Judiciary. Agricultural statistics. Minnesota. New Mexico. Botanic Garden. Public grounds. Public buildings. Mexico, and the Atlantic and Pacific; and for procuring water at such posts as from their situation require that it be brought from a distance, and for clearing roads and removing obstructions from roads, harbors, and rivers, to the extent which may be required for the actual operations of the troops on the frontier, one million dollars. For defraying the expenses of the supreme, circuit, and district courts of the United States, including the District of Columbia; also for jurors and witnesses in aid of the funds arising from fines, penalties, and for feitures incurred in the fiscal year ending the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and fifty-six, and previous years; and likewise for defraying the expenses of suits in which the United States are concerned, and of prosecutions for offences committed against the United States, and for the safe-keeping of prisoners, two hundred thousand dollars. For the collection of agricultural statistics, investigations for promoting agriculture and rural economy, and the procurement and distribution of cuttings and seeds, to be expended under the direction of the commissioner of patents, thirty thousand dollars. For compensation and mileage of the members of the legislative assembly, officers, clerks, and contingent expenses of the assembly for the Territory of Minnesota, six thousand dollars. For contingent expenses of the Territory of New Mexico, and to enable the governor to employ an interpreter or translator, five hundred dollars. For filling up and draining the grounds in the vicinity of the national green-houses, known as the Botanic Garden, and for walling the creek which passes through the same, five thousand six hundred and fifty dollars. For continuing the grading and planting with trees the unimproved portions of the mall, ten thousand dollars. For construction of a sewer in Judiciary Square, six thousand dollars. For placing the sewer openings along Pennsylvania Avenue under the footway, and trapping the same, eight thousand dollars. For repairing old portion of the Patent-Office Building, constructing water-closets therein, and casual repairs of the east wing of said building, four thousand dollars. For an additional furnace erected for the library of Congress, five hundred dollars. For finishing the portico and exterior of the west wing of the PatentOffice Building, to pay the reservations due, put up iron railing, and lay down the necessary flagging and pavements, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the joint resolution of Congress Pay of officers "to fix the compensation of the employees in the legislative department of library. of the government, and to prohibit the allowance of the usual extra compensation to such as receive the benefits thereof," approved the twentieth of July, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and the provision in the act of third March, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, which authorizes the application of the benefits of said resolution to apply to the librarian and assistants and messenger in the library of Congress, be so construed as to allow them twenty per centum upon the compensation provided by the seventh section of the act of fourth August, eighteen hundred and fiftyfour, making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of government; and the said joint resolution shall not be construed to apply Pay of printer. to the public printer for either branch of Congress; and that so much of the act approved the third of March, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, as Blank books, requires all blank books, binding, and ruling for the several executive &c., for depart departments shall be furnished under the direction and supervision of the Superintendent of Public Printing be, and the same is hereby, repealed. ments. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the provision in the act of July twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, entitled "An act to increase the salaries of executive and judiciary officers in Oregon, New Mexico, Washington, Utah, and Minnesota," which declares that the salary of the governor of New Mexico be, and the same is hereby, increased to the sum of three thousand dollars, shall be construed by the accounting officers of the treasury to be the full salary of that officer as governor and as superintendent of Indian affairs. APPROVED, May 15, 1856. Salary of governor of New Mexico. 1854, ch. 107. An Act to provide for at least two Election Precincts in each Ward in the May 16, 1856. Election pre Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall be the duty of the city corporation to provide at least two election precincts in each ward, cincts in Washto appoint commissioners to superintend elections in the same, and to ington. adopt such other regulations as may be necessary to give full force and effect to this section. . Votes of SEC. 2. And whereas, native-born citizens, resident of the city of Washington, who arrive at the age of twenty-one years between the naturalized thirtieth day of December next preceding the election and the day of election are not allowed to vote at such election Be it further enacted, That no person, being naturalized between said day of December and the day of the succeeding election, shall be entitled to vote at such next succeeding election. citizens. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That at all elections to be held in the city of Washington for municipal officers, the polls shall be opened at be opened and seven o'clock A. M. and closed at seven o'clock P. M.; and that all acts, and parts of acts, inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed. APPROVED, May 16, 1856. Polls, when to closed. CHAP. XXXI.