, 1856-10-17

AN ACT granting public lands in alternate sections
TO the State Of Mississippi to aid in the construction
Of railroads in said State, and for other purposes
Be IL enacted By the Senate and House Of Represent
atipes of the United States Of AmcTica in Congress
assembled That there be- and is hereby granted to the
State Of Mississippi for the purpose Of aiding in the
construction Of railroads from Jackson to the line be
tween the State Of Mississippi and the State Of Ala
bama; from Tuscaloosa 70 the Mobile railroad within
Mssissppi and from Brandon y the Gulf Of Mexico,
every alternate section Of land designated by even
numbers, for six sections in width, each side Of
each Of said roads. But in shall appear that
the United States have when the lines routes Of
said roads definitely fxed sold any sections, or
any parts thereof granted a; aforesaid or that the
shall be lawful for any agent agents. to be appoint
ed by the governor Of said State TO select subject to
the approval Of the Secretary Of the Interior from the
lands Of the United States nearest TO the tiers OF
tons above specified, much land in alternate Sec
tons or parts Of sections shall be equal TO such
lands as the United States shall have sold, other
ton has attached Aforesaid which Lands, (thus
lected in lieu Of those Sold and to which preempton
rights have attached Aforesaid together with the
sections, and parts Of sections designated by even
numbers as Aforesaid, and appropriated as aforesadO
shall be held by the said State for the and pur
pose aforesad PrOoided that the lands to be so To-
Gated shall in case be further than fifteen miles
from the lines Of said roads, and selected for andOn
account Of each Of said roads; PTOrided further,
that the lands hereby granted shall be exclusively ap
Piled in the construction Of that road for and
count Of which said lands are hereby granted, and
shall be disposed Of only as the work progresses, and
the same shall be applied to no other purpose whatso
ever; And provided further that any and all lands
heretofore reserved 10 the United States by any act Of
Congress, or In any other manner by competent au-
tborty for the purpose Of aiding in any object of in
ternA improvement or for any other purpose whatsO-
ever be- and the same Is hereby reserved to the Uni
ted States from the operation OF this act except so far
as may be found necessary To locate the routes Of
said railroads 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. And be further enacted, that the sections
and parts Of sections OF land which, by said grant
shall remain 10 the United States within six miles
each side Of said roads, shall not be sold for less than
double the minimum price Of the public lands when
sold shall any Of the said lands become subject
private entry until the same have been first offered at
the increased price.
Sec. .. And Be q further Enacted, That the said
lands hereby granted 10 the said State shall be subject
to the disposal Of the legislature thereof for the pur
pose aforesaid, and other and the said railroads
shall be, and remain public highways, for the Of
the government Of the United States free from toll
other charge upon the transportation Of any property
or trooDs Of the United States.
Sec. 4 -And BE- Il further enacted That the lands
hereby granted 10 the said State shall be disposed Of
by said State only In manner following that Is 10
say, that quantity Of land not exceeding one hun
dred and twenty sections for each Of said roads, and
included within continuous length Of twenty miles Of
each Of said roads, may be sold and when the gov.
Of said State shall certify 10 the Secretary OF the
Interior that any continuous twenty miles Of either Of
said roads Is completed then another like quantity Of
land hereby granted, not exceeding one hundred and
twenty sections for such road, may be sold and so
from time to time, until said roads are completed ;
and II snch roads not completed within ten years.
further sales shall be made, and the lands nnsold
shall revert 10 the United States.
Sec. s. And be IL further enacted, That the United
States mail shall be transported over said railroads
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 Postmaster
General shall have the power to determine the same
Sec. 6. And be 10 further enacted That a like
grant TO the extent. and the same terms and
conditions In all respects Is hereby made 70 aid in con
structing a railroad from the city Of Mobile Of New
Orleans, such grant to bs made 10 the several States
through which said road shall pass far said road
Is within their respective limits.
Approved August IL, 1856.