thirty-four, "to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes," etc., be inoperative over the said ceded territory, except the twentieth section, which prohibits the introduction and sale of spirituous liquors to Indians.

Fifth. The President shall have power to prescribe and enforce such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the foregoing provisions, as he may deem necessary for the effectual execution of the purposes of this act, which said rules and regulations shall be annually reported to Congress.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That, for the purpose of defraying Appropriation. the expenses of said negotiations, the sum of ten thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

No. 1847.-AN ACT to amend the act approved twenty-sixth August, eighteen hudred and fifty-two, entitled "An act to reduce and define the boundaries of the military reserve at Saint Peter's River, in the Territory of Minnesota," and for other purposes.

March 2, 1855.

Vol. 10, p. 627.

itary reserve at

the same.

Be it enacted &c., That the act approved twenty-sixth August, eighteen, Sale of the hundred and fifty-two, "to reduce and define the boundaries of the lands in the mili military reserve at Saint Peter's River, in the Territory of Minnesota," St. Peter's. shall be, and the same is hereby, amended, so that the lands authorized to be sold at public sale by that act shall be subject to the operations of the laws regulating the sale and disposition of the public lands: Pro- Pre-emption in vided, however, That where any of said lands are claimed by preëmption, under settlement and cultivation made prior to the passage of this act, proof and payment shall be made within three months after its passage; and where any of said lands come within the provisions of the act of twenty-third May, eighteen hundred and forty-four, for the relief of the citizens of towns upon the lands of the United States, under certain circumstances, such proof and payments shall also be made within three months after the passage of this act; and in either case, if the entries are not made within that time, the claim shall be forfeited: Provided, further, That where two or more persons are settled Proviso. upon the same legal subdi vision, they shall be permitted to enter it jointly, the right of each to be in proportion to the extent of his improvements. (a)

certain land in

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Reverend E. G. Gear shall E. G. Gear aube, and he is hereby, authorized to enter lots numbers one and two and thorized to enter the west half of the northeast quarter of section four, in township the Minneapolis twenty-eight north, of range twenty-four west, of the fourth principal district. meridian, in the Minneapolis district, at one dollar and twenty-five

conts per acre.

(a) Sce Nos. 1836, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1845, 1850, 1853, 1856, 1866, 1868, 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1879, 1880, 1887, 1890, 1895, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1904, 1905, 1909, 1917.

No. 1848.-AN ACT making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian Department, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes, for the year ending June thirtieth, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, and for other purposes.

March 3, 1855.

Vol. 10, p. 686.

Act of 1854 not

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That section four of the "Act making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian to interfere with Department, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with various Indian act respecting survey and sale tribes, for the year ending June thirtieth, one thousand eight hundred of Sioux lands. and fifty-five, and for other purposes," approved thirty-first July, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, shall not be so construed as to interfere with an act entitled, "An act to authorize the President of the United States to cause to be surveyed, the tract of land in the Territory of Minnesota, belonging to the half-breeds or mixed bloods of the Dacotah or Sioux nation of Indians, and for other purposes," approved July seventeen, eighteen hundred and fifty-four: Provided, That so much of the money appropriated by the first-named act, as may be necessary to carry out the last-named act, shall be applicable thereto. (a)

(a) See Nos. 1841, 1843, 1859,

July 8, 1856.

Vol. 11, p. 26.

Certain islands

No. 1849.-AN ACT to explain the act approved twelfth April, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, entitled "An act to establish additional land districts in the Territory of Minnesota."

Be it enacted, &c., That the words "west of the Mississippi River," included in de- employed in the description in the first section of the act of twelfth scription of land districts. April, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, entitled "An act to establish additional land districts in the Territory of Minnesota," shall be construed so as to embrace all the islands lying west of the middle of the main channel of said river, in the new districts created west of the same by said act. (a)

(a) See Nos. 630, 1833, 1836, 1837, 1839, 1850, 1858, 1884, 1885, 1897, 1899.

July 8, 1856.

Vol. 11, p. 26.

Two additional

tablished.

No. 1850.-AN ACT to establish two additional land districts in the Territory of
Minnesota.

