located shall in no case be further than fifteen miles from the lines of said roads and branch, and selected for and on account of each of said roads and branch: Provided further, That the lands hereby granted for and on Grant, how account of said roads and branch, severally, shall be exclusively applied applied. in the construction of that road or branch for and on account of which such lands are hereby granted, and shall be disposed of only as the work progresses, and the same shall be applied to no other purpose whatsoever: And provided further, That any and all lands heretofore reserved to the United States by any act of Congress, or in any other manner by competent authority, for the purpose of aiding in any object of internal improvement, or for any other purpose whatsoever, be, and the same are hereby, reserved to the United States from the operation of this act, except so far as it may be found necessary to locate the routes of said railroads or branch through such reserved lands; in which case the right of way only shall be granted, subject to the approval of the President of the United States. Act not to apply to reservations except as to right of way. Price of alter be doubled. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sections and parts of secnate sections to tions of land which, by such grant, shall remain to the United States within six miles on each side of said roads and branch, shall not be sold for less than double the minimum price of the public lands when sold; nor shall any of said lands become subject to private entry until the same have been first offered at public sale at the increased price. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby granted Object of grant. to the said State shall be subject to the disposal of the legislature thereof Railway to be for the purposes aforesaid, and no other; and the said railroads and a public high- branch shall be and remain public highways for the use of the governway for govern- ment of the United States, free from toll or other charge upon the transportation of any property or troops of the United States. ment. Lands, how disposed of. Transportation of mail. Similar grant to Alabama. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted to said State shall be disposed of by said State only in manner following, that is to say that a quantity of land, not exceeding one hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads and branch, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of each of said roads and branch, may be sold; and when the governor of said State shall certify to the Secretary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of any or either of said roads or branch, is completed, then another quantity of land hereby granted, not to exceed one hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads or branch having twenty continuous miles completed as aforesaid, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of each of such roads or branch, may be sold; and so, from time to time, until said roads and branch are completed; and if any or either of said roads or branch is not completed within ten years, no further sales shall be made, and the lands unsold shall revert to the United States. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the United States mail shall be transported over said roads and branch, under the direction of the Post-Office Department, at such price as Congress may, by law, direct: Provided, That until such price is fixed by law, the Postmaster-General shall have the power to determine the same. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That a similar grant of alternate sections of public land is hereby made to the State of Alabama, to aid in the construction of a railroad from Montgomery, in said State, to the boundary line between Florida and Alabama, in the direction of Pensacola, and to connect with the road from Pensacola to said line, upon the same terms and conditions in all respects as are hereinbefore prescribed for the grant to Florida. APPROVED, May 17, 1856. CHAP. XXXVI.—An Act to transfer certain Rights and Duties conferred upon the June 2, 1856. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all the rights and duties Rights and conferred upon the trustees of the town of Vincennes, in the State of duties transferIndiana, under the act entitled "An act to adjust the claims to lots in the red to common town of Vincennes, and for the sale of the land appropriated as a common council of Vinfor the use of the inhabitants of the said town," approved the twentieth day of April, eighteen hundred and eighteen, be, and the same are hereby, transferred to and vested in the common council of the city of Vincennes, in said State. cennes. 1818, ch. 128. Vol. 3, p. 468. APPROVED, June 2, 1856. CHAP. XLI.—An Act granting Public Lands, in alternate Sections, to the State of June 3, 1856. Alabama to aid in the Construction of certain Railroads in said State. Grant of land railroads. Grant in lieu Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be, and is hereby, granted to the State of Alabama, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of railroads; from the Tennessee River, at, or near Gunter's to Alabama for landing, to Gadsden, on the Coosa River; from Gadsden to connect with the Georgia and Tennessee and Tennessee line of railroads, through Chattooga, Wills, and Lookout Valleys; and from Elyton to the Tennessee River at or near Beard's Bluff, Alabama, every alternate section of land designated by odd numbers, for six sections in width on each side of each of said roads. But in case it shall appear that the United States have, when the lines or routes of said roads are definitely fixed, sold any of sections sold sections or any parts thereof, granted as aforesaid, or that the right of or preempted. preemption has attached to the same, then it shall be lawful for any agent or agents, to be appointed by the governor of said State, to select, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, from the lands of the United States nearest to the tiers of sections above specified, so much land, in alternate sections, or parts of sections, as shall be equal to such lands as the United States have sold, or otherwise appropriated, or to which the rights of preemption have attached as aforesaid, which lands (thus selected in lieu of those sold and to which preëmption rights have attached as aforesaid, together with the sections and parts of sections designated by odd numbers, as aforesaid, and appropriated as aforesaid) shall be held by the State of Alabama, for the use and purpose aforesaid: Provided, That the land to be so located shall in no case be further than fifteen miles from the lines of said roads, and selected for and on account of each of said roads: Provided further, That the lands hereby granted for and on account of said