Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

THIRTIETH CONGRESS—FIRST SESSION.
H. R. 229.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
February 21, 1848.
Mr. Wentworth, on leave, introduced the following bill, which was read
twice, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
A BILL
To grant a quantity of land to the State of Illinois, for the purpose
of aiding in opening the navigation of the Kankakee
and Iroquois rivers, so as to connect with the Illinois and
Michigan canal, which connected the upper lakes with the
Mississippi river.

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12 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
State of Illinois, for the purpose of aiding the said State
in opening the navigation of the Kankakee and Iroquois
rivers, so as to connect with the Illinois and Michigan
canal, a quantity of land equal to one half of five sections
in width on each side of said rivers, to be selected in alter-
nate sections or parts of sections by an agent or agents to
be appointed by the governor of said State, subject to the
approval of the Secretary of the Treasury; and if any of
the sections or parts of sections, within the limits afore

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4 said, have been heretofore sold, or otherwise disposed of,
or encumbered, so that they cannot be so applied, a quan-
tity of land equal to that so sold, or otherwise disposed of,
or encumbered, shall be selected by said agent, under the
direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, from the pub-
lic lands anywhere within the counties through which said
rivers run, and should there then be a deficit, they shall be
selected by said agent, under the direction of the Secretary
of the Treasury, from the public lands anywhere within
the Chicago or Danville land office districts.
Sec. 2. 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, for the purposes afore-
said, and not other; and the said rivers, and each of them
so improved, shall be and remain a public highway for the
use of the government of the United States, free from all
toll or other charge upon any boats the said government
may place thereon, and upon the transportation of any
property or troops of the United States.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That no lands
reserved for schools or other purposes, nor any to which
the right of pre-emption has attached, shall be selected by
said State under this act.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12	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 State of Illinois, for the purpose of aiding the said State in opening the navigation of the Kankakee and Iroquois rivers, so as to connect with the Illinois and Michigan canal, a quantity of land equal to one half of five sections in width on each side of said rivers, to be selected in alter- nate sections or parts of sections by an agent or agents to be appointed by the governor of said State, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury; and if any of the sections or parts of sections, within the limits afore
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13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4	said, have been heretofore sold, or otherwise disposed of, or encumbered, so that they cannot be so applied, a quan- tity of land equal to that so sold, or otherwise disposed of, or encumbered, shall be selected by said agent, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, from the pub- lic lands anywhere within the counties through which said rivers run, and should there then be a deficit, they shall be selected by said agent, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, from the public lands anywhere within the Chicago or Danville land office districts. Sec. 2. 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, for the purposes afore- said, and not other; and the said rivers, and each of them so improved, shall be and remain a public highway for the use of the government of the United States, free from all toll or other charge upon any boats the said government may place thereon, and upon the transportation of any property or troops of the United States. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That no lands reserved for schools or other purposes, nor any to which the right of pre-emption has attached, shall be selected by said State under this act.