Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-05-17
THE LAND FORFEITURE BILL
Provisions of the Railroad Land Forfeiture
I:iIl as Passed by the senate.

| Fill as Passed by the senate.
| WAsHINGroN, May l0.-The main feat
ures of the Railroad Land Forfeiture bill
as passed by the Senate yesterday are:
The first section declares forfeited to the
! United States all lands heretofore granted TO
/ any State or to any corporation 10 aid in the
| construction OF a railroad opposite to and CO.
! terminus with the portion OF any such railroad
not now completed and in operation for the con-
/ struc;iCn or benefit OF which lands have here
/ tofore been granted, and al such lands are de-
| clared TO be part OF the public domain. The
act is not to be construed as FORGETTING the
! right o. way or depot grounds Of any rail
road company heretofore granted nor as
| limiting the rights granted to purchasers
or settlers By IAN act TO provide for the
adjustment Of land grants made By Con-
gress to aid in the construction of railroads
and for the forfeiture Of unearned lands and for
other purposes" approved March 3, 1887, or as
repeating, altering, or amending that act nor as
in any manner affecting any cause Of action ex-
cepting in favor OF any purchaser nor is it TO ex
eHpt the lands OF the Ontolagon and Marquette
Company, fifty miles north of Lansing. The
second section authorizes persons in possession
OF any such lands prior TO January ], 1889 to
purchase them within two years. from the
United States in quantities not exceeding 80
acres, at the rate Of $50 per acre The section
is not TO apply to lands in Iowa which any
.
settlement. The third section refers 10 lands
OF the Northern Pacific Railroad Company here
tofore forfeited and gives persons in possession
OF them (Urior 10 July /. 1851 the like right,
and confirms 10 the city OF Portland. Ore,
rights OF way and riparian rights for Z water
pipe line. The fourth section reserves the
right to forfeit other railroad grant lands for
any failure. past or future, 10 comply with the
stipulated condition and also provides that the
act shall not be construed to prejudice any right
OF the Portage Lake Canal Company or the
Ontonagon & Brule River Railroad Company or
any person claiming under them to apply hero
after TO the courts or 10 Congress for any legal
or equitable relief to which they may now be
entitled
The fifth section exempts from the operation
OF the act the grant to the State OF Mississippi
for the Gulf and Ship Island railway and the
grant to the State Of Alabama for railway
from the Tennessee river at Ganters Landing
TO the Coosa river at Gadsden. The sixth sec
ton fixes the price of the even numbered sec
tons OF land within the limits OF all forfeited
land grants at Il p per acre, and the seventh
repeats certain sectors OF the land grant acts
FOR Minnesota and Iowa so far as they require
the Secretary OF the Interior to reserve any
land, but the odd sections within the primary
or six niles granted limits The last section
refers especially TO the lands Of the Portage
Lake Canal Company and is in these words:
i nat III all cases hneD any OF inc lduGs Tor
feited by the first section OF this act or when
any lands relinQu'shed to or for any cause re-
served by the United States from grants for
railroad purposes heretofore made to the State
OF Michigan, have heretofore been disposed OF
by the proper officers of the United States
der color Of the public Land laws or under State
selections in Michigan and confirmed by the
Secretary OF the Interior, where the consid-
GRAFTON received therefor is still retained by
the errment, the right and title Of all per-
sons holding or claiming under such dis
posals shall be, and is hereby confirmed.
Provided. however. that where the original
cash purchasers are the present owners, this
act shall be operative to confirm The title only
of such said cash purchasers as the Secretary
Of the Interior shall be satisfied have purchased
w ithout fraud and in the belief that they were
thereby obtaining valid title from the United
States. Nothing herein contained shall be con-
strued 10 confirm any sales or entries of lands
upon which there were bona fide presumption or
homestead claims on January 1. 1888. arising or
asserted under color of the laws OF the United
States, and all such homestead claims are here
by confirmed