CHAPTER VIII.-An act authorizing and requiring the commissioner of the general land office to issue patents to certain lands granted to the Bayland Orphans' Home, situated on Galveston bay, Harris county, Texas.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the commissioner of the general land office be authorized and required to issue patents to the Bayland Orphans' Home, situated on Galveston bay, Harris county, Texas, to the amount of forty-eight thousand six hundred and thirty-five acres donated to said Bayland Orphans' Home by the act of the Legislature of 1873, in accordance with the field notes. and plats of the subdivisions of such lands now on file in the general land office.

Sec. 2. That so much of the act of the Legislature of 1873 as requires the patenting of said lands to said Bayland Orphans' Home in tracts of three hundred and twenty acres each be and the same is hereby repealed. Sec. 3. Whereas, it is indispensable that this act take effect immediately to prevent the dissolution of the Bayland Orphans' Home, an emergency exists, this act shall go into effect immediately after its passage; owing to the fact that this session of the Legislature is near its close, there is an imperative public necessity requiring the reading of this bill for three several days be dispensed with.

Approved March 20, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect from and after its passage.

CHAPTER IX.-An act for the relief of Mrs. M. A. C. Wilson, widow of William F. Wilson.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That headright land certificate number one thousand and forty-six, second class, for six hundred and forty acres, granted and issued to William F. Wilson, December 6, 1838, be and the same is hereby approved as a valid and subsisting claim against the state, and that the commissioner of the general land office do issue a patent thereupon when the same shall have been located, as for an unconditional certificate.

Sec. 2. That bounty land warrant number five thousand and thirtyone, for six hundred and forty acres of land, issued September 6, 1838, be and is hereby approved as a valid and subsisting claim against the state, and that the commissioner of the general land office do issue a patent thereupon whenever the same shall have been located. Approved March 22, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect ninety days after adjournment.

CHAPTER X.-An act for the relief of the heirs of Alexander S. Green, deceased, late of Brazoria county, State of Texas; and Matthew Dockery, now a citizen of Lavaca county, State of Texas.

Whereas, Alexander S. Green immigrated to the State of Texas in the year 1835, and served in the army of Texas nine months, from the first day of October, 1836, to the thirtieth day of June, 1837, for which he received a bounty land warrant, which is on file in the general land office,

and did thereafter remain a good and law-abiding citizen of the Republic of Texas up to the time of his death, and did never receive the headright to which he was entitled by the laws of the Republic of Texas; now therefore,

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the commissioner of the general land office is hereby authorized and required to issue to the heirs of Alexander S. Green, deceased, a headright certificate for six hundred and forty acres of land, to which he was entitled by the laws of the Republic of Texas;

And, whereas, Matthew Dockery, now a citizen of Lavaca county, State of Texas, immigrated to the State of Texas about the month of February, in the year 1837, and has continued to reside in the State of Texas ever since; that at the time of his immigration he was a single man, over the age of twenty-one years; that he married in the State of Texas, on the fourteenth day of June, 1838; that, under the laws of Texas in force at the time of his immigration, he was entitled as a single man to six hundred and forty acres of land, and also under the laws in force at the date of his marriage, he was entitled to six hundred and forty acres of land as a married man, making in all twelve hundred and eighty acres; that he has never received any land from the State of Texas, either as a headright or any other way, or any certificate therefor, or authorized any other person to receive any land or land certificate for him; therefore,

Sec. 2. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the commissioner of the general land office is hereby authorized and required to issue to the said Matthew Dockery his headright certificate for twelve hundred and eighty acres of land, to which he was entitled by the laws of the Republic of Texas; said certificate to be located upon any of the unappropriated public domain of the State of Texas, subject to all the laws now in force in reference to the location of such certificate. Approved March 22, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect ninety days after adjournment.

CHAPTER XI.-An act for the relief of the Aransas Road company.

Whereas, It appears that the Aransas Road company has operated under its charter in good faith, with large outlay and with great misfortunes and without any remuneration, and that it still proposes to progress in important portions of its work, especially in making roads and improving navigable channels through the southern part of Aransas bay, within Aransas county; therefore,

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That said company shall continue to have its rights obtained by sections one, two and three of "an act supplemental to an act to incorporate the Aransas Road company," dated September 1, 1856, for accomplishing works heretofore authorized by said company's charter on specified terms, to the extent of the following provisions:

Sec. 2. Said company may improve the navigability of the ship channel on Aransas bar, and between this bar and the Corpus Christi mud flats, by deepening the present channel, or by making a new one, in any part, of greater depth; and may connect said ship channel with the mainland at any places on the western shore of Aransas bay, by one road or

more; and may by such and other means reclaim from overflow any lands subject thereto that may be connected with any such road.

Sec. 3. For such improvements the company shall have rights as follows: 1st-Of way and of stations, within the bay on public lands, whether covered by water or not. 2d-Of property in any flats, shallows, reefs and islands connected with or near to any such road, between the mainland and the main gulf, exclusive of the large islands bordering the latter, and of a small island called the "Shell Bank;" and for such a road other than a railroad substantially made from proper elevation on the mainland, through the bay, with a wharf so as to afford eligible facility for transportation between the mainland and shipping, the company may perfect its title to such lands by location, survey and patent, on any valid land claim in the usual mode, within the distance of one mile from such road; and in case such road shall be a good and substantial railroad, with suitable iron or steel railing, made from proper elevations on the mainland through the bay, with a wharf so as to afford elegible facility for transportation between the mainland and shipping, the company may perfect its title to such lands, by survey and patent without any other claim, within the distance of two miles from such railroad.