Be it enacted, &c., That all that portion of the Territory of Minnesota Land districts es- which lies north of the line dividing townships forty-five and forty-six, north of the base line east of the Mississippi River, and north of the nearest township line, to be determined hereafter by the Commissioner of the General Land Office, west of said river, extending thence west to the Missouri River, be, and the same is hereby divided into and shall constitute two additional land districts, to wit: All that portion lying east of the line dividing ranges eighteen and nineteen west of the fourth principal meridian shall constitute a land district, to be called the Northeastern land district; and all that portion west of the line dividing said ranges eighteen and nineteen shall constitute an additional land district in said Territory, to be called the Northwestern land district, the location of the offices for which shall be designated by the President of the United States, and shall by him from time to time be changed, as the public interests may seem to require.

Officers for said districts.

Sale of lands therein.

Appropriation for surveys.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the President be, and he is hereby authorized, whenever in his judgment the public interest shall require, to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, or during the recess thereof, and until the end of the next session of Congress after such appointment, a register and a receiver for each or either of the districts hereby created, who shall respectively be required to reside at the site of their offices, have the same powers, responsibilities, and emoluments, and be subject to the same acts and penalties, which are or may be prescribed by law, in relation to other land offices of the United States. (a)

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the President is authorized to cause the public lands in said districts, with the exception of such as have been or may be reserved for other purposes, to be exposed to sale, in the same manner and upon the same terms and conditions as other public lands of the United States. (b)

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That for the survey, at augmented rates, of meridian, standard parallel, township, and section lines, in the districts hereby created, the sum of forty thousand dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated.

(a) See Nos. 630, 1833, 1836, 1837, 1839, 1849, 1858, 1884, 1885, 1897, 1899.

(b) See Nos. 1836, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1845, 1847, 1853, 1856, 1866, 1868, 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1879, 1880, 1887, 1890, 1895, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1904, 1905, 1909, 1917.

.

Aug. 11, 1856.

Vol. 11, p. 460.

No. 1851.-AN ACT for the relief of Benjamin La Fonte, William Altenburg, and others.

Benjamin La Be it enacted, &c., That Benjamin La Fonte be, and he is hereby, auFonte, William thorized to enter the north half of northeast quarter of section thirtyAltenburg, William Davern, and six, township twenty-nine, north, range twenty-three west; that WillLouis Larivie, iam Altenburg be, and he is hereby, authorized to enter the southeast authorized to en- quarter of section thirty-six, in township twenty-seven, of rangetwentyter certain lands one west; that William Davern be, and he is hereby, authorized to trict, Minnesota, enter the southeast quarter of section number sixteen, in township at the usual twenty-eight north, of range number twenty-three west; that Louis price.

in Stillwater dis

Larivie be, and he is hereby, authorized to enter the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter, and lots number one and two of section sixteen, in township twenty-nine north, of range twenty-two west, (all of said lands being in the Stillwater land district, Minnesota Territory,)

upon payment by said Benjamin La Fonte, William Altenburg, William Davern, and Louis Laravie of the usual minimum of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre; and the Commissioner of the General Land Office is directed to issue patents on said entries.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the superintendent of public Other school schools in the Territory of Minnesota is hereby authorized to select, in lands to be seequal amounts, other lands in said Territory for the use of public schools lected in lieu of in lieu of the lands herein granted. (a)

(a) See Nos. 1834, 1835, 1838, 1842, 1852, 1855, 1856, 1860, 1863.

the above.

No. 1852.-AN ACT to authorize the people of the Territory of Minnesota to form a constitution and State government, preparatory to their admission into the Union on an equal footing with the original States.

Feb. 26, 1857.

Vol. 11, p. 166.

form a constitu

Be it enacted, &c., That the inhabitants of that portion of the Territory Inhabitants of of Minnesota which is embraced within the following limits, to wit: part of Minnesota Beginning at the point in the centre of the main channel of the Red authorized to River of the North, where the boundary line between the United States tion and State and the British possessions crosses the same; thence up the main changovernment. nel of said river to that of the Boix des Sioux River; thence [up] the main channel of said river to Lake Travers; thence up the centre of said lake to the southern extremity thereof; thence in a direct line to the head of Big Stone Lake; thence through its centre to its outlet; thence by a due south line to the north line of the State of Iowa; thence east along the northern boundary of said State to the main channel of the Mississippi River; thence up the main channel of said river, and following the boundary line of the State of Wisconsin, until the same intersects the Saint Louis River; thence down said river to and through Lake Superior, on the boundary line of Wisconsin and Michigan, until it intersects the dividing line between the United States and the British possessions; thence up Pigeon River, and following said dividing line to the place of beginning-be and they are hereby authorized to form for themselves a constitution and State government, by the name of the State of Minnesota, and to come into the Union on an equal footing with the original States, according to the Federal Constitution.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said State of Minnesota shall Jurisdiction have concurrent jurisdiction on the Mississippi and all other rivers and over bordering waters bordering on the said State of Minnesota, so far as the same shall waters, which are declared to form a common boundary to said State and any other, State or States be common highnow or hereafter to be formed or bounded by the same; and said river ways. and waters, and the navigable waters leading into the same, shall be common highways, and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of said State as to all other citizens of the United States, without any tax, duty, impost, or toll, therefor. (a)

