Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

THIRTIETH CONGRESS—FIRST SESSION.
H. R. 9.
(Report No. 99.)
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
December 21, 1847.
Mr. Robert Smith, on leave, introduced the following bill: which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.
January 14, 1848.
Reported back by Mr. Robert Smith, from the Committee on Roads and Canals, without amendment, and committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
A BILL
To provide for completing the Cumberland road in the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and to Jefferson city, in Missouri,

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10 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That there be, and hereby is, granted to the
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, for the pur-
pose of completing the Cumberland road in the three first
named States, and to Jefferson city in the last named, the
quantity of public lands hereinafter named, lying in said
States respectively, and not otherwise appropriated, to wit:
To the State of Ohio, three hundred and forty-four thousand
acres; to the State of Indiana, nine hundred and twenty

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15 one thousand six hundred acres; to the State of Illinois, one
million three hundred and eighty-nine thousand, three hun-
dred and sixty acres; and to the State of Missouri, one mil-
lion three hundred and thirty-one thousand eight hundred
and thirty-two acres; which said lands hereby granted to the
said States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, shall be
selected by agents, to be appointed by the Governors of
said States respectively. And the selections, when made,
shall be reported to the Commissioner or the General Land
Office.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That all the lands
granted by the first section of this act shall be disposed of by
or under the authority of the several States respectively, and
the proceeds thereof shall be exclusively applied to the com-
pletion of the Cumberland road in said States, and for no
other purpose whatsoever. And whenever the President
shall be notified by the Governors, or by the proper author-
ities of the several States, (or either of them,) of their readi-
ness to proceed to the selection of the lands hereinbefore
granted, he shall cause the further sale of land in said States
to be suspended until said lands are selected: Provided,
That such suspension shall not continue for a longer period
than three months: Provided further, That the State of
Ohio may select the whole or any part of the lands granted
to said State from either of the other named States through

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6 which the said road is laid out, after said States shall have
selected the lands granted to them by this act.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That, when the
aforesaid lands shall have been selected, the Cumberland
road, with all materials which may have been procured by
the United States for the prosecution of the same, shall be
surrendered to the said States respectively, and the entire
control thereof shall thereafter be vested in said States; and
said road shall be completed within eight years from the
passage of this act, and, when completed, shall be free from
any tolls or charges whatever for any property of the United
States, or persons in their service passing along the same.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That in case either
of the aforesaid States shall fail to complete the said road
within the time specified in this act, such State so failing
shall forfeit to the United States all the lands which may
remain unsold, and also be holden to pay to the United
States all moneys received for lands sold, and not expended
in making said road as provided in this act.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the said lands
hereby granted to said States shall not be disposed of at a
less price than the minimum price, for the time being, of
other public lands. And if any of the lands selected under
the provisions of this act shall be claimed under any of the
pre-emption laws of the United States at the time of the

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10 selection thereof, the said States shall be, and hereby are,
required to extend to said claimants all the benefits which
they would be entitled to, if the same had not thus been se-
lected.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be, and hereby is, granted to the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, for the pur- pose of completing the Cumberland road in the three first named States, and to Jefferson city in the last named, the quantity of public lands hereinafter named, lying in said States respectively, and not otherwise appropriated, to wit: To the State of Ohio, three hundred and forty-four thousand acres; to the State of Indiana, nine hundred and twenty
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11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15	one thousand six hundred acres; to the State of Illinois, one million three hundred and eighty-nine thousand, three hun- dred and sixty acres; and to the State of Missouri, one mil- lion three hundred and thirty-one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two acres; which said lands hereby granted to the said States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, shall be selected by agents, to be appointed by the Governors of said States respectively. And the selections, when made, shall be reported to the Commissioner or the General Land Office. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That all the lands granted by the first section of this act shall be disposed of by or under the authority of the several States respectively, and the proceeds thereof shall be exclusively applied to the com- pletion of the Cumberland road in said States, and for no other purpose whatsoever. And whenever the President shall be notified by the Governors, or by the proper author- ities of the several States, (or either of them,) of their readi- ness to proceed to the selection of the lands hereinbefore granted, he shall cause the further sale of land in said States to be suspended until said lands are selected: Provided, That such suspension shall not continue for a longer period than three months: Provided further, That the State of Ohio may select the whole or any part of the lands granted to said State from either of the other named States through
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16 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6	which the said road is laid out, after said States shall have selected the lands granted to them by this act. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That, when the aforesaid lands shall have been selected, the Cumberland road, with all materials which may have been procured by the United States for the prosecution of the same, shall be surrendered to the said States respectively, and the entire control thereof shall thereafter be vested in said States; and said road shall be completed within eight years from the passage of this act, and, when completed, shall be free from any tolls or charges whatever for any property of the United States, or persons in their service passing along the same. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That in case either of the aforesaid States shall fail to complete the said road within the time specified in this act, such State so failing shall forfeit to the United States all the lands which may remain unsold, and also be holden to pay to the United States all moneys received for lands sold, and not expended in making said road as provided in this act. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby granted to said States shall not be disposed of at a less price than the minimum price, for the time being, of other public lands. And if any of the lands selected under the provisions of this act shall be claimed under any of the pre-emption laws of the United States at the time of the
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7 8 9 10	selection thereof, the said States shall be, and hereby are, required to extend to said claimants all the benefits which they would be entitled to, if the same had not thus been se- lected.