The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-08
CHAP CLXVTTI-

An Act making additional Grant of Lands to
the State of Minnesota, in alternate Sections,
to aid in the Construction of Railroads in said
State
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Re-
representatives. of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, That there be, and is here
by, granted to the State of Minnesota for the pur-
pose of aiding in the construction of railroad
from Houton, in the county of Houston, through
the counties of Fillmore, Mower Freeborn and
Faribault, to the western, boundary of the State:
and also for railroad from Hostings, through
the counties of Dakota, Scott Carver, and Nc
Leod, to such point on the western boundary of
the State as the legislature of the State may de-
termine every alternate section of land designa-
ted by odd numbers TO the amount of five alter
nate sections per mile on each side of said road;
but in case it shall appear that the United States
have when the lines or route of said roads are de-
fnitely located, sold any section, part thereof
granted as aforesaid, or that the right of preemp
ton or homestead settlement has attaceed to the
same, or that the same has been reserved by the
United States for any purpose whatever then if
shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior
to cause to be selected, for the purposes afore-
said, from the public lands of the United States
nearest to the tiers of sections above specifd SO
much land in alternate sections or parts sec
tons, designated by odd numbers, as shall be
equal to such lands the United States have
sold, reserved, otherwise appropriated or to
which the right OF homestead settlement or pre-
emption has attached as aforesaid, which lands,
thus indicated by odd numbers and sections by
the direction of the Secretary of the Interior
shall be held by said State of Minnesota for the
purpose ana uses AFORESAID: Provided That the
land SO selected shall in no case be located more
than twenty miles from the lines of said road:
And provided further, That no land shall be gran
ted or transferred by the provisions this act not
1ncluded within the Jurisdiction of the State of
Minnesota: And provided fnrther That any and
all lands heretofore reserved to the United States
by any act of Congress, or in any other manner
by competent authority, for the purpose of aiding
IN any object of internal improvement, or other
purpose whatever, be, and the same are hereby
reserved and excepted from the operation of this
act, except SO far as it may be found necessary to
locate the route of said road through such reser,
we'd lands, in which case the right Of wev sbaI 10
granted, provided the United States Ios 81 =;
possession the title thereto. ~ Se' Ill
SEC. q And be it fnrther enacted That tbasoo
tions and parts of sections of land which Nv snob
grant shall remain to the United States within ten
miles on eachside OF said road shall not he soIa
for less than double the minimum price of nnbIio
lands when sold, nor shall any of said Lands hn
come subject to sale at private entry until a.
same shall have been first offered at nEhlic Sola ~
the highest bidder at or above the miniatures W
as aforesaid: Provided, That actual hona 6da ~
tiers under the pre- emption laws of the Tfnited
provement, and occupation as now providsd ~,
law, purchase the same at the increased minimnJ4
price: And provided also, That settlers under
the provisions of the homestead law who sboI1
make entries after the passage of this act mon
the sections numbered by even numbers, and Who
commonly with the terms and requirements of
said act shall be entitled to patents for an amonDt
not exceeding eighty acres each, anything in this
act to the contrary Notwithstanding.
lands hereby granted shall be subject to the dis