Chapter LVI. *to grant a certain quantity of land to the slate of Indiana, for the purpose of aiding said state in opening a canal to connect the waters of the Wabash river with those of Lake Erie.*(*a*)(*a*) An act granting certain lands in the state of Indiana, the better to enable the said state to extend and
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Chap. LVI.— An Act *to grant a certain quantity of land to the slate of Indiana, for the purpose of aiding said state in opening a canal to connect the waters of the Wabash river with those of Lake Erie.*(*a*)(*a*) An act granting certain lands in the state of Indiana, the better to enable the said state to extend and complete the Wabash and Erie canal, from Terre Haute to the Ohio river, March 3, 1845, ch. 42. March 2, 1827. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, * A certain quantity of land granted to said state, for opening a canal to unite, at navigable points, the waters of the Wabash river, with those of Lake Erie.
That there be, and hereby is, granted to the state of Indiana, for the purpose of aiding the said state in opening a canal to unite at navigable points the waters of the Wabash river with those of Lake Erie, a quantity of land equal to one half of five sections in width, on each side of said canal, and reserving each alternate section to the United States, to be selected by the commissioner of the land office, under the direction of the President of the United States, from one end thereof to the other; and the said lands shall be subject to the disposal of the legislature of said state, for the purpose aforesaid, and Proviso.no other; *Provided,* That the said canal, when completed, shall be, and forever remain, a public highway for the use of the government of the United States, free from any toll, or other charge, whatever, for any property of the United States, or persons in their service passing through the Proviso.same: *Provided,* That said canal shall be commenced within five years, and completed in twenty years, or the state shall be bound to pay to the United States the amount of any lands previously sold, and that the title to purchasers under the state shall be valid.
Sec. 2. Duty of the governor of said state, when the canal is located, &c. *And be it further enacted, *That, so soon as the route of the said canal shall be located and agreed on by the said state, it shall be the duty of the governor thereof, or such other person or persons as may have been, or shall hereafter be, authorized to superintend the construction of .said canal, to examine and ascertain the particular lands to which the said state will be entitled under the provisions of this act, and report the same to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States.
Sec. 3. Power given to the legislature to sell. *And be it further enacted, *That the said state, under the authority of the legislature thereof, after the selection shall have been so made, shall have power to sell and convey the whole, or any part of the said land, and to give a title, in fee simple, therefor, to whomsoever shall purchase the whole or any part thereof. Approved, March 2, 1827.