N.Y. Railroad Law § 19

§ 19. Railroads through Indian lands. Any railroad corporation may\ncontract with the chiefs of any nation of Indians, over whose lands it\nmay be necessary to construct its railroad, for the right to make such\nroad upon such lands, but such contract shall not vest in the\ncorporation the fee to the land, nor the right to occupy the same for\nany purposes other than may be necessary for the construction, occupancy\nand maintenance of such railroad, and such contract shall not be valid\nor effectual until it shall be ratified by the county court of the\ncounty where the land shall be situated.\n