The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-11-20
No. 15.
Joint Resolution in relation to certain Railroads
in the State of Missouri.

Joint Resolution in relation to certain Railroads
in the State of Missouri.
Whereas, By the fourth section of act of
Congress entitled g An act granting the right of
way to the State of Missouri and a portion of the
public lands to aid in the construction of certain
railroads in said State approved June the tenth,
eighteen hundred and tfty-twO, it is provided
follows: - That the said lands, hereby granted
to the said State, shall be subject to the disposal
of the legislature thereof, for the purposes afore
said and no other; and the said railroads shall be
. and remain public highways for the use of the
government of the United States, free from toll
or other charge upon the transportation of any
property troops OF the United States ~ and
whereas, the said grant OF lands has, by virtue OF
said act, and OF an act of the Legislature of the
State OF Missouri been applied in the construc
ton of the Hannibal and Saint Joseph railroad,
constructed and owned by the Hannibal and st.
Joseph Railroad Company, and the Pacific rail
road by the Pacific Railroad Company which last
mentioned road is finished and running from st.
Louis to RolIa; and whereas the ability of said
railroad companies to transport the property and
troops OF the United States over their respective
railroads has been greatly impaired by the de-
structOn of bridges, depots and other property
OF said companies, and the partial destruction of
said roads, and in view of the pressing public ne
cessities, the United States not waiviIg the right
to have their property and troops transported
free from toll other charge by said railroads,
contemplated by the reservation aforesaid, have
resolved as follows: Therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War
is hereby authorized to make such an adjustment
with the Hannibal and Saint Joseph Railroad
Company and the Pacific Railroad Company, for
the transportation past and prospective of the
property and troops of the United States, over
said Railroads during the existence of this re-
belion, as in view of the public exigency may be
just and reasonable, and liquidate the same: Pro-
vided, however, That the sums paid to said COM
panies shall be may be the cost of trans
porting such property and troops, and not ex-
ceedIng the prices fixed by the War Department
on the twelfth day of July, eighteen hundred and
siXty-one, for transportation by railroads, which
adjustment and liquidation shall preclude any
further claim on behalf of such com panies against
the Government for compensation or damages
previously accrued, or for the military occupa-
ton of the said roads by the United States Gov
ernment up to the time of the passage of this act
And provided further, That the Secretary of War
may, in his discretion, withhold from time to
tine such portion of the moneys which may be
due to either of said railroad companies, to in
dcmnify the Government against any failure of
such company to promptly transport such troops
and supplies; Dut nothing herein shall be CON
strued as to prevent the Secretary of War from
taking possession of said railroads and their ap-
pnrtenances, and applying the same to the
elusive use of the Government, whenever, in his
judgment, the public interests may require it,
without, in such case, C, mpensation to the said
companies.
Approved, March g. 1862.