The weekly clarion., 1866-12-20

CHAP. CLXVIII.-AN ACT making an addition
al Grant OF Lands 10 the state OF Minnesota in
alternate Sections, 10 aid IN the Construction Of
lfSllfoads In said state
BE itenacted by the Senate and House OF Repre-
scntatiyes Of the United States Of America in Con
grcss assembled That there be. and is herby,
granted tO the State OF Minnesota tor the pur-
pose Of aiding ia the construction Of railroad
nom Houston Ia the county Of Houston, through
the counties Of Fillmore, Mower. FreebOrn and
fAirault 10 the eastern boundary Of the State
aud also for railroad from Hastings through the
countie, Of Dakota, scott Carver, and Mcleod, 70
such point on the western boundary Of the state
as legislature Of the State may determine every
alternate section Of land designated by odd num-
hrr- w The amount Of five alternate sections per
mile nu each side Of said road but in case II shall
appear tHat the United states have, when. the
lines routes Or said roads are definitely located
sold any section, or part thereof granted as afore-
said, or that the right OF pre- mptlon or nome
stead settlement has attached to the same. or that
the same ma been reserved by the United states
for any purpose whatever, then ~ snail be the du
IS of the secretary of the Interor 10 cause TO be
selected for The purposes aforesaid rom the pub
sections above specified SO much land in alternate
sections or part, O sections, designated by odd
Numbers, as shall be equal 10 such lands as the
United States have sold reserved, or otherwise
ap rupriated. or 10 " hich the right OF homestead
settlement or pre- emptiOn has attached as afore.
said which land thus Indicated by odd numbers
and sections by the direction of the Secretary of
the Interior, shall be held by said state Of Mime
sofa for the purposes and uses Aforesaid Proyid-
ed That the land 50 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 granted or transferred by the provisions
Of this act not included within the Jurisdiction of
the State Of Minnesota And provided further
That any anl all lands heretofore reserved
to the United states by any act OF Congress, or in
any other manner 10y competent authority, for the
purpose of aiding in any object of internal i'm
provement or other purpose whatever, be, and
the same are hereby, reserved and excepted
from the operations othis act except so far as II
may be found necessary to locate the route of
said road through such reserved lands, in which
cass lha 10 ht OF ~ shall be granted provted The
Uled States nfaye in possession the title thereto
Sec :. And I've l. further enacted That the sec.
tiOns and arts II sectioCs of land whi BY such
| gtaut shall remain TO the Unite Slt1s within ten
miles each sd- nf said road sha not be fer
ess than double the minimum price Of public lai ds
when sod, MOI shall any OF ia' lands bee ab
isct to sale u private entry until the shall have
be ell first offered NJ public ale to { bighes bidder
a. or above tie midnu price atNTes i'd P,O i'd
ed That actual bona hds settlers under The ~ emp.
tion of the Uni cd States may after due proof Of
| settlemCnt Improvement and occu tti pro.
yided by law, purchase h" anne AT the crensed
minimum price And proy yided also Tn settlers un.
der the provisions Of the Homestead lIw who shall
make entries ior the p sssge OF this act up e
sections numbered by even numbers end no com
Ply with the terms and quirements OF I'd shall
be entitled to patents for IN au cunt L"t exceeding
eighty each anything In tha act to the contrary
moth HithstEn-ng'
Sc, An be 1t furth y enacted, That the lands
@esesy erHatad ahall ha sulieet to the disposal
Of the legislature Of MI "a 70 the purposes fore
said ami other; ana the said abroad shall be ans
remain public Highway for the usr of the vernment
of the United Safes free of AL toll oher charges
upon tn transportation of any properly o. troops of
the 4 -ited States, and the shall at n imes lie
rnnp ported at the cost charge, and expense 10 all
spects Of the company or corporation or their sue
cts 0rs assig having receiving thu, benefit o.
the land giants herein IN ade.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted That the lands
hereby granted shall be dtsp sed b, said State
the purposes aforesaid only and in manner folio ~ing,
namely len the governor of ssl State sh all certify
to the Secretary # the Interior that any section OF
tn consecutive miles Of sal road /, pleted Ia q
good, cubs antia, and wormanlike manher as d st
class railroad then he SscreRY of the Interior shall
issue 10 h Safe paiets for all the Ia rs n alternate
sectiols parts of sections, designated hy odd
numbers situated within twenty miles of the road so
Ompletedand lytug coterminous to said completed
section Of tan miles, and not exceeding one huadred
sections for the benefit of the having completed
he ten consecutive miles as EfOTesad: Provided
however, That the cotermiuous principle hereby Ap.
piled shall not extend 10 such lands taken by
the said railroad companies to make up d. fcieucies
provided that No land to make up su IA def ,eucies
shall be taken at any palut Within ten miles upon
ch side oi the line of said roads When the govern
Of sal State lall certify that aaother section of
ten consecutive miles shall have been completed as
afore said then the Secretary o. the Iuterior shall
issue patents to said State In ike for lika
number and when certificates Uf ths comp elton of
additional sections cf ten coaseeut We miles Of said
roads are from time to time made as aforesaid sddi
II nal sections lands shall be patented aforesaid
until ssid roads completed. when the VIII, le Of the
lands hereby granted shall be patented the State
for the esai until said roads ATE eonoeed
That # said roa5 are not peied within ten wears
form the acceptance cf this grant thu said lands here
by granted aud not pate'te shall revert the Uni
ed States.
Sac And be I! further enacted. That as soon
as the governor Of said State shall file or cause to be
filed wi the Secretary Of the Iatstior maps dss gnat
ing he routes II sud road then t shall be the duty
of the Secretary OF tee Interior to withdraw from
market he lands embraced within the provizins Of
this act.
Sec. 6. And be Il fu ther enacted That the I'm
ted States msn II be ans ported on d road I'M
der the direction Of the Post OfRce Dep .msnt a |
such price as Congress may By law proviie Provid
ed, Thatuuttl sub price is fxed by law the Post
master General Shelf have power to fix the rate Of
Approved Jolly 4, 1866.