connect posts. 461. operate telegraph near the city of Denison, in Grayson county, Texas; thence by the line in Texas and nearest practicable route to Fort Sill, Indian Territory; thence to Fort Indian Territory to Richardson, Texas; thence along the northern frontier-line of settlemilitary ments to Forts Griffin and Concho; thence to the Pecos River, at or R. S., § 223. near the mouth of Toyah Creek; thence to Fort Clarke, on Las Moras 1874, June 23, ch. Creek; thence to Fort Duncan, on the Rio Grande; thence down the Rio Grande, via Fort McIntosh and Ringold's Barracks, to Brownsville, so as to connect the military posts which are now, or may hereafter be, established on said line with the military head quarters of said district; and that the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated. [June 3, 1874.] June 3, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 52. Pre-emptors of CHAPTER 206. AN ACT TO EXTEND THE TIME TO PRE-EMPTORS ON THE PUBLIC LANDS IN THE STATE Pre-emptors of public lands in Minnesota allowed further time to make proof, payment, &c. Be it enacted, &c., That the time at which pre-emptors on the public public lands in lands in the State of Minnesota, including the lands within Fort Ridgely Minnesota allowed and Sioux Indian reservations, are now required to make final proof and make proof and payment, is extended for the period of two years. [June 3, 1874.] further time to payment, 1863, ch. 119. 1868, ch. 21. 1870, ch. 198. 1870, Res. No. 21 (16 Stat. L., 187, 370) R. S., § 2267. 1879, June 12, ch. 19. June 5, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 53. CHAPTER 214. AN ACT CHANGING THE TIME OF HOLDING CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURTS IN VERMONT. In Vermont, circuit and district courts to be held at Rutland on first Tuesday in October, and at Windsor on third Tuesday in May. In Vermont, cir- Be it enacted, &c., That the term of the circuit court holden at Rutcuit and district land on the third day of October shall be held on the first Tuesday in courts to be held October, and the term of the district court holden at Rutland on the Tuesday in Octo- sixth day of October shall be held on the first Tuesday of October. at Rutland on first ber, and at Wind sor on third Tuesday in May. R. S., § 572, 2d ed., p. 101. R. S., § 658, 122. p. The term of the circuit court holden at Windsor on the fourth Tuesday in July shall be held on the third Tuesday in May, and the term of the district court held at Windsor on the Monday after the fourth Tuesday of July shall be on the third Tuesday in May: Provided, That this act shall not apply to the next terms of the circuit and district court to be holden at Windsor, but the same shall be held at the times now provided by law. [June 5, 1874.] June 6, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 58. Commandant of Marine Corps; his CHAPTER 216. AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NAVAL SERVICE FOR THE YEAR ENDING Commandant of Marine Corps; his appointment, rank, and pay. Be it enacted, &c., * Provided, That office of commandant of the Marine Corps having the appointment, rank of a brigadier-general of the Army shall continue until a vacancy rank, and pay. R. S., 1596, shall occur in the same, and no longer; (1) and when such vacancy shall 1601. NOTE. (1) The office became vacant November 1, 1876, and the commandant was appointed as provided by this act. occur in said office, immediately thereupon all laws and parts of laws creating said office shall become inoperative, and shall, by virtue of this act, from thenceforth be repealed: And provided further, That thereafter the commandant of the Marine. Pay and rank of Corps shall have the rank and pay of a colonel, and shall be appointed commandant of Marine Corps. by selection by the President from the officers of said corps. [June 6, 1874.] CHAPTER 217. AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY ACADEMY FOR A judge-advocate of Army may be assigned by Secretary of War as professor of law at the Military Be it enacted, &c., Provided, That the Secretary of War may assign one of the judge. advocates of the Army to be professor of law. 1874.] [June 6, June 6, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 60. A judge-advocate of Army may be assigned by Secretary of War as professor of law at the Military Academy. R. S., § 1200, 1201, 1309. CHAPTER 218. AN ACT TO CHANGE THE NAME, OF THE PORT OF SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA, TO WIL MINGTON. Port of San Pedro, Cal., to be called Wilmington. Be it enacted, &c., That the port of San Pedro, on the Pacific coast, shall be called Wilmington. [June 6, 1874.] June 6, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 61. Port of San Pedro, Cal., to be called Wilmington. R. S., § 2582. 1877, Feb. 27, ch. 69, par. 65. CHAPTER 219. AN ACT TO EQUALIZE PENSIONS IN CERTAIN CASES. Pensioners under special acts to have benefit of - pensions of, not to be reduced thereby. general laws. June 6, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 61. Pensioners un have benefits of Be it enacted, &c., That all persons entitled to pensions under special acts fixing the rate of such pensions, and now receiving or entitled to der special acts to receive a less pension than that allowed by the general pension laws under like circumstances, are, in lieu of their present rate of pension, hereby declared to be entitled to the benefits and subject to the limita- 4791. tions of the general pension laws entitled "An act to revise, consolidate, and amend the laws relating to pensions," approved March third, eighteen hundred and seventy-three; (1) and that this act go into effect from and after its passage: Provided, That this act shall not be construed to reduce any pension -pensions of, not granted by special act. [June 6, 1874.] to be reduced thereby. NOTE. (1) The provisions of the act of 1873 ch. 234 (17 Stat. L., 566), here