The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-02-18
MIR. CURTIS, PAulfIC HAILROAU


oHiteu ctAteu anu hc 10 hereby, authorized aud
directed to enter into contract for the Ira nsporta
ton OF the mails. tr ops, seaman, munitions Of
war, army aud navy supplies, an1 all other govern
ment service, by railroad, starting from two poi
--one west OF Missouri, the other west of Iowa
on the navigable waters of The Missouri river and
uniting within five hundred miles Of said Missouri
river, 70 the nayigable waters of the Sacramento
river, In California; on the most eligible route,
ference being had to feasibility, shortness and
/ Sec. 2. And be il further enacted, That the
President shall cause advertisements to be inserted
in two newspapers in each State and Territory, and
4 in the District OF Columbia, for period Of not
1 less than three than six months, inviting
sealed proposals for the construction Of said rail-
road, and for performing the service herein re-
| qairad rs follows
/ Eirst.-The time in which it is proposed to con-
strnct and finish the entire road and put tho same
into successful operation, which period shall not
exceed twelve years from the execution Of the con-
tract also, what extent and portion of said road,
! beginning at the eastern and western terminus
and progressing continuously until finished, shall
be complete and put In operation during each and
every year.
second.-Ths time in which said party will SUR
| render that portion Of said road which passes
through the territory Of the United States, with its
rolling stock and all appurtenanees thereunto be-
longing, to the United States forthe purpose Of be-
/ ing Transferred to the several States which may
hereafter be formed ont uf said territory, herein
provided
| Third.-At what rate per mile per annum, not
| exceeding FIVE hundred dollars, it is proposed to
carry the United States mails daily, both ways, on
said road, under the direction Of the Post Office De-
partment, for the period OF twenty years from the
completion of the road, and also for the portion
which may be in use while the said road Is in
Of constructions and 1t what rate per mile, for
like period, upon each section az it is completed, ii
is proposed to carry said road, under the dreo-
| tion of the proper departments, ali military and
naval supplies, troops, seamcn, passengers, and
freghts OF all kinds for govern meut purposes with
ha Esvsf tknf thn Ia .k.nll
in any event, either of peace Of war, exceed the
sum which in time Of peace has been heretofore paid
for similar service, or equal amount. upon any
isting route After the expiration of aaid contract
said transportation, postal, military, naval, and
for every other government purpose, shall be per
formed On said road, under the direction of the
proper depar tmenS, for reasonable prices, not
ceeding those paid on other siclass railroads, to
be ascertained by Cons ress, In the event Of dis
| agreement between the government and the con-
tractors owners Of said road.
SEQ. 3. And be il further enacted, That said
proposals shall be opened by tho President. after
due notice, in the presence Of his cabinet and such
persons as may choose to attend and he il hereby
authorized and directed to enter into contract for
the transportation provided for Ia this with the
party whose proposal shall be by him deemed NEST
advantageous to the United States for the full and
complete performance of said contract, in compii-
ancc with the provisions Of this aet And the par
ty with whom said contract may be made, ms q
guarantee for the faithful performance Of the same
secretary treasury
sum Of Ave hundred thousand dollars, or the value
thereof, In bonds or certificates OF stock OF the
United States, which may be subsequently, with
drawn in sums Of ten thousand dollars as the work
progresses, on production Of vouchers showing, to
the satisfaction OF the Secretary Of the Treasury,
that an amount equal thereto has been expended
in the construction of said road All question: of
damages aud forfetnres by reason Of any breach Of
said contract shall be determined by the express
terms and conditions OF the same Provided That
this act shall BIO taken and considered ~ part Of
| any contract that may be made in accordance with
it's provisions, in like if the same was
set forth in said contract.
Sec. 4. And 10 Ii further enacted, That In con-
sideration Of the stipulatons and undertaking in
said contract, there shall be- ami is hereby appro
rrated and set apart quantity Of the public lands
equal to the alternate sections of public land for
the space Of ak miles each side Of said road,
from its eastern to it's western terminus to be Sc
lected from the sections designated In the public
surveys by odd numbers, aud 10 be held and coz
| veyed as herein provided And between the msri-
dams ct ninetysix degrees, and one hundred and
twenty-five degrees. proceeding from each end the
| width Of land from which selsci ons may be made
shall extend two miles more On each side If each
| succeeding degree Of longitude. And in ali
where the nited States may have disposed Of said
lands or any part thereof, from any cause cam
not convey legal title thereto the deficiency may
be made up from any unoccupied and unappropriat-
cd public lands Within the distance Of twelve miles
On either side Of said read; Provided, That all
mineral lands be, and the same are hereby exclud-
ed from the operation of this act aud in lieu there
of like quantity Of unoccupied and una appropriate
ed observation-disclosures nearest TO the line u the
/ road, through said mineral lands, may be selected
| IN alternate sections.
| Sec.5 And be IL further enacted, That the par
| ty with whom the contract aforesaid may be made
shall proceed without delay to locate the general
route of said road, and furnish detailed survey
and map thereof to the President, who shall cause
the public lands to the here granted on either
eide Of said road TO be surveyed, and tho Indian
title thereto to be extinguishsl soou as practices
bic. And the provisions Of he act OF September,
eighteen hundred and forty one, granting pre-emp-
ton rights and the acts amendatory thereof shall
be, and the same hereby, extended to the lands
thus surveyed excepting those herein apart and
| appropriated for the use Of said road; Provided,
That so soon as contract is made, in pursuance Of
the provisions OF this act, for the construction of
said road, itshall be the duty Of the President To
cause the public lands for twelve miles on each
side Of Inuoh of said road the contracting par.
ty shah indicate, to be withheld from settlement,
\ae or occupatien, until the lands shAl have been
llryeyed and the alternate sections selected, o.
Provided for in'this act.
Sec g. And be II further enacted, That in max
ing said contract it shall be stipulated that the said
road shall be divided into sections OF twenty five
/ miles each, and that none Of said lands are to be
conveyed TO the contracting party until one section
| Is completed and put into successful operation
| when the President shall convey by patent to the
contracting party three-fourths Of the land per-
tanning to the section completed, retaining the
other fourth security for the completion III the
| nsxt section OF twenty five miles and when the
next il completed the President shall in like man
ncr, convey to the contracting party threefourths
| Of the land pertaining to that section, together
with the remaining onefourth on the previous sec
ton and SO with each succeeding section, con-
veying three fourths and retaining one-fourth az
security for the completion Of the next, until the
last section OF the road Il finished and pat into OBJ
GRAFTON, when the President shall convey TO the con-
tracing party the residue Of the lands hereby
propriAted and said contract shall require that the
United States mails shall 1t ali times be carried 90
said roAd, under the direction and control of the
| Postmaster General; and ali other government
Dsportaton provided for IN this act shall be per
formed under the direction Of the proper depart
ments, respectively, and the compensation therefor
-. TO xZs. . -