St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Ry. Co. v. McGee, 115 U.S. 469 (1885)
U.S. Supreme Court
St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Ry. Co. v. McGee, 115 U.S. 469 (1885)
St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company v. McGee
Argued November 11, 1885
Decided November 23, 1885
115 U.S. 469
Syllabus
In order that an act of Congress should work a reversion to the United States for condition broken of lands granted by them to a state to aid in internal improvements, the legislation must directly, positively, and with freedom from all doubt or ambiguity manifest the intention of Congress to reassert title and resume possession.
No such intention is manifested in the Act of July 28, 1866, 14 Stat. 338, so far as it affects the lands granted to the States of Arkansas and Missouri by the Act of February 9, 1853, 10 Stat. 155, except as to mineral lands.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.