Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-09-05
Public, No. 1907

PUBLIC, No. 1907
AN ACT providing for the purchase by the U
! nied States of the rights of the Washington
Bridge Company, in the District of Columbia,
and for the erection of public bridge on the
| site thereof
WHEREAS it is represented to this present Con.
| gress that the Washington Bridge Company
are willing and DESTROYS to sell, convey and
transfer to the United States, the bridge bv
Them owned, In is present condition, with all
their rights, property, and privileges, as COM
| Pany' under the existing laws, including their
iands, piers, abutments, roads, and ways, as
wen as all materials by them owned at the site
OF the SAID bridge, whether worked up in the
construction or re construction of the SAND or
not, Tor the sum of twenty thousand dollars:
BE ii enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-
resentatires Of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, That provided the said
washington Bridge Company lat lawful
meeting OF the stockholders thereof, agree to con-
vey, and shall actually convey to the United
states, the said bridge as it is, with all the
es'ate fght, title, and interest, either in law or
equity, by them owned, as COMPANY under ex.
listing laws, in said bridge, with its piers. abu..
ments, roads and ways, together with all the ma.
terlals by them now owned as comnanv At the
said bridge and ways, either worked up or not in
ne construction or Reconstruction of the said
oridge, and all other their rights, privileges, and
Fl imnlunltes as such company, within two calen.
oar months from the passing of this act; which
lcohVeyan the said company is hereby author
lieu ana empowered to make, by deed, under their
corporate seal, to be deposited with the Secreta-
ny OF the Treasury of the United States: then
ne SAID Secretary shall be, and he hereby is. au.
horned and required to pay to the said companv
ne sum OF twenty thousand dollars, out of aDv
II moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropri.
lated. rf
Sec. 2. And be 1t further enacted, That. upon
ne execution OF such conveyance BY the said
company, the President of the United States he.
ana ne Is hereby authorized to cause to be erect
leo upon the site OF the present bridge good and
IsuHicieht bridge across the river Potomac, of
such materials, and upon such plan of construcA
tlon as ne shall approve and direct: Propsded.
NAT 'he SAID bridge be so constructed as to have
ii draw therein suitable for the safe passage Of
vessels of the largest dimensions, capable of nav.
iigatlng the Potomac river above the said bridge.
not less than sxty-six feet at the least and also
ON each side of the id draw and at suitable dis.
lance thereirom, 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: And. pro.
asded, further, That there shall be similar draw
AT the Maryland channel, of not less than tbirtv
hve leet, with similar arch: Aud provided, all
so, That, in the selection of materials and in the
|consruction of the said bridge, draws and arch
les, all practicable attention shall be had TO the
preservation of the navigation of the said river.
Sec. 3. And be 1t furshe;. enacted, That towards
Fl the construction Of the said bridge and works
hereby authorized and directed, the sum of sixty
thousand dollars be and the same is hereby, ap-
Proprlated, payable out of any moneys in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated
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 man.
ner, that Is to say; first to reimburse the exper-
SEES incurred by the said company since the last
adjournment OF Congress, to the stockholders ad-
vancing the same, and the balance among the
stockholders, pro rata, the cost of each share,
to the present holder thereof, to be ascertained
10y the company if necessary, by the oath or af,
lhrmation of the present holder.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted. That the
provisions of this act shall have no effect, unless
A three valuers, to be appointed by the Presden,
o 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 majority of them, shall, on oath,
decide that the property of the said bridge COM
ii pany, SO to be conveyed to the United States,
exclusive OF any supposed value of the privileges
Il oy tnem held under their charter as company,
Is OF the value of twenty thousand dollars; or
Il inless IN case the said vauers, or a majority Of
hem shall value the said property at a sum less
nan twenty thousand dollars the said bridge
t company will agree to accept the amount of such
saluation. This act shall be in force from the
r passing thereof.
Il Approved. July IA, 1882.