-An Act granting Public Lands, in alternate Sections, to the States of May 17, 1856. Florida and Alabama, to aid in the Construction of certain Railroads in said States. Grant of lands to Florida for Grant in lieu Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be and is hereby granted to the State of Florida, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of railroads from St. John's River, at Jacksonville, to the waters of railroads. Escambia Bay, at or near Pensacola; and from Amelia Island, on the Atlantic, to the waters of Tampa Bay, with a branch to Cedar Key, on the Gulf of Mexico; and also a railroad from Pensacola to the State line of Alabama, in the direction of Montgomery, every alternate section of land designated by odd numbers, for six sections in width on each side of each of said roads and branch. But in case it shall appear that the United States have, when the lines or routes of said roads and branch are of sold or predefinitely fixed, sold any sections, or any parts thereof, granted as afore-empted sections. said, or that the right of preemption has attached to the same, then it shall be lawful for any agent or agents to be appointed by the governor of said 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 State of Florida 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 and branch, and selected for and on account of each of said roads. and branch: Provided further, That the lands hereby granted for and on Grant, how account of said roads and branch, severally, shall be exclusively applied applied. in the construction of that road or branch 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 whatsoever: Act not to And provided further, That any and all lands heretofore reserved to the apply to reserva- United States by any act of Congress, or in any other manner by competions except as tent authority, for the purpose of aiding in any object of internal improveto right of way. ment, 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 or branch 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. Price of alter be doubled. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sections and parts of secnate sections to tions of land which, by such grant, shall remain to the United States within six miles on each side of said roads and branch, 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 have been first offered at public sale at the increased price. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby granted Object of grant. to the said State shall be subject to the disposal of the legislature thereof Railway to be for the purposes aforesaid, and no other; and the said railroads and a public high- branch shall be and remain public highways for the use of the governway for government of the United States, free from toll or other charge upon the transportation of any property or troops of the United States. ment. Lands, how disposed of. Transportation of mail. Similar grant to Alabama. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted to said State shall be disposed of by said State only in manner following, that is to say that a quantity of land, not exceeding one hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads and branch, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of each of said roads and branch, may be sold; and when the governor of said State shall certify to the Secretary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of any or either of said roads or branch, is completed, then another quantity of land hereby granted, not to exceed one hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads or branch having twenty continuous miles completed as aforesaid, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of each of such roads or branch, may be sold; and so, from time to time, until said roads and branch are completed; and if any or either of said roads or branch is not completed within ten years, no further sales shall be made, and the lands unsold shall revert to the United States. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the United States mail shall be transported over said roads and branch, under the direction of the 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 a similar grant of alternate sections of public land is hereby made to the State of Alabama, to aid in the construction of a railroad from Montgomery, in said State, to the boundary line between Florida and Alabama, in the direction of Pensacola, and to connect with the road from Pensacola to said line, upon the same terms and conditions in all respects as are hereinbefore prescribed for the grant to Florida. APPROVED, May 17, 1856. CHAP. XXXVI. — An Act to transfer certain Rights and Duties conferred upon the June 2, 1856. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all the rights and duties conferred upon the trustees of the town of Vincennes, in the State of Rights and duties transferIndiana, under the act entitled "An act to adjust the claims to lots in the red to common town of Vincennes, and for the sale of the land appropriated as a common council of Vinfor the use of the inhabitants of the said town," approved the twentieth day of April, eighteen hundred and eighteen, be, and the same are hereby, 1818, ch. 128. transferred to and vested in the common council of the city of Vincennes, in said State. APPROVED, June 2, 1856. cennes. CHAP. XLI.