All lands in the State of Minnesota described in and withdrawn from sale by the proclamations of the President of the United States for the reason that said lands would be required for or subject to flowage in the construction of dams, reservoirs, and other works proposed to be erected for the improvement of the navigation of the Mississippi River and certain of its tributaries, are declared to be, and to have been at all times prior to February 27, 1901, subject to the provisions of sections 934 to 939 of this title as fully, effectually, and to the same extent as though said lands had not been described in said proclamations, or withdrawn from sale thereby, but had remained with the body of public lands subject to private entry and sale: