Year: 1872

i The following is correct copy of the
Goat Island bill as it passed the House
1t is taken from the Congressional Globe
of April 24th, 1872:


Whereas. The Central Pacific railroad,
the western link in the chain of railroads
connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
is now completed to Oakland, opposite
San Francisco and it is impor tant that the
western terminus of said railroad should be
as near as possible to San Francisco, and
should have sufficient accommodations for
the travel and commerce passing over said
road: Therefore.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives Of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, that the
use of one-half of the island of Yerba
Buena, or Goat Island, in the Bay OF San
Francisco, California is hereby granted to
the Central Pacific Railroad Company, its
successors and assigns, for terminus for
its railroad, to be used exclusively for rail
road purposes; and this grant shall con-
tinue as long as the said premises shall be
used by said company, its successors and
assigns, for the purpose above named, and
no longer; and said premises shall be sub
Ject to taxatitn n as is other like property
under the laws of the State of California
Provided, That within one month from
the passage of this act, the President of
the United States shall appoint three com
missloners, who shall be authorized at the
expense of the Central Pacific Railroad
Company to examine said island. to hear
allegations and proofs, and to take into
account as well any benefit or any injury
which may accrue to the Government of the
United States from the execution of this
act; and within three months from their
appointment, said commissioners, or a ma
jority Of them, shall award such sum for
the use of said half of said island as grant
ed by this act as in their judgment, or in
the judgment of majority of them shall
be deemed just and equitable which
amount shall be paid by said Central Paci-
fc Railroad Company, before it shall avail
itself OF this grant: Provided further that
said one half of said Island shall be select
ed and designated within six months from
the passage Of this act, by or under the au-
thority of the President of the United
States: AND BE IT FURTHER PROVIDED,
That this grant is upon the express condi-
tion that the Government of the United
States hereby reserves the free use of the
whole Of said island for military purposes
in time OF war, or in anticipation of war,
when deemed necessary by the President
Of the United States.


SEC. 2 That nothing herein contained
shall destroy or impair any lawful or equit-
able rights and Claims of private parties if
such exist, to the said island, or any part
thereof; and the said Central Pacific Rail-
road Company is hereby authorized to To-
cate and construct its railroad and telegraph
line from its present terminus at Oakland
to said island, and there establish the wes-
tern terminus Of said railroad and telegraph
line. PROVIDED, that this extension shall
be subject to the charter, laws, and condi-
tions which now govern the construction
and existence of the Central Pacific Rail-
road but no subsidy of any nature whatso-
ever Is hereby intended to be or is given
to the said Central Pacific Railroad =
Provided further, That said railroad shall
reach said island with its track, and occupy
its designated portion thereof, within three
years from the time said company shall be
in undisputed possession, free from ad-
verse claimants And be it Further pro-
vided, That the superstructure upon which
the track shall be placed shall be built
upon piers, with spans of not less than
three hundred feet, which piers shall be
reduced to minimum, and also to the least
possible width consistent with safety, and
so placed and shaped with reference to the
chausel and direction of tides as to offer
to. them as little obstruction as possible.


SEC. 3. That if at any time the wants