Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-05-17
rpuBLio-No. GAL
An act making a grant Of lands to the State of
Minnesota, to aid in the construction of the
railroad from Saint Paul to Lake Superior.

An act making grant of lands to the State Of
Minnesota, to aid in the construction Of the
railroad from Saint Paul to Lake Superior.
Be il enacted By The Senate and House of Repre-
sentdtives of the United States Of America IN Con-
greSs assembled, That there be, and thereis here
by, granted to the State Of Minnesota for the
pufp ose Of aiding in the construction of q rail-
road in said State from the city of Saint Paul to
the head of Lake Superior, every alternate sec
ton of publie land Of the United States, not min
eral designated by odd numbers, to the amount
Of five alternate sections per mile on each side of
the said railroad on the line thereof, within the
State of Minnesota; but in case it shall appear
that the United States have, when the line or
route of said road is definitely fixed, sold, ap-
proprated, reserved, or otherwise disposed of
any sections, or any part thereof, granted as
aforesaid, or that the right of presumption or
no lestead settlement has attached to the same,
then it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the
Interior to select, from the lands of the United
States nearest to the lines Of sections above spe
Gifted, in alternate sections or parts thereof so
much public land Of theUnited States not mine
raj, as shall be equal in amount to such lands as
the United States have sold or otherwise appro-
priated, or to which the rights of pre- empton
or homestead settlement may have attached as
| aforesaid which lands thus selected in lieu of
| those sold, reserved, or otherwise appropriated
or disposed Of or to which the rights of pre- emp
tion or homestead settlement may have attached,
as aforesaid, together with the sections and parts
of sections designated as aforesaid and appro
priated as aforesaid, shall be held and disposed
OF by the said State for the use and purposes
aforesaid Provided, That the land to be 50 Sc
lected shall in no case be located farther than
twenty miles from the lines of said road: And
provided further, Thrt the lands hereby granted
for and on account Of said road shall be, exclu-
svely applied in tho construction OF the same,
and for no other purpose whatever, and shall be
disposed Of only as the work progresses through
the same, as in this act hereinafter provided
Provided, also, That no part of the land granted
by this act shall be applied to aid in the construc-
ton OF any railroad, or part thereof, for the con
structon of which any previous grant of land
may have been made by Congress; And proUided
Jurther, That any and all lands heretofore re-
served to the United States by any act of Con
gress, or in any other manner by competent au-
thority, for the purpose of aiding in any object
of internal improvement, or for any other pur-
pose whatsoever, be, and the same are hereby
reserved 10 the United States, from the opera
tions of this act except so far as it may be fount
necessary to locate the routes of the said roat
through such reserved lands In which case th
right Of way only shall be granted, subject to th
approval Of the President of the United States
PFOvided, further, That the minimum price o
the even sections and parts of sections of the pub
lie lands of the United States, within the limit
of ten miles on each side of the line Of said road
shall be two dollars aud fifty cents per acre.
Sec. 2. And be il further enacted That when
ever said State shall cause to be completed TWEEN
ty consecutive miles of any portion of said rail
road, supplied with all necessary drains, culvertl
viaducts, crossings, sidings, bridges, turnouts
. watering places, depots, equipments, furniture
and all other appurtenanees of hrst-class raj
road, patents shall issue conveying the right an
title to said lands to said State, on each side
the road as far as the same is completed, an
coterminous with said completed section, not ez
y ceeding the amount aforesaid, and patents sha
l in like manner issue each twenty miles of sal
o road is completed: Provided, howeser That n
+: patents shall issue for any OF said lands unle
9 there shall be presented to the Secretary of ti
o Interior statement, certified by the Govern'
in of the State of Minnesota, that such twenty mill
i have been completed in the manner required
lie this act, aud setting forth with certainty th
'r points where such twenty miles begin and whe
= the same end.
e. Sec. g.. And be it further enacted, That wht
the said road shall be definitely located, and
plot thereof filed with the Secretary Of the Int
terror, the lands hereby granted shall not there
after be subject to settlement, presumption,
IN private entry adverse to this grant.
10 Sec. 4. And be IL further enacted, That the sa
l. State in addition 10 the grant heretofore mel
e. road over any public lands of the United Stat
4 not otherwise appropriated, reserved, or dispos
O. of, and that the right of way over said lands
ed the United States for the purpose aforesaid
D. hereby granted to said State to the width of o
~ hupdred feet on each side of said road ocatt
ed Sec. 8. And be il further enacted, That the IS
es lands hereby granted when patented to 81
er State, shall be subject to the disposal of 81
a. State for the purposes aforesaid and for no 9th
or and the said railroad shall be and remain a pu
m lie highway for the use of the Government of
lot United States free from all toll or other char
n for the transportation of any property or troC
of of the United States.
h. Sec g. And be ii further enacted, That if 8
ids road is not completed within eight years from
to- time of the passage Of this act, provided he
ith in, no further patents shall be issued for 81
n lands, and no further sale shall be made
nor the lands unsOld shall revert to the Uni
led States.
ne, Sec. 7. And be IL further enacted, That
in United States mail shall be transported over 5