roads, severally, shall be exclusively applied in the construction of that road for and on account of which such lands are hereby granted, and shall be disposed of only as the work progresses, and the same shall be applied to no other purpose whatsoever: And provided further, That any and all lands heretofore reserved to the United States by any act of Congress, or in any other manner by compe- apply to reservatent authority, for the purpose of aiding in any object of internal improve- tions except as to right of way ment, or for any other purpose whatsoever, be, and the same are hereby, reserved to the United States from the operation of this act, except so far as it may be found necessary to locate the routes of said railroads through such reserved lands, in which case the right of way only shall be granted, subject to the approval of the President of the United States. Grant, how applied. Act not to Price of alter SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sections and parts of sections of land which, by such grant, shall remain to the United States, nate sections within six miles on each side of said roads, shall not be sold for less than doubled. double the minimum price of the public lands when sold, nor shall any VOL. XI. PUB.-3 of said lands become subject to private entry until the same have been first offered at public sale at the increased price. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby granted Object of grant. to the said State shall be subject to the disposal of the legislature thereof, Railroad to be for the purposes aforesaid, and no other; and the said railroads shall be a public highway for the government. Lands, how disposed of. and remain public highways for the use of the government of the United States, free from toll or other charge upon the transportation of any property or troops of the United States. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted to said State shall be disposed of by said State only in manner following, that is to say: That a quantity of land, not exceeding one hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of each of said roads, may be sold; and when the governor of said State shall certify to the Secretary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of any of said roads is completed, then another quantity of land hereby granted, not to exceed one hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads having twenty continuous miles completed as aforesaid, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of each of such roads, may be sold; and so, from time to time, until said roads are completed; and if any of said roads is not completed within ten years, no further sale shall be made, and the lands unsold shall revert to the United States. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the United States mail shall Transportation be transported over said roads, under the direction of the Post-Office of mails. Department, at such price as Congress may, by law, direct: Provided, That until such price is fixed by law, the Postmaster-General shall have the power to determine the same. for railroads. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That a grant of lands shall be made Grant of other to said State to aid in the construction of the following roads in said lands to Alabama State, to wit: the Memphis and Charleston railroad, extending from Memphis on the Mississippi River, in Tennessee, to Stevenson, on the Nashville and Chattenooga railroad, in Alabama; the Girard and Mobile railroad, from Girard to Mobile, Alabama; the Northeast and Southwestern railroad, from near Gadsden to some point on the Alabama and Mississippi State line, in the direction to the Mobile and Ohio railroad, with a view to connect with said Mobile and Ohio railroad; the Coosa and Alabama railroad, from Selma to Gadsden; the Central railroad 1857, ch. 103. from Montgomery to some point on the Alabama and Tennessee State Post, p. 200. line in the direction to Nashville, Tennessee; and that alternate sections of the public lands to the same extend and in the same manner, and upon the same limitations and restrictions in every respect, shall be and is hereby made to aid in the construction of the roads in said State mentioned in this act: Provided, That the lands hereby granted to said State for the purpose of constructing a railroad from the northeast to the southwestern portion of said State, lying northwest of Elyton, shall be assigned to such road as may be designated by the legislature of said State. APPROVED, June 3, 1856. Proviso. June 3, 1856. Grant of land a railroad. CHAP. XLII.—An Act making a Grant of Lands to the State of Louisiana, to aid in the Construction of Railroads in said State. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be and is hereby to Louisiana for granted to the State of Louisiana, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of a railroad from the Texas line, in the State of Louisiana, west of the town of Greenwood; via Greenwood, Shreveport, and Monroe, to a point on the Mississippi River, opposite Vicksburg; and from New Orleans by Opelousas, to the State line of Texas; and from New Orleans to the State line, in the direction to Jackson, Mississippi; every alternate Grant in lieu of lands pre section of land designated by odd numbers, for six sections in width on each side of said road. But in case it shall appear that the United States have, when the line or route of said road is definitely fixed, sold any sections, or any parts thereof, granted as aforesaid, or that the right of pre-empted or sold. emption has attached to the same, then it shall be lawful for any agent or agents, to be appointed by the governor of said State, to select, subject. to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, from the lands of the United States, nearest to the tier of sections above specified, so much in alternate sections, or parts of sections, as shall be equal to such lands as the United States have sold, or otherwise appropriated, or to which the right of preemption has attached as aforesaid; which lands (thus selected in lieu of those sold, and to which preëmption rights have attached as aforesaid, together with the sections and parts of sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, and appropriated as aforesaid,) shall be held by the State of Louisiana for the use and purpose aforesaid: Provided, That the lands to be so located shall in no case be further than fifteen miles from the line of said roads and selected for and on account of said roads: Provided further, That the lands hereby granted shall be exclusively applied in the construction of said roads, and shall be disposed of only as the work progresses, and the same shall be applied to no other applied. purpose whatsoever: And provided further, That any and all lands heretofore reserved to the United States by any act of Congress, or in any Act not to apply to reserva other manner by competent authority, for the purpose of aiding in any tions except as object of internal improvement, or for any other purpose whatsoever, be, to right of way. and the same are hereby, reserved to the United States from the operation of this act, except so far as it may be found necessary to locate the route of said railroads through such reserved lands, in which case the right of way only shall be granted, subject to the approval of the President of the United States. Land, how Price of alter SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sections, and parts of sections, of land which, by such grant, shall remain to the United States, nate sections within six miles on each side of said roads, shall not be sold for less than doubled. double the minimum price of the public lands when sold; nor shall any of said lands become subject to private entry until the same have been first offered at public sale at the increased price. