Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-06-23
TPUBLIc-No. 80.

fUBLIC-NO. d. s-.| m..g
AN ACT providing for the building ard equip
ment of four naval steamships.
TSEc. /. Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives Of the United States
of America in Congress assembled, That the
President Of the United States be, and he is
hereby, authorized to cause to be built and
equipped four first-elass sea.going steamships,
to be attached to the navy of the United States,
and that one million of dollars be, and is hereby
appropriated for that purpose, to be paid out OF
any money in the treasury not otherwise appro-
priated. ss,. -E--r--'
SGT. l. And be it further enacted, That from
and Immediately after the passage OF this act, II
shall be the duty Of the Secretary OF the Navy
to accept, on the part of the government Of the
United States, the proposals Of E. K. Collins
and his associates, OF the city of New York, sub
m,ted to the Postmaster General, and dated
Washington, March sixth, eighteen hundred and
forty-six, for the transportation of the United
States mail between New York and Liverpool,
and to contract with the said i. K. Collins and
his associates for the faithful fulflment Of the
stipulations therein contained, and in accord-
ance with the provisions of this act.
SEC. /. And be it further enacted, That the
steamships to be employed by the said E. X.
Collins and his associate in the transportation of
the United States mail between New York and
Liverpool shall be constructed under the in
spection of the naval constructor in the employ
of the Navy Department, and shall be SO con-
structed as to render them convertible, at the
least possible cost, into war-steamers of the first
class; and that each of said steamers shall re-
ceive on board four passed midshipInen of the
United Stetes navy. who shall serve as watch
officers, and be suitably accommodated without
charge to the government; and the said steamers
shall also receive on board and accommodate,
without charge to the government, one agent,
to be appointed by the Postmaster General,
who shall have charge Of the mails to be trans
ported in said steamships. ..... ....--. II .
SEC. A. And be it further enacted, That from
and Immediately after the passage Of this act it
shall be the duty OF the Secretary of the Navy TO
contract, on the part Of the government of the
United States. with A. G. sloo, of Cincinnati,
for the transportation of the United States
mail from New York to New Orleans, twice
a month and back, touching at Charleston, Gf
practicable Savannah. and Havana; and from
Havana to Chagres and back, twice a month.
The said mail to be transported in at least tive
steamships of not less than fifteen hundred tons
burden, and propelled by engines of not less than
one thousand horse power each, to be construct
ed under the superintendent and direction Of
a naval constructor in the employ Of the Navy
Department, and to be so constructed as to
render them convertible, at the least possible eX
pense, into war steamers of the first class; and
that the said steamships shall be commanded by
officers of the United States navy not below the
grade of lieutenant, who shall be selected by
the contractor, with the apr oval and consent
of the Secretary of the Navy, and who shall be
suitably accommodated without charge to the
government. Each of said steamers shall re-
ceive on board four passed mdshipmen of the
United States navy, who shall serve as watch
officers, and be suitably accommodated without
charge to the government; and each of said
steamers shall also receive on board and accom-
modate, without charge to the government, one
agent, TO be appointed by the Postmaster Gene
raj, who shall have charge OF the mails to be
transported in said steamers: Provided, The
Secretary of the Navy may, at his discretion,
permit steamer of not less than six hundred
tons burden, and engines in proportion, to be
EMPLOYED in the mail service herein provided for
between Havana and Chagres: Provided, fur
ther, That the compensation for said service
shall not exceed the sum of two hundred and
ninety thousand dollars, and that good and suf-
icient security be required for the faithful full
filment ofthe stipulations Of the contract.
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, mat IL
shall be the duty of the Secretary OF the Navy
to contract, on behalf Of the government OF tne
United States, for the transportation OF the mail
from Panama to such port as he may select IN the
Territory Of Oregon, once month each way,
so as to connect with the mail from Havana to
Chagres across the sthmus; said mail to be
II ansported in either steam or SAILING vessels, as
shall be deemed most practicable and expedient.
SEC. g. And be it further enacted, 1hat 1t
shall be the duty of the Secretary OF the navy
to provide, in the contracts authorized 6y this
act, that the Navy Department shall at all tunes
exercise control over said steamships, and at
any time have the right to take them for the ex-
elusive use and service of the United States, and
RI direct snch changes in their machinery and