A Bill

To grant to the state of Mississippi a quantity of land for the purpose of improving the navigation of certain Rivers in that state

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled—

That there be and hereby is granted to the state of Mississippi for the purpose of aiding said state in improving the Navigation of the following Rivers to wit Pearle, Pascagoula Leafe Chickasawha and Homo-Chitto a quantity of land equal to one half of five sections in width on each side of said Rivers respectively from the mouth to the head of steamboat navigation on each and reserving each alternative section now vacant to the United States—that is to say each alternative section, half section or quarter section of vacant and unimproved lands for five sections in width on each side of Pearl River from its mouth to a point opposite Philadelphia in the County of Neshoba, a like quantity on each side of Pascagoula river from its mouth to the junction of the Chickasawha & Leafe rivers a like quantity on each side of Leafe river from its confluence with the Chickasawha to a point opposite Ellisville in the County of Jones a like quantity on each side of Chickasawha from its junction with Leafe river to Enterprise in the County of Clarke and like quantity on each side of Homo Chitto from its mouth to Hornsbys Ferry in the County of Wilkinson all of said lands to be selected by the commissioner of the General Land Office under the direction of the President of the United States and being so selected may be disposed of by the Legislature of the state of Mississippi for the purposes aforesaid and for no other purpose whatever Provided That each of said Rivers shall forever remain a public highway for the use of all citizens of the united states free from all tolls or other charges of every kind

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And provided further That said improvement shall commence within two years and be completed within five years from the passage of this act or the state shall be bound to pay the U. states at the rate of one dollar and twenty five cents per acre for such of the above described lands as may have been sold under this act and the title to the purchaser under the state is hereby declared valid in all cases whether the improvements are made or not

Section 2. And be it further enacted That it shall be the duty of the commissioner of General Land Office within six months after the passage of this act to report to the Governor of the state of Mississippi a list of the lands to which the state is entitled under this act

Section 3 And be it further enacted That the Governor of the state aforesaid under the authority of the Legislature thereof after the report of the commissioner as aforesaid, shall have full power to sell and convey the whole or any part of the lands described as granted by this act to the state of Mississippi and to give a title in fee simple to whomsoever shall purchase the same.