OF LANDS GRANTED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THE SAULT STE. MARIE SHIP CANAL.

ACT OF AUG. 26, 1852-10 U. S. STATUTES AT LARGE, 35.

AN ACT granting the State of Michigan the Right of Way, and a Donation of Public Lands for the Construction of a Ship Canal around the Falls of St. Mary's, 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, granted to said State, the right of locating a canal through the public lands, known as the military reservation at the Falls at St. Mary's River in said State; and that four hundred feet of land in width extending along the line of such canal be, and the same is hereby granted, to be used by said State, or under the authority thereof for the construction and convenience of such canal, and the appurtenances thereto, and the use thereof is hereby vested in said State forever, for the purposes aforesaid, and no other: Provided, That in locating the line of said canal through said military reservation, the same shall be located on the line of the survey heretofore made for that purpose, or such other route between the waters above and below said falls, as under the approval of the Secretary of War may be selected: And provided further, That said canal shall be at least one hundred feet wide, with a depth of water twelve feet, and the locks shall be at least two hundred and fifty feet long, and sixty feet wide.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That there be, and hereby is granted to the said State of Michigan, for the purpose of aiding said State in constructing and completing said canal, seven hundred and fifty thousand acres of public lands, to be

selected in subdivisions, agreeably to the United States surveys, by an agent or agents to be appointed by the Governor of said State, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, from any lands within said State, subject to private entry.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby granted, shall be subject to the disposal of the Legislature of the State for the purposes aforesaid and no other; and the said canal shall be, and remain a public highway for the use of the Government of the United States, free from toll or other charge upon the vessels of said government engaged in the public service, or upon vessels employed by said government in the transportation of any property on troops of the United States.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That if the said canal shall not be commenced within three and completed within ten years, the said State of Michigan 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 the State not less than one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, the title to the purchasers under said State remaining valid.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the Legislature of said State shall cause to be kept, an accurate account of the sales and nett proceeds of the lands hereby granted, and of all expenditures in the construction, repairs, and operating of said canal, and of the earnings thereof, and shall return a statement of the same annually to the Secretary of the Interior; and whenever said State shall be fully reimbursed for all advances made for the construction, repairs, and operating of said canal, with legal interest on all advances, until the reimbursement of the same, or upon payment by the United States, of any balance of such advances over such receipts from said lands and canal, with such interest, the said State shall be allowed to tax for the use of said canal, only such tolls as shall be sufficient to pay all necessary expenses for the care, charge, and repairs of the same.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That before it shall be competent for said State to dispose of any of the lands to be selected

LANDS DONATED TO MICHIGAN.

27

as aforesaid, the route of said canal shall be established as aforesaid, and a plat or plats thereof shall be filed in the office of the War Department, and a duplicate thereof, in the office of the Commissioner of the General Land Office.

V

OF LANDS GRANTED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF
WAGON ROADS FOR
FOR MILITARY AND POSTAL
SERVICE.

ACT OF JUNE 20, 1864-13 U. S. STATUTES AT LARGE, (1863-4,) 140.

AN ACT granting lands to the State of Michigan for the Con-
struction of Certain Wagon-Roads for Military and Postal
purposes..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America, in Congress assembled, That there be,
and hereby is, granted to the State of Michigan, for the con-
struction of a wagon-road for military and postal purposes, from
Saginaw City, in said State, by the shortest and most feasible
route to the Straits of Mackinaw, every alternate or odd section
of public land, not mineral, for three miles in width on each side
of said road, to the extent of three sections to the mile. Also a
road from Grand Rapids, in said State, through Newaygo,
Traverse City, and Little Traverse, to the Straits of Mackinaw,
every alternate or odd section of public land, not mineral, for
three sections in width on each side of said road, to the extent
of three sections to the mile. And it is hereby provided that in
case it shall appear that the United States shall have (when the
lines or routes of said roads are definitely established) sold or
reserved any sections or parts of sections, granted as aforesaid,
or that the rights of preemption or homestead have attached
to the same, so as to leave a deficiency in the amount to be se-
lected within the limits designated, then it shall be the duty of
the Secretary of the Interior to select such lands from the odd
sections, or parts of sections, nearest to the three mile limits
aforesaid, such quantity as shall be necessary to make up the
deficiency thus created: Provided, further, That the lands hereby
granted shall be exclusively reserved, held and applied in the
construction of said roads, and shall be appropriated and dis-