is hereby adopted. and
declare to be the line route of the branch of
said Cairo and Fulton Railroad to the Mississippi
river except such slight variations. the actual
location of the work NAV in the judgment of the
chief engineer require, and that copy of said sur
vey be Immediately after the passage Of this act
filed in the Office of the Secretary of State for pre-
servation ProridNd, That citizens or heads of fam
lies being settlers at the passage of this act on
the lands herein transferred to the Memphis and
Little Rock Railroad Company, shall have pre-
ference right to entry of any legal subdivision not
L i l.
the price of two dollars and fifty cents per acre,
which entry shall be so made as to include the
residence of such settler, and the preference right
of entry herein granted, shall exist from the pas
sage this law and for the period of three months
after notice shall have been given for three sue
cess;ve weeks in a newspaper published at Little
Rock, that such lands are ir, market. u y
S2. Be IT further enacted, That on or before the
LIST day of January, 1855, said Mempais and Lit
tie Rock Railroad Company. shall grade, iron,
equip and fully complete the first division of said
Railroad, between the Mississippi and st. Frances
rivers, being by line oi said survey thirty-seven
thirty-three hundredths t37 33-0ol miles
8. Be 1t further enaoted. That should said
Memphis and Little Rock Railroad Company
fail to comply with the requirements of this sec
.ion of this act said company shall forfeit to the
State of Arkansas all their right title and inter-
est In and to said road or the right to construct
the same together with the work and labor done,
materials furnished their right of way, with their
charter, and all their privileges thereof
4. Be 1t further eldcfed. That " hen 20 consec-
utive miles of said road shall be constructed said
railroad company shall be authorized to sell I2O
sections of land the line of said railroad: and
when 90 other consecutive miles of said railroad
shall be constructed said company shall or may
sell and dispose of 120 other sections of said land
and so as by authority of the act of Congress
untilisad railroad is completed: Provided That no
land po-o rro1 <,f
road company which lies west of White river or
the proceeds OF the sale of such Iand-shall be ap-
piled to the construction of any portion of the said
railroad TO the east of the said White river to
any other purpose than the construction of the
said railroad to the west of White river, and be-
tween that river and the city of Rittle Rock:
Prorided further, That portion of the land lying
on that portion of the line of said road from the
ST. FRANCIS to White river shall be taken or ap-
piled to the construction OF any part of said road
lying between HOpehed and the ST. Francis river.
! 5. Be 1T further e,,dofed. That said Memphis
and Little Rock Railroad Company shall grade,
iron, equip and put in complete runring order the
I'd division Of said railroad, between the St Fran
CHS and White TIver. being as reported By the en-
gneer OF said survey forty-five thirty-eight hun
dredth miles. on OF before the 1st day of January
1866. and upon their failure TO do shall forfeit
as aforesaid all work done and materials furnished
on said line of road of said second division, and
the right to construct and complete the same.
6. Be 1t further eaacted- That said Memphis
and Little Rock Railraad Company shall on or be-
fore the first day OF January, 1863 grade. iron,
equip, and fully complete the third division of said
frailroad. being from White river to Little Rock
fforty-fve forty-eight hundredth miles, and upon
their failure to complete the same shall forfeit to
The State all the work done, and materials furn-
ished, and the road from the st. Francis river to
Little Rock, and everything pertaining thereto to
be disposed OF by the State for its completion
! T. Be 1t further enacted, That said lands shall
be selected by said company in conformity with
said act of Congress. and when so selected all the
title of the State OF Arkansas In and to said lands
shall be fully vested in said company for the pur-
poses set forth IN said act OF Cnngress-and the
said company through its board OF directory may
establish their own rules and regulations for the
selection, location, entry disposition and convey
ance OF said land Prorided said rules and regula-
tons do not conflict with the laws of this State or
the said act of Congress, and that after eighteen
months from the passage of this act it shall be
the duty Of said railroad company to locate their
{ofhce at Hopeheh, Little Rock, OF some other
poiEt within this State
II ! s. Be IT further enacted That said railroad
company shall be required to conform to the pro-
visions OF the said act of Congress in the 1st sec
ton OF this act recitsd, in every particular, and
when sand road or any part thereof is completed,
1t shall be and forever remain 4 public highway
Tor the United States to convey troops and pro-
pery OF the United States free of cost and to con-
vey the mail of the United States at such prices
as shall be appointed by Congress -.
Il g. BE further enacted That the Midland
Kallroad company, or any other railroad company,
shall at all times have the right to form connec-
ton with said Memphis branch company by pay
ing their proportlOnate amount OF the expense OF
zmaking said connection
10. BE 1T further enacted, That all the lands
hereby granted, belonging to said railroad COM
Pany, shall be exempt from taxation until said
railroad is constructed, and in full ard complete
funning order from Hopeield to Little Rock. un-
less sold by said company to other persons: Pro
E'ded, That said lands shall not be exempted from
axation for longer period than eight years from
OF tins act and that this act take effect
Approved JAN 18th 1855.