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby granted to the said State, shall be subject to the disposal of the legislature thereof, Object of grant for the purposes aforesaid, and no other; and the said railroads shall be Railroads to and remain a public highway for the use of the government of the United be a public States, free from toll or other charge, upon the transportation of any government. highway for property or troops of the United States. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted to said State, shall be disposed of only in manner following; that is to say, Lands, how that a quantity of land not exceeding one hundred and twenty sections, disposed. and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of said roads, may be sold; and when the governor of said State shall certify to the Secretary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of said roads are completed, then another like quantity of land hereby granted may be so sold; and so, from time to time, until said roads are completed; and if said roads are not completed within ten years, no further sale shall be made, and the lands unsold shall revert to the United States. of mails. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the United States mail shall be transported over said roads under the direction of the Post-Office Transportation Department, at such price as Congress may, by law, direct: Provided, That until such price is fixed by law, the Postmaster-General shall have the power to determine the same. APPROVED, June 3, 1856. June 3, 1856. railroads. Grant in lieu of sections sold or preempted. CHAP. XLIII.—An Act granting Public Lands to the State of Wisconsin to aid in the Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be, and is hereby, Grant of land granted to the State of Wisconsin for the purpose of aiding in the conto Wisconsin for struction of a railroad from Madison, or Columbus, by the way of Portage City to the St. Croix River or Lake between townships twenty-five and thirty-one, and from thence to the west end of Lake Superior; and to Bayfield; and also from Fond du Lac on Lake Winnebago, northerly to the State line, every alternate section of land designated by odd numbers for six sections in width on each side of said roads respectively. But in case it shall appear that the United States have, when the lines or routes of said roads are definitely fixed, sold any sections or parts thereof granted as aforesaid, or that the right of preemption has attached to the same, then it shall be lawful for any agent or agents, to be appointed by the governor of said State, to select, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, from the lands of the United States nearest to the tier of sections above specified, so much land in alternate sections, or parts of sections, as shall be equal to such lands as the United States have sold or otherwise appropriated, or to which the right of pre-emption has attached, as aforesaid, which lands (thus selected in lieu of those sold and to which pre-emption has attached as aforesaid, together with the sections and parts of sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, and appropriated as aforesaid,) shall be held by the State of Wisconsin for the use and purpose aforesaid: Provided, That the lands to be so located shall in no case be further than fifteen miles from the line of the roads in each case, and selected for and on account of said roads: Provided further, That the lands hereby granted shall be exclusively applied in the construction of that road for which it was granted and selected, and shall be disposed of only as the work progresses, and the same shall be applied to no other purpose whatsoever: And provided further, That any and all lands reserved to the United States by any act of Congress for the purtions, except as pose of aiding in any object of internal improvement, or in any manner to right of way. for any purpose whatsoever, be, and the same are hereby, reserved to the United States from the operation of this act, except so far as it may be found necessary to locate the route of said railroads through such reserved lands, in which case the right of way only shall be granted, subject to the approval of the President of the United States. Grant, how applied. Act not to apply to reserva nate sections SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sections and parts of secPrice of alter- tions of land which, by such grant, shall remain to the United States, within six miles on each side of said roads, shall not be sold for less than doubled. double the minimum price of the public lands when sold; nor shall any of said lands become subject to private entry until the same have been first offered at public sale at the increased price. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby granted Object of grant. to said State shall be subject to the disposal of the legislature thereof, for Railroads to be the purposes aforesaid, and no other; and the said railroads shall be and public highways remain public highways for the use of the government of the United for government. States free from toll or other charge upon the transportation of property or troops of the United States. Lands, how disposed of. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted to said State shall be disposed of by said State only in manner following, that is to say that a quantity of land not exceeding one hundred and twenty sections, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of roads, respectively, may be sold; and when the governor of said State shall certify to the Secretary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of either of said roads are completed, then another like quantity of land hereby granted may be sold; and so from time to time until said roads are completed; and if said roads are not completed within ten |