Chapter 764. to provide for taxation of railroad-grant lands, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 764.— An Act to provide for taxation of railroad-grant lands, and for other purposes.July 10, 1886. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Lands granted to railroad corporations not exempt from taxation if surveyed. That no lands granted to any railroad corporation by any act of Congress shall be exempt from taxation by States, Territories, and municipal corporations on account of the lien of the United States upon the same for the costs of surveying, selecting, and conveying the same, or because no patent has been issued therefor; but this provision shall not apply to lands unsurveyed: *Provided*,*Provisos.*Lands sold for taxes subject to lion for costs of surveying, etc.
That any such land sold for taxes shall be taken by the. purchaserLands opposite completed portions of roads only, affected.United States may become preferred purchaser. subject to the lien for costs of surveying, selecting, and conveying, to be paid in such manner by the purchaser as the Secretary of the Interior may by rule provide and to all liens of the United States, all mortgages of the United States, and all rights of the United States in respect of such lands: *Provided further*, That this act shall apply only to lands situated opposite to and coterminous with completed portions of said roads, and in organized counties: *Provided further*, That at any sale of lands under the provisions of this act the United States may become a preferred purchaser, and in such case the lands sold shall be restored to the public domain and disposed of as provided by the laws relating thereto.
Sec. 2. That if any railroad corporation required by law to pay theCollection of costs of surveying the lands granted to railroad companies. costs of surveying, selecting, or conveying any lands granted to such company or for its use and benefit by act of Congress shall for thirty days neglect or refuse to pay any such costs after demand for payment thereof by the Secretary of the Interior, he shall notify the Attorney-General, who shall at once commence proceedings to collect the same.
But, when any sum shall be collected of such railroad company as costs of surveying, selecting, and conveying any tract of land which shall have been purchased under the provisions of section one hereof, the Secretary of the Interior shall out of such collections reimburse said purchaser, his heirs or assigns, the amount of money paid by him as the costs of such surveying, selecting, and conveying. Sec. 3. That this act shall not affect the right of the Government toRight of Government to forfeit not affected. declare or enforce a forfeiture of any lands so granted; but all the rights of the United States to said lands or to any interest therein shall be and remain as if this act had not passed, except as to the lien mentioned in the first section hereof.
Sec. 4. That section twenty-one of chapter two hundred and sixteen,Costs of surveying, etc., lands granted to Union Pacific Railway Company payable on demand of Secretary of the Interior.Vol. 13, p. 365.Right to amend, etc. reserved. approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, is hereby so amended as that the costs of surveying, selecting and conveying therein required to be paid shall become due and payable at and on the demand therefor made by the Secretary of the Interior as provided in section two of this act, and nothing in this act shall be construed or taken in any wise to affect or impair the right of Congress at any time hereafter further to alter, amend, or repeal the said act, as in the opinion of Congress, justice or the public welfare may require, or to impair or waive any right or remedy in the premises now existing in favor of the United States.
This act shall be subject to alteration, amendment, or repeal. Approved, July 10, 1886.