3. That the amount of interest, when ascertained as afore- Amount of said, shall be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. [Approved, March 3, 1827.]

CHAP 237. An act authorizing the establishment of an arsenal in the town of Augusta,

in Maine.

interest to be paid from the treasury.

war to pur

1. Be it enacted, &c. That, the secretary of the department of Secretary of war be, and he is hereby, authorized and required to purchase, as chase a site soon as it can be effected, on reasonable terms, a site for an arse- for an arsenal in Augusta. nal, in the town of Augusta, in the state of Maine; and to cause to be erected thereon such an arsenal as may be deemed proper, for the safe keeping of the arms and munitions of the United States, for the northern and eastern frontier; and that, for these purposes, the sum of fifteen thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. [Approved, March 3, 1827.]

CHAP. 248. An act to authorize the governor and legislative council of Florida, to provide for holding additional terms of the superior courts therein.

superior

1. Be it enacted, &c. That the governor and legislative coun- Additional cil of the territory of Florida are hereby authorized, until con- terms of the gress shall otherwise direct, to provide, by law, for holding the courts to be superior courts of said territory at such other places, within held. their respective districts, as may be necessary for the more convenient administration of justice therein. [Approved, March 3, 1827.]

CHAP. 249. An act for improving the navigation of the Ohio river.

be removed.

1. Be it enacted, &c. That all snags, sawyers, stumps, logs, Snags, &c. to and obstructions of every description, which tend to endanger the steam boat navigation of the Ohio river, at any navigable stages of the water, and which present themselves, and are to be found on the banks and sides of the river, shall be removed, so that the navigation of said river may be rendered at all times safe; and the same shall be done under the supervision and direction of the secretary of war, and through the aid of some practical agent acquainted with the situation of the river, its respective bars, islands, and dangerous places and parts; and he shall Jikewise cause the channel of said river, at a part usually called the Grand Chain, near its mouth, so to be deepened by a proper channel formed, that, at the usual state of the water, steam boats may be enabled safely to pass and repass the same.

2. That, for carrying this act into effect, the sum of thirty 30,000 dolls. thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of appropriated. any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. [Approved, March 3, 1827.]

CHAP. 250. An act to grant a certain quantity of land to the state of Ohio, for the purpose Vol. iv. p. of making a road from Columbus to Sandusky.

2108.

§ 1. Be it enacted, &c. That there be, and are hereby, appro- A certain quantity of priated, to the state of Ohio, for the purpose of aiding the Co- land granted. lumbus and Sandusky turnpike company in making a road from

Vol. iv. p. 2346.

500,000 dolls. appropriated.

President au

thorized to

cause to be

Columbus to Sandusky city, the one half of a quantity of land equal to two sections, on the western side of said road, and most contiguous thereto, to be bounded by sectional lines, from one end of said road to the other, wheresoever the same may remain unsold, reserving to the United States each alternate section the whole length of said road through the lands of the United States, to be selected by the commissioner of the general land office, under the direction of the president: Provided, That no toll shall at any time be collected of any mail stage, nor of any troops, or property of the United States. [Approved, March 3, 1827.J

CHAP. 251. An act for the gradual improvement of the navy of the United States.

1. Be it enacted, &c. That, for the gradual improvement of the navy of the United States, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars per annum, for six years, is hereby appropriated, to be applied as in this act prescribed, and as may, hereafter, be directed by law.

2. That the president of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause to be procured, ship timber suitable procured ship for the construction of vessels of the various classes now recogtimber, suitable for the nized in the navy of the United States; and also the timber of vessels of proper for the construction of steam batteries; and to take the proper measures for having the said timber duly seasoned and preserved, so as to be fit for immediate use.

construction

different

classes.

Measures to

be adopted to preserve the

live oak tim on the lands

ber, growing

of the United

States.

Two dry docks.

&c. at Pensa

cola.

3. That the president of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to take the proper measures to preserve the ve oak timber growing on the lands of the United States, and he is also authorized to reserve from sale such lands, belonging to the United States, as may be found to contain live oak, or other timber, in sufficient quantity to render the same valuable for naval purposes.

4. That the president of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause to be constructed two dry docks, on the most approved plan, for the use of the navy of the United States, the one of said docks to be erected at some point to the south, and the other to the north of the Potomac river.

Marine rail5. That the president of the United States be, and he is way for the repairs of hereby, authorized to cause the necessary examinations and insloops of war, quiries to be made, to ascertain the practicability and expediency of erecting a marine railway for the repair of sloops of war, and other vessels of an inferior class, at Pensacola, and, if it shall appear from such inquiry and examination, that such railway would be useful to the navy of the United States, and can be constructed at a reasonable expense, that he cause the same to be constructed, on the most approved plan.

Navy yards to be thoroughly examined.

6. That the president of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause the navy yards of the United States to be thoroughly examined, and plans to be prepared, and sanctioned by the president, for the improvement of the same, and the preservation of the public property therein, from which plans, no deviation shall hereafter be made but by his special order.

7. That the money appropriated by this act shall not be Money approtånsferred to any other object of expenditure, nor shall any part paid from the priated, to be thereof be carried to the fund denominated the surplus fund; treasury. and annual reports shall be submitted to congress of the expenditures under this, act, and the measures taken to carry the same into effect. [Approved, March 3, 1827.]