referred to, are incorporated into Revised Statutes in the sections noted in the margin. June 6, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 61. Time for expenditures, &c., on mining claims located prior to May 10, 1872, extended to Jan. 1, 1875. R. S., § 2324. CHAPTER 220. AN ACT TO AMEND AN ACT ENTITLED "AN ACT TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF Time for expenditures, &c., on mining claims located prior to May 10, 1872, extended to January 1, 1875. Be it enacted, &c., That the provisions of the fifth section (1) of the act entitled "An act to promote the development of the mining resources of the United States," passed May tenth, eighteen hundred and seventytwo, which requires expenditures of labor and improvements on claims located prior to the passage of said act, are hereby so amended that the time for the first annual expenditure on claims located prior to the passage of said act shall be extended to the first day of January, eighteen hundred and seventy-five. [June 6, 1874.] NOTE.-(1) The provisions of the act of 1872, ch. 152, § 5 (17 Stat. L., 92), here referred to, are incorporated into Revised Statutes, § 2324, noted in the margin. CHAPTER 223. AN ACT OBVIATING THE NECESSITY OF ISSUING PATENTS FOR CERTAIN PRIVATE June 6, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 62. Title of lands in Missouri confirmed owners. [SECTION 1], That all of the right, title, and interest of the United by acts of Con- States in and to all of the lands in the State of Missouri which have at gress, public officers, &c., released any time heretofore been confirmed to any person or persons by any in fee to equitable act of Congress, or by any officer or officers, or board or boards of commissioners, acting under and by authority of any act of Congress, shall 98 U. S. R., 203. be, and the same are hereby, granted, released, and relinquished by the United States, in fee-simple, to the respective owners of the equitable titles thereto, and to their respective heirs and assigns forever, as fully and as completely, in every respect whatever, as could be done by patents issued therefor according to law. - without affect &c. SEC. 2. That nothing contained in the first section of this act shall, ing valid rights, in any manner, abridge, divest, impair, injure or prejudice any valid right, title or interest of any person or persons in or to any portion or part of the lands mentioned in said first section; and this act shall in no wise affect any lands or lots heretofore relinquished to the United States. SEC. 3. That whenever the Secretary of the Interior shall be of the of land titles in opinion that the public interest no longer requires the continuance of Missouri may be the office of recorder of land titles in Missouri, he may close and discon1876, ch. 246, tinue the same, (1) and all of the records, maps, plats, field-notes, books, papers, and everything else concerning, pertaining, or belonging to said office of recorder, shall be delivered to the State of Missouri: Office of recorder discontinued. par. 8. State to provide Provided, however, (2) That said State shall provide by law for the for safe-keeping of reception and safe-keeping of said records, maps, plats, field-notes, records, &c. R. S., 2218- books, papers, and everything else belonging to said office of recorder, as public records, and for the allowance of free access to the same by the authorities of the United States, for the purpose of taking extracts therefrom, or making copies thereof, without charge of any kind: 2222. Commissioner of General Land Of of recorder, &c. And provided further, That when said office of recorder shall be closed and discontinued as aforesaid, the Commissioner of the General LandOffice shall forever thereafter possess and exercise all of the powers and authority and perform all the duties of said recorder. [June 6, 1874.] NOTES. (1) The office of recorder of land titles for Missouri was abolished by law, by act of 1876, ch. 246, par. 8. (2) The State of Missouri, by act of April 28, 1877, made provisions for the reception and safe-keeping of the records, maps, &c., of the recorder's office, as by this act required. CHAPTER 224. AN ACT TO LEGALIZE AND ESTABLISH A PONTOON-RAILWAY-BRIDGE ACROSS THE MIS- June 6, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 62. Railway pon Mississippi River at Prairie du Chien -draws of, to be [SECTION 1], That the railway pontoon bridge across the Mississippi toon-bridge across River, and an island therein, communicating with the Milwaukee and Saint Paul railway at Prairie du Chien, in the State of Wisconsin, and the Milwaukee and Saint Paul railway at North McGregor, in the State of Iowa, be, and is hereby, legalized and declared a lawful structure: Provided, That the said John Lawler and the said Prairie du Chien and McGregor Railway Company, their successors and assigns, shall maintained, openkeep up and maintain a suitable pontoon draw of not less than three ed promptly, &c. hundred and ninety-six feet in length in the eastern channel, and one of not less than four hundred and eight feet in length in the principal or western channel of said river; and that said draws shall be opened promptly, upon reasonable signal, for the passage of boats or rafts; but in no case shall unnecessary delay occur in opening the said draws before or after the passage of trains; And that the said parties shall maintain, at their own expense, from bridge to be sunset to sunrise, throughout the year, such lights on said bridge as lighted. may be required by the Light-House Board, for the security of naviga. tion. R. S., §§ 4653 4659. SEC. 2. That all railway companies desiring to use said pontoon bridge - railway compashall have, and be entitled to, equal rights and privileges in the passage nies to have right of the same, and in the use of the machinery and fixtures thereof, and to use of, on condiof all approaches thereto, under