#

#

*

the convention.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the following propositions be, Propositions to and the same are hereby offered to the said convention of the people of be acted on by Minnesota for their free acceptance or rejection, which, if accepted by the convention, shall be obligatory on the United States and upon the said State of Minnesota, to wit:

First. That sections numbered sixteen and thirty-six in every town- School lands. ship of pub.c lands in said State, and where either of said sections, or any part thereof, has been sold or otherwise been disposed of, other lands, equivalent thereto and as contiguous as may be, shall be granted to said State for the use of schools. (b)

Second. That seventy-two sections of land shall be set apart and re- Land for a served for the use and support of a State university, to be selected by University. the governor of said State, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and to be appropriated and applied in such manner as the legislature of said State may prescribe for the purpose aforesaid, but for no other purpose. (c)

Third. That ten entire sections of land, to be selected by the gov- Land for pubernor of said State, in legal subdivisions, shall be granted to said State lic buildings. for the purpose of completing the public buildings, or for the erection

of others at the seat of government, under the direction of the legislature thereof.

Fourth. That all salt springs within said State, not exceeding twelve Salt springs. in number, with six sections of land adjoining, or as contiguous as may be to each, shall be granted to said State for its use; the same to be selected by the governor thereof within one year after the admission of

Percentage on land sales.

said State, and when so selected, to be used or disposed of on such terms, conditions, and regulations as the legislature shall direct: Provided, That no salt spring or land, the right whereof is now vested in any individual or individuals, or which may be hereafter confirmed or adjudged to any individual or individuals, shall, by this article, be granted to said State. (d)

Fifth. That five per centum of the net proceeds of sales of all public lands lying within said State, which shall be sold by Congress after the admission of the said State into the Union, after deducting all the expenses incident to the same, shall be paid to said State, for the purpose of making public roads and internal improvements, as the legislature The above pro- shall direct: Provided, The foregoing propositions herein offered are on positions made the condition, that the said convention which shall form the constitution conditional. of said State shall provide, by a clause in said constitution, or an ordinance, irrevocable without the consent of the United States, that said State shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil within the same, by the United States, or with any regulations Congress may find necessary for securing the title in said soil to bona-fide purchasers thereof; and that no tax shall be imposed on lands belonging to the United States, and that in no case shall non-resident proprietors be taxed higher than residents.

(a) See Nos. 487, 1832, 1834, 1857.

(b) See Nos. 1834, 1835, 1838, 1842, 1851, 1855, 1856, 1860, 1863.

(c) See Nos. 1835, 1864, 1891.

(d) See No. 1916.

March 3, 1857. No. 1853.-AN ACT making a grant of land to the Territory of Minnesota, in Vol. 11, p. 195. alternate sections, to aid in the construction of certain railroads in said Territory, and granting public lands in alternate sections to the State of Alabama, to aid in the construction of a certain railroad in said State.

Grant of land

railroads.

Be it enacted, &c., That there be and is hereby granted to the Territo Minnesota for tory of Minnesota, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of railroads, from Stillwater, by way of Saint Paul and Saint Anthony, to a point between the foot of Big Stone Lake and the mouth of Sioux Wood River, with a branch via Saint Cloud and Crow Wing, to the navigable waters of the Red River of the North, at such point as the legislature of said Territory may determine; from St. Paul and from Saint Anthony, via Minneapolis, to a convenient point of junction west of the Mississippi, to the southern boundary of the Territory in the direction of the mouth of the Big Sioux River, with a branch, via Faribault, to the north line of the State of Iowa, west of range sixteen; from Winona, via Saint Peters, to a point on the Big Sioux River, south of the forty-fifth parallel of north latitude; also from La Crescent, via Target Lake, up the valley of Root River, to a point of junction with the last-mentioned road, east of range seventeen, every alternate section of land, designated by odd numbers, for six sections in width on Grant in lieu of each side of each of said roads and branches; but in case it shall aplands pre-empted pear that the United States have, when the lines or routes of said roads or sold. and branches are definitely fixed, sold any sections, or any parts thereof, granted as aforesaid, or that the right of preëmption has attached to the same, then it shall be lawful for any agent, or agents, to be appointed by the governor of said Territory or future State to select, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, from the lands of the United States nearest to the tiers of sections above specified, so much land, in alternate sections, or parts of sections, as shall be equal to such lands as the United States have sold, or otherwise appropriated, or to which the rights of preemption have attached, as aforesaid; which lands (thus selected in lieu of those sold, and to which preëmption rights have attached as aforesaid, together with the sections and parts of sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, and appropriated as aforesaid) shall be held by the Territory or future State of Minnesota for the use and purpose aforesaid: Provided, That the land to be so located shall, in no case, be further than fifteen miles from the lines of said roads or branches, and selected for and on account of each of Lands how ap- said roads or branches: Provided further, That the lands hereby granted plied. for and on account of said roads and branches, severally, shall be exclusively applied in the construction of that road for and on account of which such lands are hereby granted, and shall be disposed of only as the work progresses, and the same shall be applied to no other purpose

