The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-04-19
The Gulf and Ship Island Railroad
Land Grant.

Land Grant.
We note that the judiciary Commit
tee Of the lower house Of Congress, to
which was referred the bill to declare
the forfeiture of the public land grants
for building Railroads that were not
constructed within the time specified in
the acts of donation, have referred the
case of each Of the roads to sub-com-
mittee. We can see no reason why a
report favorable to the memorial Of the
Mississippi Legislature praying the re
newal of the grant made in 1856 for the
construction of the Gulf and Ship Island
should not be made The case is re-
markable and exceptional. The grant
was made only four years before the
commencement of the great war which
operated as an insuperable obstacle to-
such an undertaking. The PROSTATE
condition of the State is sufficient
cause for the failure to construct the
road, since the war, even if the time for
the completion had not expired. I'm
fortunately it did expire in 1866 when
the State was still convulsed by the
chaos and wreck which had overtak n
it. In the absence of such exceptional
causes, the instances have been numer-
Gus in which extensions have been
granted. If any one will consult that
admirably digested and invaluable COM
Ipendium of Land Laws and Decisions
| by W. w. Lester, of Washington,
cases without number will be found.
For example: An act supplemental to
an act passed in 1852 granting the right
of way and a portion Of the public
lands to aid in the construction of GER
tain railroads in Missouri, June 9th,
/ 1862. An act extending the time for
the completion Of the Marquette Into
hogan Railroad, Of the State of Aiiehi-
gan, June 18th, 1864. An act 10 re-
/ viye and extend the provisions Of an
act granting tho right Of way and max
/ ing a grant Of lands to the States of
Arkansas and Missouri, for building
certain roads therein mentioned, July
/ 18th. 1866. An act extending the time
/ for the completion of the Burlington Il
Missouri Railroad, July 30, 1866. An
act supplementary to an act granting
/ lands to aid in the construction of GER
tain railroads in Wisconsin, approved
june 26th, 1866. An act extending
the time for the completion of the Du-
buque & Sioux City Railroad, March
I21, 1868. Resolution extending the
time for the completion of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, July !, 1866. Reso-
luton to extend the time for the COM
pletion of the West Wisconsin Rail-
road. Resolution extending the time
for the completion of the first twenty
miles of the Cairo & Fulton Railroad
An act to extend the time for completing
certain railroads therein described in
Michigan and Wisconsin, June 8th,
1868. Also an act of similar purport,
for railroads in the same State, approved
May 4th, 1874 and April oath, 1872.
1t will be seen from the foreg Ding
examples that the application of Missis-
sippi for the renewal of the grant of
public lands for the completion Of a
railroad to one of the harbors on her
coast, with its attendant advantages,
not to her, but to the general govern
ment, is in accordance with the usage
of the government, and We have strong
grounds for hope that it will be granted,
if press d with the earnestness and Wig
or of which we have assurance by our
Senators and Representatives.