The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-16
Gulf 4 Ship Island Railroad.

Gulf & Ship Island Railroad
We publish below the letter of the
General Land Commissioner suspendiDg
any further sales of the lands originally
donated to the State to aid the construe-
ton Of the Gulf and Island Railroad.
This is the first important move that has
been made by the government since the
war in reference to this matter. The
Senate struck the forfeiture clause of
these lands out of the House bill at the
late session of Congress, and the grant
viii unquestionably be revived at the
next session of Congress.
The prospects of building this important
line to our own Sea-coast are now most
encouraging and all possible assistance
should be given by our citizens to aid in
this great work and assure success. This
road from Jackson to the Sea-coast is, to
us, the most important that has yet been
projected, and the terminal point should
by all means be secured here. The gen
tlemen who are deyoting themselves to
this enterprise deserve success, and if
energy, perseverance and determination
can accomplish this result, the road will
certainly be built:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, !
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, d. c., July s, 1884. J
REGISTER AND RECEIVER, Jackson, Ms
sissippi GENTLEMEN-By act of Congress,
approved August II, 1856, I'll Stats, 81
there was granted to the State OF Mississip-
pi, for the purpose Of aiding in the con-
struction, among other, of 4 railroad from
Brandon to the Gulf of Mexico, 81 said
State, every alternate section OF land desig-
mated by even numbers, Tor SIX sections IN
width on each side OF said road. And IN
case it should appear that the United
States had, when the line or route OF sand
road WAS definitely fixed, sold any OF the
sections or parts of sections granted as
aforesaid or that the right of presumption
had attached to the same, the State was
authorized to select from the lands OF The
OHlteu JtdLeSs AOt iui tANi hiiNttA hat~SA'
miles from the line OF the road, so much
land in alternate sections or parts OF sec
tions as should be equal to such lands as
the United States had sold, or otherwise
appropriated, or TO which the right of pre-
emption had attached as aforesaid.
On August 9th, 1885, after the passage,
but before the approval OF the granting act,
the proper district land officers in Missis-
sippi were directed by telegraph to with
draw from sale and location the lands fall
ing within the probable limits OF the
grant.
By an act of It's Legislature, approved
February I'd, 1857, the State OF Mississip-
pi accepted the grant in question, and By
act approved December Sd, 1898, conferred
such of the lands as were applicable to the
construction of the road from Brandon 10
the Gulf of Mexico upon the Gull and
Ship Island Railroad Company. By let
ter dated November 23d, 1860, the Regis
ter of your office transmitted to this office
map, which had been filed i'll his office
showing the line or route OF the Gn!f and
Ship Island Railroad as definitely located
from Brandon to Mississippi City.
By letter dated December Sd, 1860, the
President Of said company was advised
that the map of definite location had been
accepted as the basis of the adjustment OF
the grant.
Although the withdrawal ordered, An
gust 9th, 1856, has. never been reScinded or
revoked, no attention whatever has been
paid to the same for several years. On the
18th ultimo, the Hon. Secretary OF the
Interior, acting upon the application OF
the Senators and Representatives in Con
gress from the State of Mississippi,
authorized this office to suspend the sale
and entry of the lands within the limits oil
the grant in question, prorided, written re-
linquishment in due form should first be
made by the proper authority, and filed IN
this office, releasing from said grant all
lands entered and fled upon at any time be
fore notice OF such suspension is received
at the district land Office. The required
REIMBURSEMENT having been filed with, and
accepted by the Hon. Secretary OF the In
terror, | transmit. herewith, a diagram
showing the six and fifteen mile limits Of
the grant in question adjusted to the line
of definite location as the same is repre-
sented upon the map filed in 1860, together
with the conflicting limits OF the grant for
the Southern, now Vickshurg and Meridian
Railroad Company. The six mile lgrantcd)
limits are represented by lines shaded gel
lou and the fifteen mile limits BY lines
shaded red, while the corresponding limits
Of the ,Vicksbnrg and Meridian grant af91
shaded green and blue respectively. -9t
Upon the receipt Of this order you will |
suspend from settlement and entry the |
gacant.la lands in the eventnumbered sections
falling within the fifteen mile limits.
The odd numbered sections within the |
six mile limits will be held subject to /
homestead and pre- -emptiop entry only when |
entered under the presumption laws, or in I
cases Of committed homestead entries pay
ment must be made at the rate Of $3.50 per
acre, unless settlement was made prior to
the receipt by you of the order increasing /
the price of the land.
By the terms OF the relinquiAllmt mt
above referred to the rights of all parties
who have made entries or settlement upon
any of the laads in question prior to the
receipt by you of this order are fully pro-
tected. You will therefore admit the
entries in all eases, where you are satisfied
that the parties applying to enter were
actual bona fde settlers upon the lands APP
piled for at the date of the receipt by You
IF this order. You will at once advise
his Office of the date of receipt by you Of
his order and accompanying diagram.
Very respectfully,
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