CHAP. 252. An act granting to the corporation of the city of Mobile the right of preference in purchase of four sections of land, or a quantity equal to four sections, at or near Spring Hill, in the county of Mobile.

ceive from the corporation of

1. Be it enacted, &c. That the register and receiver of the Register and land office at St. Stephen's be, and they are hereby, authoriz- receiver at St. Stephen's, died and directed to receive from the corporation of the city of rected to reMobile, the sum of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, for a quantity of land, not exceeding four sections, at or near Spring the city of Hill, in the county of Mobile, and state of Alabama; and, upon lar 25 cents Mobile, 1 dolthe receipt of said sum as aforesaid, the said register and receiv- per acre, for a certain quantier shall issue their certificate to, and in the name of the cor- ty of land. poration of the city of Mobile, for the said quantity of land, not exceeding four sections as aforesaid.

tion of the sum

ed State re

2. That, for and in consideration of the sum aforesaid, paid In consideraas aforesaid, that all the right and claim of the United States, to the paid as afore said quantity of land, not exceeding four sections, in the county of said, the UnitMobile, and state aforesaid, be, and the same is hereby, vested in linquish their the mayor and aldermen of the said city of Mobile, for the time be- title. ing, and their successors in office, to be applied or disposed of by them, for the sole use and benefit of the said city forever : Provided, That no part of any claim, arising from acts of con- Proviso. gress, known as donations or pre-emptions by the reported list of actual settlers, or from grants recognized by any treaty, shall be covered or taken by this grant, but the same shall be excepted from, and held as not covered or interfered with by this act.

3. That patents shall issue, upon the presentation of said Patents. certificate of the register and receiver aforesaid, for the said quantity of land, not exceeding four sections, to the corporation of the city of Mobile, in the same manner that patents now issue upon the final certificate for other public lands. [Approved, March 3, 1827.]

CHAP. 253. An act to provide for the completion of the road from a point opposite to Memphis, in the state of Tennessee, to Little Rock, in the territory of Arkansas, and for other purposes.

1. Be it enacted, &c. That the sum of nine thousand and six- 9,065 dolls. appropriated. ty-five dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, in aid of the unexpended balance of the former appropriation to the same object, for the completion of the road from a point opposite to Memphis, in the state of Tennessee, to Little Rock, in the territory of Arkansas, to be paid, as the same may be required, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated by law.

Fort Smith on

2. That the president of the United States be, and he is Road from hereby, authorized to cause a military_road to be opened from the Arkansas Fort Smith, on the Arkansas river, to Fort Towson, on the Red river, to Fort river, and from thence southwardly, to the northern boundary line the Red river, of the state of Louisiana, by Washington, in Hempstead county, &c.

Towson, on

Troops of the
United States

ed.

following the highlands between the waters of the Washita and Red rivers, in the direction of Natchitoches, Louisiana.

3. That the president be, and he is hereby, authorized to to be employ- employ such part of the troops of the United States as he may think proper, to survey and construct said road; and for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this act, the sum of twelve thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. [Approved, March 3, 1827.]

Secretary of the treasury to locate a cer

lain quantity

of land, for a seminary of learning.

When the lo

the title is to

CHAP. 254. An act concerning the location of land reserved for the use of a seminary of learning in the state of Louisiana.

1. Be it enacted, &c. That the secretary of the treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to locate a quantity of land, not exceeding two entire townships, reserved by the eleventh section of the act of the twenty-first April, eighteen hundred and six, and by the seventh section of the act of the third of March eighteen hundred and eleven, for the use of a seminary of learning in the state of Louisiana, on any of the public lands in said state, in sections corresponding with any of the legal divisions into which the public lands are authorized to be surveyed.

2. That, so soon as the location of said lands shall be made cation is made, as aforesaid, the title thereto shall be, and is hereby, vested in the be invested in state of Louisiana, for the use of a seminary or seminaries of learning therein, as the legislature of said state may direct. [Approved, March 3, 1827.]

said state.

State of Pennsylvania to cede to the

RESOLUTION.

Resolution directing the secretary of the navy to apply to the government of Pennsylvania for jurisdiction over certain lands at the navy yard, Philadelphia.

Resolved, &c. That the secretary of the navy be directed to request the government of the state of Pennsylvania to cede to United States the United States jurisdiction over such lands as are owned by certain lands. the United States, and improved for public purposes, at the

navy yard near Philadelphia. [Approved, January 24, 1827.]

APPENDIX.

IN CONGRESS JULY 13, 1787.

An ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio.

Be it ordained by the United States in congress assembled,

That the said territory, for the purposes of temporary government, be one district; subject, however, to be divided into two districts, as future circumstancès may, in the opinion of congress, make it expedient.

Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the estates Rules of inheritance, &c. both of resident and non resident proprietors in the said territory, dying intestate, shall descend to, and be distributed among their children, and the descendants of a deceased child, in equal parts; the descendants of a deceased child or grand child to take the share of their deceased parent, in equal parts among them and where there shall be no children or descendants, then in equal parts to the next of kin, in equal degree; and among collaterals, the children of a deceased brother or sister of the intestate shall have, in equal parts among them, their deceased parents' share; and there shall, in no case, be a distinction between kindred of the whole and half blood; saving in all cases to the widow of the intestate, her third part of the real estate for life, and one third part of the personal estate; and this law relative to descents and dower, shall remain in full force until altered by the legislature of the district. And until the governor and judges shall adopt laws as herein after mentioned, estates in the said territory may be devised or bequeathed by wills in writing, signed and sealed by him or her, in whom the estate may be, (being of full age,) and attested by three witnesses; and real estates may be conveyed by lease and release, or bargain and sale, signed, sealed, and delivered, by the person, being of full age, in whom the estate may be, and attested by two witnesses, provided such will be duly proved, and such conveyances be acknowledged, or the execution thereof duly proved, and be recorded within one year after proper magistrates, courts, and registers, shall be appointed for that purpose; and personal property may be transferred by delivery; saving, however, to the French and Canadian inhabitants, and other settlers of the Kaskaskies, Saint Vincents, and the neighboring villages, who have heretofore professed themselves citizens of Virginia, their laws and cus