The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-09-29
Taxation Of Railroad Lands.

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In response to the general desire Of
our citizens to obtain a copy Of The act
to provide for taxation of railroad-grant
lands,Gwe herewith publish the fill tex
of that act
That on lands granted to any railroad
corporation by any act to Congress shall
be exempt from taxation by the States,
Territories and municipal corporations
on account of the lien of the United
States upon the same for the cost oi
surveying, selecting, and conveying the
same, or because no patent has been H.
sued therefor; but this provision shall
not apply to lands unsurveyed: Provid-
ed, That any such land sold for taxes
shall be taken by the purchases subject
Of the lien for costs of surveying, select
ing, and conveying, to be paid in such
manner by the purchaser as the s eoretary
of the Interior may by rule provide and
to all liens of the United States, all mort
cages of the United States in respect of
such lands Provided further, That this
act shall apply only to lands situated OBJ
posted to and coterminous with complet-
ed portions of said lands, and in organic
ed counties Provided further, That at
any sale of lands under the provisions of
this act the United States may become a
preferred purchaser, and in such case
the lands sold shall be restored to the
public domain and disposed of as provid-
ed BY the laws relating thereto.
SEC. 2 That if any railroad corporation
required by law to pay the costs of sur
veying, selecting, or conveying any lands
granted to such company or for its bene-
fit by act ofCongress shall for thirty days
neglect or refuse to pay any such costs
after demand for payment thereof by the
Secretary of the Interior, he shall notify
the Acknowledgement, who shall at once
commence proceedings to collect the
same. But when any sum shall be col
lecsed of such railroad company as costs
of surveying, selecting and conveying
any tract ofland which shall have been
purchased under the provisions of sec
ton one hereof, the Secretary Of the In
terror shall out Of such collections re-
in1burse said purchaser, his heirs Of as
signs, the amount Of money paid by him
as the costs of such surveying. selecting
and conveying.
SEC. 8. That this act shall not affect
the right of the Government to declare
or enforce forfeiture OF and laDds SO
granted; out all the rights Of the United
States to said lands or 60 any interest
therein shall be and remain as ii this act
had not passed, except as to the lien
mentioned in the first section hereof
SEC. 4. That section twenty-one Of
chapter two hundred and sixteen, APP
proved July second, eighteen hundred
and sixty-four. is hereby so amended as
that the costs Of surveying, selecting and
therein required to be paid
shall become due and payable at and on
the demand therefor made by the Secre-
tary Of the Interior as provided in section
two of this act, and nothing in this act
shall he construed or taken in any wise
to affect or impair the right of Congress-
at any time hereafter further to alter.
amend, or repeal the said act, as in the
opinion Of Congress, justice or the pub
lie welfare may require, or to impair or
waive any right or remedy in the pre-
misses now existing in favor Of the Unit
ed States. This act shall be subjected
alteration. amendment, or repeal.
Approved. July 10, 1886