Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-03-25
Thy AurHoRITY.1
.tsal LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES
Pdsssd at the third session Of Tho 11syosrth Gngrsss


aid in the construction Of certain railroads in said
Territory. snd granting public lands in alternate
sections TO the State Of Alabama, to aid in the
construction Of certain railroad in said State.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives OF the United States OF America in Con-
gress assembled, That there be, and is hereby,
granted to the Territory Of Minnesota. for the pur
pose of aiding in the construction of railroads. from
Saltwater, by way of Saint Paul and Saint Anthony,
to point between the foot of Big Stone Lake and
the mouth of Sioux W God river, with branch via
Saint Cloud and Crow Wing, to the navigable waters
of the Red river of the north, at such point the
legislature of said Territory may determine; from
Saint Paul and from Saint Anthony, via Minneapo-
liz, to a convenient point of junction west of the
Mississippi to the southern boundary of the Terri
tory in the direction OF the mouth Of the Big Sioux
river, with branch, via Faribaut to the north line
of the State of Iowa. west of range sixteen from
Winona, via Saint Peters, to apont on the Big Sioux
river south of the fo fifth parallel of norlh latitude;
also from La Crescent, via Target Lake. up the val
lev of Root river point of junction with the last
mentioned road east OF range seventeen, every alter
nate section of land designated by odd numbers for
six sections in width each side of each OF said roads
and branches but in case it shall appear that the
United States have, when the lines routes Of said
roads and branches definitely fixed, sold any
sections any parts thereof granted aforesaid,
that the right of pre- cmption has attached to the
same, then it shall be awful for any agent or agents,
to be appointed by the governor OF said Territory or
future State to select, subject to the approval Of the
Secretary of the INTERIOR from the lands of the Uni
ted States nearest to the tiers of sections above
specified. much land, in alternate sections, or
parts of sections as shall be equal to such lands
the United States have sold or otherwise appropri
ated or to which the rights Of presumption have at
tached aforesaid; which lands (thus selected in
lieu of those sold, and to which presumption rights
have attached aforesaid, together with the Sec
tions and parts of sections designated by odd num-
bers aforesaid and appropriated aforesai shall
be held by the Territory future State of MINES
sofa, for the and purpose aforesaid: Provided,
That the land to be so located shall, in no case, be
further than fifteen miles from the lines of said
roads or branches and selected for and on occount
of each of said roads or branches Provided, fur
ther, That the lands hereby granted for and on &C
count of said roads and branches severaly, shall
be exclusively applied in the construction of that
Dad for and on account of which such lands
hereby granted, and sha! be disposed of only as
the work progr, sses, aid the same shall BIZ ap-
piled to no other purpose whatsoever: And pro.
vidcd further That any and all lands heretofore re-
served to the United States by any act OF Congress-
or in any other by competent authority, for
the purpose of aiding IN any object of internal i'm
provemen or for any other purpose whatsoever, be,
and the same hereby, reserved to the United
States from the operation Of this act except SO far
it may be found necessary TO locate the rous of
said railroads and branches through such reserved
IduuS, Ill WHICH Ease tut IiSlI Vi way Ouy cINh oV
granted suhec: to the approval of the President of
the United States.
Sec 2. And he it further enacted, That the Sec
lions and parts of sections of land which by such
grant shall remain to the United States, within six
miles on each side Of said roads aud branches, shall
not be sold for less than double the minimum price
of the public land, when sold nor shall any of said
lands become subject private entry until the
shall have been first offered at public sale at the in
creased price.
SEC g. And be further enacted, That the said
lands hereby granted to the said Territory future
State shall be subject the future disposal of the
legislature thereof for the purpose herein expressed
and no other; and the said railroads and branches
shall be and remain public highways for the use of
the government of the United States free from toll
other charge upon the transportation of any pro-
pcrty or TROOPS of the United States.
Sec. 4. Aud be it further enacted, That the lands
hereby granted said Territory future State shall
be disposed Of by said Territory or future State only
in the manner following, that is to say: that q
quantity of land not exceeding one hundred and
twenty sections for each Of said roads and branches,
and included within continuous length OF twenty
miles Of each said roads and banches may be sold
and when the governor Of said Territory or future
State shall certify to the Secretary Of the Interior
that any twenty continuous miles Of any OF said roads
branches is completed, then Another quantity OF
land hereby granted not to exceed one hundred and
twenty sections for each Of laid roads and branches
having twenty continuous miles completed, as afore-
said, and included within a continuous length OF
twenty miles Of each OF such roads branches may
be sold and so, from time to time until said roads
and branches completed and il any Of said roads
or branches is not within ten years no fur
Their sale shall bc made, and the lands unsold shall
revert to the United States.
Sec g. And be it further enacted, That the Uni.
ted States mail shall be transported over said roads
and branches. under the direction Of the Post Office
Department, at such price As Congress may by law
direct Provided, That until such price is ed by
the Postmaster General shall have the power to de.
ter.nne the arme.
SEC g. And be it further enacted, That in case
any lands on The line Of said roads or branches
within any Indian territory title to the shall
accrue, nor shall the same be entered upon by the
authority of said Territory State until the Indian
title to the same shall have been extngu,shed.
Sec. T. And be it further enacted, That there be-
and is hereby, granted to the State of Alabama for
the purpose Of aiding in the construction of rail-
road from the line Of Georgia on the Chattahoo-
chez river, to the city Of Mobile Alabama" through
the couEties of Henry, Dale, Coffee Covington
Conecuh Baldwin, and Mobile" and branch rail-
road from Eufaula to Montgomery" through the
counties of Barbour, Pike, Macon and Montgomery"
charactered by the State of Alabama, by an act en-
titled "An act to authorize the Savannah aud Albany
Railroad Company to extend their railroad from the
line of Georgia. on the Chattahoocee river to the city
of Mobile, Alabama, and to extend branch road
rom Enfaula to Montgomery" approved December
twentieth, eighteen hundred and fifty three alternate
sections of the public lands to the same extent and
in the same manner, and upon the same limitations
and restrictions in every respect granted to
aid in the construction of other railroads under an
act of Congress entitled "An act granting public
lands in alternate sections 10 the State of Alabama
to aid in the construction of certain railroads in said
State" approved June three, eighteen hundred and
fifty-six.
Approved March 3, 1857.
Correspondence of the Baltimore Americana
WASHINGTON March ia