, 1868-06-12

AR. FLANDERS also introduced q bill granting
lauds TO aid in the construction of a railroad
from the city of Wala Walla, Washington Ter,
ritory, to the Columbia river.
Be ii enacted By the Senate and House of Repre-
seHtdtiUes Of the United States Of America in Con.
gresS ASSEMBLED, That there be, aud there is
hereby, granted 10 the Wala Walla aad Colum>
ba River Railroad Company, its successors and
assigns, for the purpose of aiding the construc
ton of railroad from the city of Walla Walla,
in the Territory of Washington, to some point on
the Columbia river, and for the purpose of Sc
curing the safe and speedy transportation of
troops aud munitions of war and military stores
over said route, every alternate section of public
land designated by odd numbers, to the amount
of ten alternate sections per mile, ou each side
of said railroad line, as said railroad company
may adopt, whenever on the line thereof the
United States have full title not reserved grants
ed or otherwise appropriated, and free from pres
emption or other claims or rights at the time the
line of the road is definitely fixed, and a plat
thereof sled 10 the office of the Commissioner of
the General Laud Office.
SEC. 2. And be ii further enacied That when
ever said Walla Wala and Columbia River Rails
road Company shall have ten consecutive miles
Of any portion of said railroad ready for the
service contemplated, the President of the United
States shall appoint three commissioners to ex>
anime the same, aud if it shall appear that ten
miles Of said road have been completed in good
and substantial manner the commissioners shall
so report to the President of the United States,
aud patents of lands as aforesaid shall be issued
to said company conferring to said coupany the
right and title to said lands situated opposite to
and coterminous with said completed section of
said road unless said lands are covered by the
exceptions of this act Aud from time TO time,
whenever ten additional miles shall have been
constructed, completed, aud in readiness as
aforesaid, and verified by the commissioners to
the President of the United States, then patents
shall be issued to said company conveying the
additional sections of land as aforesaid and so
on, as fast as every ten miles of said road is
completed as aforesaid Provided hopeuer That
the commissioners named in this section shall
be paid by the company ten dollars per day, for
the time actually employed, and ten cents per
mile for the distance actually travelled And
provided further That the said railroad shall be,
aud remain, public highway for the use of the
government of the United States, free of all toll
or other charge upon the transportation of any
property or troops of the United States, and the
same shall be transported over said road at the
cost charge and expense Of the corporation or
company owning or operating the same, when
required by the United States TO do So
SEC. 3. And be Il further enacted, That the ac-
ceptanee Of the terms, conditions, and impOsi>
tions Of this act, by the Walla WaIla and Col.
umbia River Railroad Company, shall be sigui-
fed in writing under the corporate seal of said
company, duly executed, pursuant to the direc.
ton Of its board Of directors, first had aud OBJ
tained, which acceptance shall be made within
one year after the passage of this act, and not
afterwards, and shall be deposited with the
Secretary of the Interior.