Washington telegraph., 1856-11-26

yet confirmed to the State This num-
Der added to the 2, ,537 49,, ,6S-10O acres ot
the confirmed lands not disposed of or re-
qulsite to satisfy unredeemed scrip, would
indicate that 6,O81 ,2OO,O2-100 acres OF
swamp and overhowed lands yet remain to
the State. But the Executive considers
that it would not be safe to estimate that
the State will obtain, In all, under the
grant, over $4,000 acres, if quite 50
much. If we subtract from this estimated
amount the 3, ,433 AIS, ,61-10O acres alrea-
dy sold or necessary to satisfy all the un-
redeemed swamp land scrip, the balance
OF the grant remaining to the State, unex-
hausted, will be shown to be, 5,066, ,5S1,-
80. 100 acres
The swamp aud U,cFa0TTed lands were
granted by the United States to this State
for the wise and noble purposes of levying
our rivers, draining our swamps and re-
claiming and rendering these lands fit for
cultivation and habitation. There is vet
much to be done to accomplish in good
faith these desirable objects. This great
work should be pressed forward as speedi-
ly as possible to completion. While seek
ing to guard and protect this magnificent
grant of lands from being squandered and
lost, we should never forget our obligations
to accomplish with it all that the act of
Congress contemplated.
We also give that portion of the mes
sage relating to the Cairo and Fulton Rail-
road Company.
To aid in the construction of the Cairo
and Fulton Railroad, Congress, by an act
approved February 9th, 1858, granted to
the State alternate sections of the public
lands But the grant is conditional, and
can only be rendered absolute by the con-
struction OF the road within ten years from
the 9th day of February, 1858, the date
of the approval of the act of Congress
After the expiration of this period, all of
the conditionally granted lands, which may
not have been secured in accordance with
the terms of the act, viii revert to the U.
States. 1t is therefore evident, if the
State should fail to make the lands availa-
bic, so as to secure the construction of the
road, that not only will the lands be lost,
but a great public work defeated and our
citizens deprived OF the facilities which it
would afford, and the wealth and prosper
ity which it would create and promote.
Your attention is respectfully invited to
the communication OF the president of the
Cairo and Fulton Railroad Company
The act passed at the last session of the
General Assembly to aid in the construc-
ton of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad,
from the northern boundary of this State
to the Texas line, near Fulton, in Arkan-
sas, was not accepted by the company
For instead of granting the lands appro-
priated by Congress, toad IN the const'-uc-
ton Of the road, the act, if accepted by
the company, would have prohibited the
sale of any of the lands to raise funds to
aid an building the road. That the gran
ted lands may be rendered available to
construct the road, as soon as possible, it
is recommended that an act be passed, at
an early period, transferring them to "the
Cairo and Fulton Railroad Company
without any restrictions except such as are
provided by the act of Congress making
the grant, and such as will protect actual
settlers who may have purchased from au-
thorities of the State, lands sold as swamp
and overhowed lands, but which may be
ascertained to belong to the grant made to
aid in building the railroad.
And alluding to the grant of lands made
to this road, and also the grant made to the
Memphis and Little Rock Railroad Com
pany, says:
The Executive regrets that he has recei-
we'd no report or intelligence from either
of these companies relative to their pro-
! gress towards constructing these important
works.