, 1857-03-13
LAWS OF IAE UNITED STATEs.
CHAP. KILL
BY AUTHORITY.

CHAP. ALlL
AN ACT granting Public Lands, in alternate Sec
tions, to the State of Louisiana 70 aid in the Con
struction Of certain Railroads la said State.
Be enacted by the Sel1te and House of Reprssent
aiUes of The United Stats Of AmeTiea in Congress
assembled That there be-, and Is hereby granted 20
the State OF louisiana for the purpose Of aiding In the
CO .truction OF milroad from the Texas line in the
State Of louisiana west Of the town Of Greenwood
via Greenwood. Shreveport, and Monroe, to q point
on the Mississippi River, opposite NicksburB; and
from New Orleans by Opelousas, to the State line Of
Texas and from New Orleans " the State line
in the direction of Jackson, Mississippi every al
ternate section Of land designated by odd mum
bers, for six sections in width on each side Of
said road. But in case it shal appear that the
United States have when the line or route Of said
road "a definitely fixed, s0ldany sections or any
parts thereof, granted aforesaid, or that the
right of preenpton has attached to the same, then
it shall he ldwfal for any agent or agents, to be
appointed by the governor OF said State, TO select
subject TO the approval of the Secretary Of the ln-
terror, from the lands OF the United States near
est to the tiers Of sections above specified, so much
land. in alternate sections, or parts OF sections, as
shall be equal to such lands the United States have
sold otherwise appropriated to which the rights
of preempton have attached as aforesaid. which lands
Qhas selected in lieu of those sold and to which pre-
emption rights have attached Aforesaid. together
with the sections aud parts Of sections designated by
odd numbers Aforesaid, and appropriated afore-
sai) shall be held by tht State OF Louisiana for the
NE and purpose aforesaid Provided That the land
to be located shall in be further than ff
teen miles from tie lines Of said roads, and selected
fer and account OF said roads Provided further
That the lands hereby granted shall be exclusively ap
piled in the construction Of said road for and on
count Of which such lands arc hereby granted, and
shall be disposed OF Ony the work progresses and
tie shall be applied to no other purpose whaso
ever: And provided further, That any aud oil lands
heretofore reserved to the United States By any act O
Congress, or in any other manner by competent au
thorty for the purpose of aiding Ia any object Of In
ternal Improvement or for any other purpose whaso
ever be, and the same are hereby, reserved to the
United States from the operation Of this act except
so far as II may be found necessary to locaieet
route of said railroads tlTfougsuch reserved tAds
in which the right Of wayOnly shall be granted
subject to the approval Of the President oIsCHed
States.
Sec 2. And be It further enacted, Thabnpe Sec
tons and parts Of sections Of land which1by srrh
grant, shall remain 10 the United States within SIX
miles each side Of said roads. shall not beSd for
less than double the minimum. price of tbs ApabliG
lands when sold. shall any Of said landlbecome
subject TO private entry until the same hau been rs
offered at public sale at the inere5@ed price.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said
lands hereby granted tS the said State sll he sub
ect to the disposal Of the legislature thereof for th
purposes Aforesaid, aud other aud the said rail
road shall be and rem ln public highway for the us'
Of the government Of the United, States free frOn
toll or other charge upon the transportation OF any
property or troops Of the United States.
| Sec. 1. And be il further enacted That the land
hereby granted to said State shall be disposed Of BY
SAID otAte only IN manner tDl0WlnR, mat u 70 say
That quantity Of land, not exceeding one hundred
and twenty sections, and included within cOntinuou
! length OF twenty miles Of said roads, may bt
sold and when the governor Of said State shall Ger
ty to the Secretary OF the Interior that any twenty
continuous miles Of any Of said roads Is completed
then another quantity OF land hereby granted not l.
exceed one hundred and twenty sections for each O
said roads having twenty continuous miles complete
as aforesaid and included within continuous lengtl
Of twenty miles Of each Of said roads, may be sold
and SO, from time to time, until said roads are CON
pleted aud il any Of said roads is not complete
within ten years. no further sale shall he made, an
the lands unsOld shall revert to the United States.
Sec. ). And be II further enacted, That the Unite,
States mail shall be transported said road> unde
the direction Of the PO,t-Oice Depar tment at sucl
price as Congress may, by law, dire ct PROVIDED
That until such price is fixed by law the Postmaste
General shall have the power 0 determine the sam
Approved, June 3, 1850.