and upon such terms and conditions as Secretary of War; tions prescribed by shall be prescribed by the Secretary of War upon hearing the allega- and United States tions and proofs of the parties in case they shall not agree; and the to have certain United States shall have the right of way for postal telegraph purposes right of way,, of across said bridge; also, no higher charge shall be made for the trans- &c. mission over the same of the mails, the troops, and the munitions of war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over the railroads or public highways leading to said bridge; transportation, litigation con And in case of any litigation arising from any obstruction or alleged obstruction to the navigation of the river, created by the construction cerning, in what of said bridge under this act, the cause or question arising may be tried courts to be had. before the district court of the United States of any State in which any portion of said obstruction or bridge touches. plan of construc SEC. 3. That the right to alter or amend this act, so as to prevent or Right to alter remove all material obstructions to the navigation of said river is hereby this act reserved; expressly reserved, without any liability of the government for damages and changes in on account of the alteration or amendment of this act, or on account of the tion, how may be prevention or requiring the removal of any such obstructions; and if any made. change be made in the plan of construction of said pontoon bridge, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War; and any change in the construction, or any alteration of said bridge, that may be directed at any time by Congress or the Secretary of War, shall be made at the cost and expense of the owners thereof. SEC. 4. That the bridge heretofore authorized to be erected across Bridge over Misthe Mississippi River at or near Clinton, Iowa, by section one of an act sissippi River near entitled "An act to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Clinton, Iowa, Mississippi River at or near the town of Clinton, in the State of Iowa, may be a pile and pontoon bridge, and other bridges across said river, and to establish them as post roads," subject to this act. approved April first, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, may be con1872, ch. 73, 1 structed and maintained as a pile and pontoon bridge, subject to the and ch. 281 (17 Stat. L., 44, 215). terms, restrictions and requirements contained in the foregoing sections of this act: - with only one Provided, That in the bridge mentioned in this section only one draw draw, to be located shall be required unless otherwise determined by the Secretary of War, by Secretary of which draw shall be located as he may direct, and be not less than four hundred and eight feet in width. [June 6, 1874.] War. June 8, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 63. CHAPTER 256. AN ACT AUTHORIZING CORRECTIONS TO BE MADE IN ERRORS OF PRIZE-LISTS. Prize-money allowed to officers serving as division-commanders and fleet-captains from April, 1861. Prize-money al- Be it enacted, &c., That the second and third paragraphs of the tenth lowed to officers section of the navy-prize law, approved June thirtieth, eighteen hundred serving as division- and sixty-four, (1) which relate to the shares of commanders of divisions commanders and and fleet-captains, shall apply to officers serving in those positions from fleet-captains from April, 1861, and April, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, (the commencement of the late how paid. war,) and the shares shall be paid in the manner as provided for division4631, commanders in said second paragraph, said payments to be made out of the naval pension fund; and all acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act be, and the same are hereby, repealed. [June 8, 1874.] R. S. pars. 1, 2. NOTE.-(1) The provisions of the act of 1864, ch. 174, § 10 (13 Stat. L., 309), here referred to, are incorporated into Revised Statutes in the section noted in the margin. June 9, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 64. CHAPTER 259. AN ACT TO FACILITATE THE EXPORTATION OF DISTILLED SPIRITS, AND AMENDATORY -to file export entry. -to give bond. Be it enacted, &c. SECTION Collector of port to transmit to collector of Transportation bond, when to be canceled. 2. Expense of stamp to be ten cents. Distilled spirits may be withdrawn [SECTION 1], That whenever the owner or owners of distilled spirits from bonded ware- shall desire to withdraw the same from any distillery bonded warehouse house for export for exportation under existing law, such owner or owners may at their by giving transoption, in lieu of executing an export bond as now provided by law, give portation bond. R. S., 66 3329, a transportation bond with sureties satisfactory to the collector of internal revenue, and under such rules and regulations as the Secretary 1877, March 3, of the Treasury may prescribe, conditioned for the due delivery thereof ch. 114, 1879, March 1, on board ship at a port of exportation to be named therein; ch. 125, § 10. 1879, Dec. 20, ch. 1. 16 Opin. Att'y Gen., 634. 3330. § 5. Exporter to no And in such case, on arrival of the spirits at the port of export, the tify collector of ar- exporter or owner at that port shall immediately notify the collector of rival at port of exthe port of the fact, setting forth his intention to export the same, and port. the name of the vessel upon which the same are to be laden, and the port to which they are intended to be exported. -to file exportentry. to give bond. He shall, after the quantity of spirits has been determined by the gauger and inspector, file with the collector of the port an export-entry verified by his oath or affirmation. He shall also give bond to the United States, with at least two sureties, satisfactory to the collector of customs, conditioned that the prin |