-An Act granting Public Lands, in alternate Sections, to the State of June 3, 1856. Alabama to aid in the Construction of certain Railroads in said State. railroads. Grant in lieu Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be, and is hereby, granted to the State of Alabama, for the purpose of aiding in the con- Grant of land struction of railroads; from the Tennessee River, at, or near Gunter's to Alabama for landing, to Gadsden, on the Coosa River; from Gadsden to connect with the Georgia and Tennessee and Tennessee line of railroads, through Chattooga, Wills, and Lookout Valleys; and from Elyton to the Tennessee River at or near Beard's Bluff, Alabama, every alternate section of land designated by odd numbers, for six sections in width on each side of each of said roads. But in case it shall appear that the United States have, when the lines or routes of said roads are definitely fixed, sold any of sections sold sections or any parts thereof, granted as aforesaid, or that the right of or preempted. preemption has attached to the same, then it shall be lawful for any agent or agents, to be appointed by the governor of said 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 preëmption 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 State of Alabama, 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, and selected for and on account of each of said roads: Provided further, That the lands hereby granted for and on account of said roads, 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 whatsoever: And provided further, That any and all lands heretofore reserved to the United States by any act of Congress, or in any other manner by compe- apply to reservatent authority, for the purpose of aiding in any object of internal improve- tions except as to right of way. ment, 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 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. Grant, how applied. Act not to Price of alter 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, shall not be sold for less than doubled. double the minimum price of the public lands when sold, nor shall any VOL. XI. PUB.-3 of said lands become subject to private entry until the same have been first offered at public sale at the increased price. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby granted Object of grant. to the said State shall be subject to the disposal of the legislature thereof, Railroad to be for the purposes aforesaid, and no other; and the said railroads shall be a public highway for the government. Lands, how disposed of. of mails. and remain public highways for the use of the government of the United States, free from toll or other charge upon the transportation of any property or troops of the United States. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted to said State shall be disposed of by said State only in manner following, that is to say: That a quantity of land, not exceeding one hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of each of said roads, may be sold; and when the governor of said State shall certify to the Secretary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of any of said roads is completed, then another quantity of land hereby granted, not to exceed one hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads having twenty continuous miles completed as aforesaid, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of each of such roads, may be sold; and so, from time to time, until said roads are completed; and if any of said roads is not completed within ten years, no further sale shall be made, and the lands unsold shall revert to the United States. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the United States mail shall Transportation be transported over said roads, under the direction of the 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 a grant of lands shall be made Grant of other to said State to aid in the construction of the following roads in said lands to Alabama State, to wit: the Memphis and Charleston railroad, extending from for railroads. Memphis on the Mississippi River, in Tennessee, to Stevenson, on the Nashville and Chattenooga railroad, in Alabama; the Girard and Mobile railroad, from Girard to Mobile, Alabama; the Northeast and Southwestern railroad, from near Gadsden to some point on the Alabama and Mississippi State line, in the direction to the Mobile and Ohio railroad, with a view to connect with said Mobile and Ohio railroad; the Coosa and Alabama railroad, from Selma to Gadsden; the Central railroad from Montgomery to some point on the Alabama and Tennessee State line in the direction to Nashville, Tennessee; and that alternate sections of the public lands to the same extend and in the same manner, and upon the same limitations and restrictions in every respect, shall be and is hereby made to aid in the construction of the roads in said State mentioned in this act: Provided, That the lands hereby granted to said State for the purpose of constructing a railroad from the northeast to the southwestern portion of said State, lying northwest of Elyton, shall be assigned to such road as may be designated by the legislature of said State. APPROVED, June 3, 1856. Proviso. June 3, 1856. Grant of land a railroad. CHAP. XLII.—An Act making a Grant of Lands to the State of Louisiana, to aid in the Construction of Railroads in said State. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be and is hereby to Louisiana for granted to the State of Louisiana, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of a railroad from the Texas line, in the State of Louisiana, west of the town of Greenwood; via Greenwood, Shreveport, and Monroe, to a point on the Mississippi River, opposite Vicksburg; and from New Orleans by Opelousas, to the State line of Texas; and from New Orleans to the State line, in the direction to Jackson, Mississippi; every alternate |