Sec. 4. For the improvement of said ship channel the company may close Cedar Bayou, which is not navigable, so as to prevent the flow of water through it; and so may close all the unnavigable channels between Aransas and Corpus Christi bays.

Sec. 5. The company may demand and receive reasonable rates of compensation for the use of any such road or wharf; but the rates shall be subject to regulations by the Legislature at any time.

Sec. 6. Within two years from the date when this act shall become effective, the work to be done under it shall be commenced in a practical way, and then so prosecuted that one road and one wharf shall be in good condition for ordinary use as above provided for, within five years from said date.

Sec. 7. The company shall continue to have its rights heretofore granted and remaining unrepealed, so far as necessary and proper for using the rights above specified; provided, that its capital stock shall be limited to its original amount of one million of dollars; and that the company's acceptance of this act by a statement of its president, filed in the office of the secretary of state, or by proceeding under it, shall be a disclaimer of all provisions of its charter not properly applicable to the rights above specified.

Sec. 8. The great importance of early progress in the improvements contemplated by the company under this act in connection with, and in a way to assure the largest benefits from proposed improvements by the United States government in the navigation of Aransas bay, creates an emergency and an imperative public necessity that the company shall have such guaranty as will justify the immediate prosecution of its enterprise; therefore this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved March 26, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect from and after its passage.

CHAPTER XII.-An act to declare valid and binding on the county of Wilson certain sales of lots and blocks of the town of Floresville, in said county.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That all sales of lots and blocks belonging to the county of Wilson, situated in and a part of the town of Floresville in said county, made at private sale by any commissioner or agent heretofore appointed by the proper authorities of said county, for which said lots or blocks the said county has received payment, be and are hereby made and declared valid and binding on said county.

Approved March 26, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect ninety days after adjournment.

CHAPTER XIII.-An act authorizing the commissioner of the general land office to approve the bounty land certificate issued to the heirs of William Fishbaugh, deceased, who fell at the Alamo.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the commissioner of the general land office be and he is hereby authorized to approve the bounty land certificate for nineteen hundred and twenty acres, issued to the heirs of William Fishbaugh, deceased, who fell at the Alamo.

Approved April 3, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect ninety days after adjournment.

CHAPTER XIV.-An act for the relief of the heirs of Captain Silas Dinsmore, deceased.

Whereas, Silas Dinsmore, late a citizen of Matagorda county, was appointed and commissioned as captain in the navy of the Republic of Texas on the thirtieth day of March, 1836, by David G. Burnet, president of said republic; and,

Whereas, the said Dinsmore was not employed or engaged in the navy service of the said republic, because there were no ships belonging to said republic: and,

Whereas, the said Silas Dinsmore took an active and zealous part in the struggle for Texas independence, and served continuously as a soldier in the land service of Texas during the whole of the war, in 1835 and 1836, and that by his exposure as a soldier under orders, in defense of Galveston island, in 1836, he contracted a disease of his lungs which resulted in his death; and,

Whereas, the said Silas Dinsmore was rightfully entitled to a bounty warrant for twelve hundred and eighty acres of land for the above mentioned services by virtue of the act of the congress of the republic, approved December 4, 1837; and,

Whereas, no such certificate or warrant has ever been granted to him or his heirs; therefore,

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the commissioner of the general land office is hereby authorized and required to issue to the heirs of Silas Dinsmore, deceased, a bounty land

certificate for twelve hundred and eighty acres of land for his services as a soldier in the years 1835 and 1836, to be located upon any of the unappropriated public domain of the State of Texas, subject to all the laws now in force in reference to the location of such certificates.

Approved April 7, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect ninety days after adjournment.

CHAPTER XV.-An act to grant to Jackson Doyle a headright of six hundred and forty acres of land.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That Jackson Doyle be and is hereby granted a certificate for six hundred. and forty acres of land, as an emigrant to Texas before the first day of January, A. D. 1840.

Sec. 2. That the commissioner of the general land office be and is hereby required to issue to Jackson Doyle a certificate for six hundred and forty acres of land, which may be located upon any unappropriated domain of the state.

Sec. 3. The fact that the session is drawing to a close and accumulation of business creates an imperative public necessity that the rule should be suspended requiring this bill to be read on three several days, and it is so ordered.

Approved April 14, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect ninety days after adjournment.

CHAPTER XVI.—An act granting further time to the Corpus Christi, San Diego and Rio Grande Narrow Gauge railroad company.

Whereas, The port of Corpus Christi was closed during the summer of 1878, by quarantine and the subsequent shoaling of water on Aransas. bar has made navigation impossible since that time; and

Whereas, the Corpus Christi, San Diego and Rio Grande Narrow Gauge railroad company have thereby been delayed in the receipt of material for the completion of the last ten miles of the fifty of their road required by law to be constructed by March 13, 1879.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the time in which said company is now required by law to construct their railroad, or any section thereof, is hereby extended and enlarged for an additional two years.

Sec. 2. That as a matter of vital general interest an imperative public necessity exists for the passage of this act, it shall therefore take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved April 14, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect from and after its passage.

CHAPTER XVII.-An act for the relief of Joseph Fenner.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the commissioner of the general land office be and he is hereby authorized and required to issue to Joseph Fenner a bounty warrant for