Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

30th CONGRESS,
30th1st Session. S. 71. (Pri.)

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
January 11, 1848.
Agreeably to notice, Mr. Felch asked and obtained leave to bring in the following bill: which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
February 23, 1848.
Reported without amendment.
A BILL
To apply certain alternate sections of the public domain towards the completion of the “Clinton and Kalamazoo canal” in the State of Michigan.

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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 Michigan, for the purpose of aiding said State to
complete the construction of the “Clinton and Kalamazoo
canal,” a quantity of land equal to one-half of five sec-
tions in width on each side of said canal, between Roches-
ter, in the county of Oakland, in said State, and the Grand
Rapids of Grand river of Lake Michigan, in the county
of Kent, or at any other point of termination the legisla-
ture of the said State of Michigan may designate, to be
determined upon within three years from the passage of

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37 this act; reserving each alternate section of the land un-
sold to the United States, to be selected by an agent or
agents to be appointed by the governor of said State, but
subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury;
and the lands so reserved to the United States shall not be
sold or conveyed for less than two dollars and fifty cents
per acre. And as some of the sections or parts of sec-
tions within the limits aforesaid have been heretofore sold,
or otherwise disposed of, or encumbered, so that they cannot
be so applied, It is further enacted, That a quantity of land
equal to that sold, or otherwise disposed of, or encumber-
ed, shall be selected by said agent or agents, under the
direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, from any public
lands, not otherwise appropriated, or disposed of, or encum-
bered, or herein reserved, near the site of the said canal,
on either side thereof. The lands hereby granted to the
said State of Michigan to be subject to the disposal of the
legislature thereof for the purposes aforesaid, and no other:
Provided, That when the lands selected and reserved as
aforesaid are not within five miles of the line of the said
canal, those reserved for the United States shall not be held
for sale at more than one dollar and twenty-five cents per
acre: And provided, also, That said canal, when comple-
ted, shall be and forever remain a public highway, for the
use of the United States, free from any toll or other charge

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45 whatever for any property of the United States, or for per-
sons in their service, passing through the same: And pro
-vided further, That the said “Clinton and Kalamazoo
canal” shall be completed within twenty-five years, or the
said State shall be bound to pay to the United States the
minimum price (for the time being) of the said granted
lands previously sold by said State—the title of the pur-
chasers under said State to be and remain valid.

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703

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A. Bill to apply Certain alternate sections of the public domain towards the Completion of the Clinton & Kalamazoo Canal in the State of Michigan

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By M^r Bingham

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29. Pub Lands

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H R 703.

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Jan. 3. 1849
M^r Bingham on leave introduced the following bill, which was read twice & referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

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A Bill (see within)

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 Michigan, for the purpose of aiding said State to complete the construction of the “Clinton and Kalamazoo canal,” a quantity of land equal to one-half of five sec- tions in width on each side of said canal, between Roches- ter, in the county of Oakland, in said State, and the Grand Rapids of Grand river of Lake Michigan, in the county of Kent, or at any other point of termination the legisla- ture of the said State of Michigan may designate, to be determined upon within three years from the passage of
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13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37	this act; reserving each alternate section of the land un- sold to the United States, to be selected by an agent or agents to be appointed by the governor of said State, but subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury; and the lands so reserved to the United States shall not be sold or conveyed for less than two dollars and fifty cents per acre. And as some of the sections or parts of sec- tions within the limits aforesaid have been heretofore sold, or otherwise disposed of, or encumbered, so that they cannot be so applied, It is further enacted, That a quantity of land equal to that sold, or otherwise disposed of, or encumber- ed, shall be selected by said agent or agents, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, from any public lands, not otherwise appropriated, or disposed of, or encum- bered, or herein reserved, near the site of the said canal, on either side thereof. The lands hereby granted to the said State of Michigan to be subject to the disposal of the legislature thereof for the purposes aforesaid, and no other: Provided, That when the lands selected and reserved as aforesaid are not within five miles of the line of the said canal, those reserved for the United States shall not be held for sale at more than one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre: And provided, also, That said canal, when comple- ted, shall be and forever remain a public highway, for the use of the United States, free from any toll or other charge
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38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45	whatever for any property of the United States, or for per- sons in their service, passing through the same: And pro -vided further, That the said “Clinton and Kalamazoo canal” shall be completed within twenty-five years, or the said State shall be bound to pay to the United States the minimum price (for the time being) of the said granted lands previously sold by said State—the title of the pur- chasers under said State to be and remain valid.