Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-05-22
The "Brainerd Branch'' Lands.

Ilo bralnefd Branch" Lands.
.yJiH - 1l,--! u, VII -
The following is copy Of. a bill re-
Gently introduced in Congress by Hon.
W. D. Washburn :. '''''.:, ",. -" ..,
For the relief Of settlers upon certain
lands ia the State of Minnesota.
Whereas no part of that portion of
the branch lines Of the Saint Paul and
Pacif fic, Railroad, running from Watab
to Brainerd ], in the State of Minnesota,
and commonly called the "Brainerd
Branch" was built and completed
within the i time required by the acts
of Congress relating thereto aud -.
Whereas many persons in good faith,
prior to the first day of March, ammo
Domini eighteen hundred and seventy
seven; settled upon and improved cer>
tain lands granted or reserved by Con.
gress to aid the construction eof said
railroad from Watab to Brainerd
afore esaid ; and
Whereas, under an act of Congress
approved June twenty>second, anno>
Domini eighteen hundred and seventy.
four, entitled "An act to extend the
act of March third, eighteen hundred
and iseventy>three, entitled AN act
for the extension Of time to the St.
Paul and Pacific. RAILROAD Company
for the completion Of its roads," some
of said settlers OF said lands were al
lowed by the Commissioner Of the Gem
eral Land Office to enter, and did en-
ter, at the United States land~oAice at
Saint Cloud, Minnesota, under the
homestead and pre.emption laws of the
United States, certain of said lands so
settled. upon by them prior to said
twenty second day Of, June, ammo Dom
ini eighteen hundred and seventy
four, upon several Of which said en-
tries the patents of the United States
have been issued and delivered to said
settlers for their lands; and
~ W hereas the governor of the State
of Minnesota, on behalf of said State,
in accordance with the provisions of
an act of the legislature Of said State
approved March first, ammo Domini
eighteen hundred and seventy~seven,
entitled can act to provide for the
completion of the lines of railroad com.
monty known as the Saint Paul and
Pacific extension lines" has, by lnden-
ture in writing dated November twen-
ty>first ammo Domini eighteen hundred
and seventy~e1ght, and filed in the Of
fee Of the Secretary of the Interior,
released and relinquished to the .Unit>
ed States in favor of said settlers cer~
tain portions Of said lands granted or
reserved to said State to aid the CON-
structiop Of said line of railroad from
Watab to Brainerd, not heretofore
patented to settlers by the United
States, to the end that settlers might
obtain patents for their said lands
from the United States Therefore,
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives Of the United
States Of Amaericd IN Congress assem-
bzed. That all ofsaid lands pertaining
to SAID line of railroad from Watab to
Brainerd aforesaid embraced in said
releases and REIMBURSEMENT executed
by the governor Of the State Of Min>
nesota as aforesaid, and all of said
lands, whether within the granted or
indemnity limits Of said line Of rail-
road from Watab to Brainerd, which
were entered by claimants under the
homestead or pre.emptiou acts at the
United States land-ofice at Saint
Cloud, Minnesota, prior to. the first
day of March, ammo Domini eighteen
hun dred aud seventy>sevep, such en-
tries being allowed under said act of
Cong gress approved June .twenty>sec~
ond, ammo Domini eighteen hundred
and seventy four, be, and the same
are hereby, declared forfeited and re-
leased to the United States by. the
State Of Minnes ota and by all railroad
companies and corporations. .:
Sec.' 2. That said release and re-
linquishment Of the governor of the
State of Minnesota, and all patents of
the United States heretofore issued to
claimants Of said lands Under the
homestead or pre-emption laws of the
United States for their said respective
lands, be-, and the same are hereby,
ratified, affirmed, and made valid.
All settlers upon said lands in whose
favor said release and REIMBURSEMENT
were made, who have not heretofore
entered their said lands, shall be al
lowed to enter the same, at the proper
United States land~ofice, under the
homestead OF pre-emption laws, as
they may elect; and the time such set
tiers have occupied their respective
lands prior to making entries Of the
same shall be allowed: upon such en-.
tries in perfecting their: title thereto
and in allowing said entries; and in
case Of said entries heretofore made
said lands shall be treated az minimum