reserva

right of way.

whatsoever: And provided further, That any and all lands heretofore Act not to ap reserved to the United States, by any act of Congress, or in any other ply to manner by competent authority, for the purpose of aiding in any object tion except as to of internal improvement, or for any other purpose whatsoever, be and the same are hereby reserved to the United States from the operation of this act, except so far as it may be found necessary to locate the routes of said railroads and branches through such reserved lands, in which case the right of way only shall be granted, subject to the approval of the President of the United States. (a)

Price of alter

doubled.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sections and parts of sections of land which by such grant shall remain to the United States, nate sections within six miles on each side of said roads and branches, shall not be sold for less than double the minimum price of the public lands when sold; nor shall any of said lands become subject to private entry until the same shall have been first offered at public sale at the increased price. (b)

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby granted Object of grant. to the said Territory or future State shall be subject to the future disposal of the legislature thereof for the purposes herein expressed and no other; and the said railroads and branches shall be and remain public highways for the use of the Government of the United States, a highway for free from toll or other charge upon the transportation of any property Government. or troops of the United States.

Railroads to be

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted to Lands how dissaid Territory or future State shall be disposed of by said Territory or posed of. future State only in the manner following, that is to say: That a quantity of land not exceeding one hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads and branches, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of each of said roads and branches, may be sold; and when the governor of said Territory or future State shall certify to the Secretary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of any of said roads or branches is completed, then another quantity of land hereby granted, not to exceed one hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads and branches having twenty continuous miles completed as aforesaid, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of each of such roads or branches, may be sold; and so from time to time until said roads and branches are completed; and if any of said roads or branches is not completed within ten years no further sale shall be made, and the lands unsold shall revert to the United States. (a)

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the United States mail shall be Transportation transported over said roads and branches, under the direction of the of mails. Post-Office Department, at such price as Congress may by law direct: Provided, That until such price is fixed by law the Postmaster-General

shall have the power to determine the same.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That in case any lands on the line of This act not to said roads or branches are within any Indian territory no title to the apply to lands in same shall accrue, nor shall the same be entered upon by the authority Indian title is exany territory till of said Territory or State until the Indian title to the same shall have tinguished. been extinguished.

(a) See Nos. 1840, 1844, 1865, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1881, 1882, 1886, 1889, 1892, 1896, 1902, 1906, 1911, 1915, 1917.

b) See Nos. 1836, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1845, 1847, 1850, 1856, 1866, 1868, 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1879, 1880, 1887, 1890, 1895, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1904, 1905, 1909, 1917.

No. 1854.-AN ACT making appropriations for the legislative executive, and judicial expenses of Government for the year ending the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and fifty-eight.

March 3, 1857

Vol. 11, p. 206.

Surveyors-General and their Clerks.-For compensation of the surveyor- Office of sur general northwest of the Ohio, and the clerks in his office, eight thousand three hundred dollars.

veyor-general

northwest of the Ohio to be removed to St.

And it is hereby made the duty of the Secretary of the Interior, as soon after the passage of this act as may be, to cause the said office to be Paul. removed to the city of Saint Paul, in the Territory of Minnesota, and to make the necessary provisions for immediate and effective operations. And when so removed, the duties of said surveyor-general shall be coex- His duties cotensive with the limits of the future State of Minnesota, as prescribed in limits of State of extensive with the act entitled "An act to authorize the people of the Territory of Min- Minnesota