The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-01-17

A BILL to Promote the Construction Of
Railroads and Telegraphs in the State of
Kansas, and other purposes.
Be 1t enacted By the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States Of Anaer-
lea IN Congress assembled. That the right of
way through the public lands in the State
of Kansas be, and the same is hereby grant
ed to said State of Kansas for the construc-
ton of railroads and telegraphs, as follows.
| to wit:
A railroad and telegraph from Lawrence
to the southern boundary of the State, IN
the direction of Fort Gibson, with the fol-
lowing branches: First, From WyandOtt to
such point on said road as the Legislature
of Kansas may designate. Second, From
the point where said road crosses the Neo-
sho river, along the valley of said river to
Emporia. Third, From Lawrence, along
the valley of the Wakarusa, to Emporia AL
so, a railroad and telegraph from Topeka, via
Council Grove, to the western boundary of
the State, in the direction of Santa Fe, New
Mexico, with the following branches: First,
From Council Grove, along the valley of
the Neosho river, to Emporia Second, A
branch from Topeka to intersect the branch
road from Lawrence TO Emporia at such
point as the Legislature may determine.
Also, railroad and telegraph from a point
on the Missouri river, north of Leavenworth
county, to intersect the Kansas branch of
the Pacific railroad within the boundaries of
said State of Kansas, the points of departure
and intersection to be fixed by the Legisla-
ture of said State of Kansas, with the right,
also, to take the necessary material of earth,
stone, timber, DC, for the construction of
the several roads, branches and telegraphs
aforesaid: Provided, That copies of the sur
veys of said railroads. made under the direc-
ton of the Legislature of said State, shall be
forwarded to the proper local land offices,
respectively, and to the General Land Office
at Washington, within ninety days after the
completion of the same.
SEC. Q. And be 1t further enacted, That
there be, and hereby is, granted to the State
of Kansas, for the purpose of building the
railroads and branches and telegraphs afore-
said, every alternate section of land demon
mated bv even numbers for ten sections in
width on each side of said roads and branch
es; and in case it shall appear that the Uni
ted States have-when the line or route of
SAID roads and branches is definitely fixed
by the authority aforesaid-sold any part of
any section of land hereby granted, or that
the right of presumption has attached to the
same, then it shall be lawful for any agent
or agents to be appointed by the Governor
of said State, to select, subject to the ap-
proval of the Secretary of the Interior, from
the lands of the United States in said State
of Kansas, as much land as shall be equal
To such lands as the United States has sold,
or to which the right of presumption has
attached as aforesaid; which lands, being
equal in quantity to one-half of ten sections
in width on each side of said roads and
branches. the State Of Kansas shall have
aud hold for the uses and purposes afore-
said: Provided, That the lands hereby
granted shall be applied to the construction
of said roads. branches, and telegraphs, re-
spectively, in quantities corresponding to
the grant for each, and shall be disposed of
only as the work progresses, and shall be
applied to no other purpose whatsoever.
SEc. B. Ind be Il further enacted, That
the said lands hereby granted to said State
shall be subject to the disposal of the Leg
islature of said State for the purposes afore-
said, and no other; and the said railroads
and branches shall be aud remain public
highways for the use of the Government of
the United States. free from toll or other
charges upon the transportation of any prop
erty or troops of the United States.
SEC. 4. 1Rd be Il further enacted, That If