§912 Disposition of Abandoned or Forfeited Railroad Grants

Summary

When land the United States gave a railroad for a right-of-way or for railroad buildings stops being used by that railroad—because the railroad abandoned it, lost it by forfeiture, a court order, or an Act of Congress—the United States’ interest in those lands will pass to whoever holds or later gets a U.S. patent that covers the whole legal subdivision(s) crossed by the railroad. The title transfers automatically by that patent without any extra deed. Land inside a city or town goes to that city or town. Parts that become a public highway within one year after the court order, forfeiture, or abandonment are not transferred this way. This rule does not change railroad sales that were or could be confirmed by Congress made after March 8, 1922 and before the abandonment or forfeiture, and it does not affect any public highway that existed on March 8, 1922. All transfers keep a reservation for the United States of all oil, gas, and other minerals, and the U.S. keeps the right to explore for, mine, and remove them.