A bill to grant certain alternate sections of the Public Lands to the state of Iowa to aid said state in the construction of a Railroad from Dubuque via Iowa city to Keokuc in said state.

sec 1. Be it Enacted by the senate and House of Representatives of the united states in Congress assembled, That there be and hereby is granted to the state of Iowa for the purpose of aiding said state to construct a Rail road from the city of Dubuque by the way of Iowa city, to the city of Keokuc in said state, a quantity of Land Equal to one half of six sections in width, on Each side of said Road, to be selected in alternate 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

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of sections within the limits aforesaid, have been heretofore sold, or otherwise disposed of or incumbered, so that they cannot be applied, a quantity 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 public Lands within twenty miles of the route of said Rail road on Either side thereof.

sec 2^d 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 aforesaid, and no other, and the said Rail-Road shall be and remain a public highway for the use of the united states free from toll or other charge, upon cars or carriages, the Government of the united states may place thereon, and upon the transportation of any property or troops of the united states.

sec 3^d And be it further Enacted, That if the said Rail road shall not be completed within fifteen years, the said state of Iowa shall be bound to pay to the united states the amount which may be received upon the sale of any part of said lands by said state, the title to the purchasers under said state remaining valid.

sec 4^th And be it further Enacted, That before it shall be competent for the state of Iowa, to dispose of any of the lands to be selected, as aforesaid, a plat or plats of the courses, distances and points of termination of said road, shall be furnished by the said state to the Commissioner of the General Land office.

sec 5^th And be it further Enacted That the state of Iowa be and hereby is, authorised to survey and mark through the Public Lands of the united states, the route of said Rail road and that twenty five feet of the Lands thereof on both sides of said Rail road, in addition

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to one hundred feet, the width of said Road, be reserved from sale on the part of the united states, and the use forever vested in the said state for the purposes aforesaid and no other.

sec 6 And be it further Enacted, That no lands reserved for schools or for military purposes, or other purposes, nor mineral lands, nor any to which the right of pre-emption has attached, shall be selected by said state under this act.

sec. 7 And be it further Enacted that the Legislature of the state of Iowa, shall have power by law to prescribe such rules, regulations conditions, limitations and restrictions, concerning the funds arising from said lands as may be necessary and proper to secure to the people of said state, the benefit of said funds, not incompatible with the foregoing provisions of this bill.

sec 8. And be it further Enacted That the United states mail shall be carried on said Road under the regulations of the Post office department, at a reasonable price paid on other Rail roads, and in case of a disagreement between the state and the department, as to the price, then the matter in dispute shall be refered to the united states Judge for said state.