# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 4/22nd Congress/1st Session/Chapter 225

Chap. CCXXV.—An Act providing for the purchase by the United States of the rights of the Washington Bridge Company, in the District of Columbia, and for the erection of a public bridge on the site thereof.
Act of June 30, 1834, ch. 155.Whereas it is represented to this present Congress, that the Washington Bridge Company are willing and desirous to sell, convey, and transfer to the United States, the bridge by them owned, in its present condition, with all their rights, property, and privileges, as a company, under the existing laws, including their lands, piers, abutments, roads, and ways, as well as all materials by them owned at the site of the said bridge, whether worked up in the construction or re-construction of the same or not, for the sum of twenty thousand dollars:
Secretary of the Treasury to pay Washington Bridge Company $20,000 upon conveyance, &c.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That provided the said Washington Bridge Company shall, at a lawful meeting of the stockholders thereof, agree to convey, and shall actually convey to the United States, the said bridge as it now is, with all the estate, right, title, and interest, either in law or equity, by them owned, as a company under existing laws, in said bridge, with its piers, abutments, roads and ways, together with all the materials by them now owned as a company, at the said bridge and ways, either worked up or not, in the construction of re-construction of the said bridge, and all other their rights, privileges, and immunities as such company, within two calendar months from the passing of this act; which conveyance the said company is hereby authorized and empowered to make, by deed, under their corporate seal, to be deposited with the Secretary of the Treasury of the United [States;] then the said secretary shall be, and he hereby is, authorized and required to pay to the said company the sum of twenty thousand dollars, out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Bridge to be erected across the Potomac.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That, upon the execution of such conveyance by the said company, the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to cause to be erected upon the site of the present bridge, a good and sufficient bridge across the river Potomac, of such materials, and upon such plan of construction as he shall approve and direct:Proviso. Provided, That the said bridge be so constructed as to have a draw therein suitable for the safe passage of vessels of the largest dimensions, capable of navigating the Potomac river above the said bridge, not less than sixty-six feet at the least; and, also, on each side of the said draw, and at a suitable distance therefrom, an arch of sufficient elevation to admit the passage under the same of an ordinary steamboat; which said draw and arch shall be at the Virginia channel ​in the said river:Proviso. And provided, further, That there shall be a similar draw at the Maryland channel, of not less than thirty-five feet, with a similar arch:Proviso. And, provided, also, That in the selection of materials and in the construction of the said bridge, draws and arches, all practicable attention shall be had to the preservation of the navigation of the said river.
Appropriation.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That towards the construction of the said bridge and works hereby authorized and directed, the sum of sixty thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, payable out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Application and distribution of sum to be paid.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the said company shall apply and distribute the said sum of twenty thousand dollars in the following manner, that is to say: first to reimburse the expenses incurred by the said company since the last adjournment of Congress, to the stockholders advancing the same, and the balance among the stockholders, pro rata, on the cost of each share, to the present holder thereof, to be ascertained by the company if necessary, by the oath or affirmation of the present holder.
Act to be void, unless valuers appraise company’s property at $20,000; or if appraised at a less sum, company accept such valuation.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the provisions of this act shall have no effect, unless three valuers, to be appointed by the President of the United States having no interest in the said bridge, or in any property in the District of Columbia, and not being inhabitants of the said district, or a majority of them, shall, on oath, decide that the property of the said bridge company, so to be conveyed to the United States, exclusive of any supposed value of the privileges by them held under their charter as a company, is of the value of twenty thousand dollars; or unless in case the said valuers, or a majority of them, shall value the said property at a sum less than twenty thousand dollars, the said bridge company will agree to accept the amount of such valuation. This act shall be in force from the passing thereof.
Approved, July 14, 1832.