N.D. Cent. Code § 49-09-03
Any railway company desiring to secure the benefits of section 49-09-01, within ninety days after the definite location of its road across any section of such lands, shall file in the office of the board of university and school lands a plat of such section of land, showing the location of such road through the same and all stations located thereon. Thereafter all such lands over which such roads shall pass shall be disposed of subject to such grant and every certificate or patent for such lands thereafter sold shall contain an express reservation to the use of such corporation of all lands which it shall have appropriated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. If such road shall not be completed across any such section within five years after the location of the same thereon, the rights herein granted shall be forfeited as to such section.
N.D.C.C. § 49-09-03