, 1857-03-06


AN ACT granting Public Lands, in alternate Sections
90 the States Of Florida and Alabama, 70 aid In the
Coasiracsion Of certain Railroads In said States.
Be it euaste by tho Senate and House Of RePresea-
taives OF iie United States Of America In COngress
assembled, That there be and Is hereby granted 20
the Stalc Of Florida. for the purpose Of aiding In the
oonstruction Of Tailroads from 81. Johas hyer o.
Jacksoaville, b The waters Of Eseembia Bay at or
near Pensacola and from Amelia Island, on the At
lantir 70 the waters Of Tampa Bay, with branch -
Cedar Key, on the Gulf of Mexico and also = rail-
mad nom Pensacola 70 the State ine of Alabama, In
the direction Of Montgomery, every alternate section
q land dosgnaisd by odd numbers, Tor six sections
In Width On each sde Of each roads and branch But
10 cass II shall appear thai the United states have,
when the lines OF routes Of ad roas and branch are
deaniely hxcd. coll any sections or any parts there
o. granted o. Aforesaid that the right Of pFcemp-
ton has aftached 70 the same then shall be lawful
for any sgent agents % be appointed by The gov
ernor y GAd State 70 selec subject 70 the approval
Of The Secretary d The Interior from the lands u the
United States nearest 10 the tiers VI sections above
EPedhcd - much land In alternate sections part,
pan. OF sections, q shall be equal to such lands As
the United States have sold OF otherwise apprOpra-
ted. nr 70 which the rights Of preemption have At
taehed as Aforesaid which lads thds selected in
hca Of thase sold and 70 whibh preempiion rights
have attached a. aoresal1 together with she sections
and part of sections designated by odd numbers,
Aforesaid. sud Appropriated afOresad) shall he held
BY the State Of Flrda for The and purpose aioTe
sid; Provided, That Ibe land 70 be 80 locatod In no
oase bo further than Aleen miles from the tines Of
sad ruais ald branch. and selected for and on 40.
count of each of aid Foals and brahch; Provided
further, That The iands hereby granted for and on
aoooant 1f aid roads and branch severaly, shall be
exclusively applledin the construction Of that road
branch Tor ard account OF which such lands
hereby granted, and shall b disposed Of only A. the
v2tk prosrse.. sna ths same seAi = y 10
That any and al Lands. heretofore reserved 70 the
United staies by any AZ of Congress, or iRany osr
Iaansg BY compsielt authority, for ths pgEpole q
aiding N any Object of Internal Improvement, for
any other purpose NhaisoCvcr, Be-, and the same
helcby reserved . te United statea from the opera
ton Of this at. except 80 iaF a may e found ne
through sach reserved lRds In which case the right
Of way only shall be granted, subject % the sproya
of the President Of the United States.
Sec. And ee farther enacted, That DC ses-
the United States within SIX miles on each side OF
aid roads and hnapch shall not be sod for less than
dluble The minimum price Of The public landa when
vais eniry until ths famO have been arsi offered At
public sale at The increased price.
Sc. 3. And be 4 fIfther enacted, That the said
lands hereby erautd q tho aid State shall be sabect
% tbe dspSs q the egslatase thereof Tor the pDr
pases ni5Fesad. and other and The said rAlroads
and branch shall be and remain public Highways for
ne use q tie government Of the United sia.ei free
from l0lI or other charge upon the transportation Of
any property or troops of the UHted States.
See. { And be hfirthrr enacted. That the lands
hereby granted 20 said State shall be disposed Of by
mid State only N manner following that b 70 say
that quantity Of hnd, not exceeding oue hundfcd
and twenty sections for each Of id Ioads and branch
and inclnded within . eontinuous length Of twenty
miles u each of said rnads and branch, may be sold
and uhon TIE rnreranr of aid State shall certify 70
the Secretary a. the Interior that any twenty contin-
uous miles o. any either Of aid roads branch.
Ia complcted. then another quantity q land hereby
granted. uot 90 exceed one hundred aud twenty sec
tons for each Il said roads branch having twenty
eontinuaus miles completed sforesaid and included
within continuous length of twenty mlesof each Of
such roads o. bfanch. may be sold and 70, from
time % tine. until sid roads and branch are rompe-
ted within ten ycars further sales shall he made
and the lands unsoid shall revert to the United
Slater.
Sec. 5. And Be Il further enacted, That the Uni
led States mall shall be transported over said roads
and branch. under the direction Of the POstOdce De
partment a such price - Congress may. by law, d.
recti Provided. That nhi such price is hxedly law
the PostnAserGenera shall have the power 10 deter
mine the same
Sec. O. Ani BE- Il further enacted, That . similar
grant Of atornaie sections Il public land is hereby
made 70 the State n Alabama % aid in the construc
tion Of ralrnad from Montgomery, In said State 70
the boundary line between Florida and Alabama, in
the direction Of Pensacola and 70 connect with the
road from Pensacola TO said line upon the terms
and conditions in al respects hereinbefore pre-
acrihed for the grant 10 FLORIDA.
Approved, May ~, 1856.