Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That to aid the State of Louisiana in constructing the necessary levees and drains to reclaim the swamp and overflowed lands therein, the whole of these swamp and overflowed lands, which may be or are found unfit for cultivation, shall be, and the same are hereby, granted to that State.

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Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That as soon as the Secretary of the Treasury shall be advised, by the Governor of Louisiana, that that State has made the necessary preparation to defray the expenses thereof, he shall cause a personal examination to be made, under the direction of the surveyor-general thereof, by experienced and faithful deputies, of all the swamp lands therein which are subject to overflow and unfit for cultivation; and a list of the same to be made out, and certified by the deputies and surveyor-general, to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall approve the same, so far as they are not claimed or held by individuals; and on that approval, the fee simple to said lands shall vest in the said State of Louisiana, subject to the disposal of the legislature thereof: Provided, however, That the proceeds of said lands shall be applied exclusively, as far as necessary, to the construction of the levees and drains aforesaid.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That in making out a list of these swamp lands, subject to overflow and unfit for cultivation, all legal subdivisions, the greater part of which is of that character, shall be included in said list; but when the greater part of a subdivision is not of that character, the whole of it shall be excluded therefrom: Provided, however, That the provisions of this act shall be excluded therefrom: Provided, however, That the provisions of this act shall not apply to any lands fronting on rivers, creeks, bayous, watercourses, &c., which have been surveyed into lots or tracts under the acts of third March, eighteen hundred and eleven, and twenty-fourth May, eighteen hundred and twenty-four: And provided, further, That the United States shall in no manner be held liable for any expense incurred in selecting these lands and making out the lists thereof, or for making any surveys that may be required to carry out the provisions of this act.

Approved, March 2, 1849.