The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-02-25

Congress, approved June 3, 1856"
and another similar certificate con-
veying certain lands "selected By the
agent Of the State of Louisiana, out
side the six, and within the Is mile
limits" under act of Congress ap-
proved June 8, 1856, the aggregate
amount of lands conveyed being
$50, 212 acres.
It appears therefore, that in 1861
the Company had become entitled to
$50, 800 acres of land for road con-
structed, and that it had received
conveyances in the usual form, certi-
fed lists executed by the Land Com
missioner under seal of his Office, and
approved by the Secretary of the In
terror, for but $50, 212 acres, leaving
q balance of 7,748 acres as then due
from the Government.
During the period of the war, from
1861 to 1866, the work of construc-
ton could not be prosecuted as the
country tributary to the line was oc-
cupied first by one party and then by
the other, in fact, the line of railway
was almost entirely destroyed, as a
considerable portion of the track was
taken up and the rails heated AND
bent. The General offices of the
Company were also destroyed by fire
and with them nearly all the books
and records relating to the construe-
ton of the road, and to the lands.
After the war, the railway and
other property Of the Company, in
Guiding the lands, were sold out un-
der what is known as the Ludeling
Decree, by proceedings in the State
Court of Louisiana, and the pur-
chasers reorganized as the North
Louisiana and Texas Railroad Com
pany.
This Ludeling Decree was contest
ed by the holders of $500, 900 out of
$761, 900 of bonds which had been
issued on the property, and the sale
was declared invalid. The property
was then, by order of the U. s. Cir
cult Court, placed in the charge of a
Receiver, and again sold by order Of
the q. s. Court, and purchased for
account of the Bond Holders. who
organized under the name of the
Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific
Railroad Company (the present Com
pany) who took possession of the
property in June, 1881.
This new Company commenced
the work of construction, and com
pleted the unfinished part of the
designated line, and the road was
opened for public use in August, 1884
Waiving all questions of forfeiture
arising from alleged default in tins
of construction, the Vicksburg
Shreveport and Pacific Railroad Com
pany is entitled for road actually con
structed, to 725, 76O acres of land un
der the grant.
| The Company has received a con
veyance in form, as prescribed b,
law, certified lists executed under sea
by the General Land Commissions
and approved by the Secretary of tn
Interior for 353, 212 acres.
The character of the conveyance i
clearly defined by Act of Congress
approved August 31st, 1854, which
reads as follows:
"Where lands have been, or ma,
hereafter be granted by any law o
Congress to any one of the severa
States and Territories, and wher,
such law does not convey the fee
simple title Of the lands, or require
patents to be issued therefor, tn,
lists of such lands which have been
or may hereafter be certified by tn,
Commissioner of the General Lane
Office, either as originals, or copies O
the originals, or records shall be re
garded as coneeyixg the fee simple o
| nil the hs,7e e,nhrnee1 ssa ench Eafo