Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1856-09-27
state Enginee's Circular.
GALVESTON, Sept.

State Enginees Circular
GALVESTON, Sept. 10, 1856.
Having been elected State Engineer, under
the provisions Of an act of the Legislature,
passed at the late session, oppropriating $780,.
900 for Improvement of navigation upon the
navgabc waters of Texas, notice is hereby
given that shall keep my office at Galveston,
rs more convenient point for corresponding
with different portions of the State, and from
which the various sections requiring my SER
vices may be more easily reached. Prompt
answers to letters need not, however. at all
times be expected; for, as shall necessarily
be travelling much of my time. it will be i'm:
possible to respond to the public demand in this
particular. While givs notice that my out
door duties will not allow me regularly to
receive and reply to letters, let me assure the
citizens of all parts of the State, that as soon
the law will permit the letting Of contracts, it
shall be done with the greatest possible dis
patch.
The supplementary and umcndatory Of the
act making IN appropriation for the improve!
ment Of navigation, provides, that on or after
the first day of January. 1857, the Governor,
State Engineer and Comptroller shall exama
inc the list Of subscriptions returned for i'm.
provement Of the bays, and also those for the
rivers, bayous, and lakes, and if the amout for
either shall be more than sufficient TO costume
the entire amount OF the State appropriation
for these Objects they shall reduce the subscrip-
ton for each of said bays, rivers, bayous and
lakes, in such manner as TO secure the benefit
of the State appropriation cqutablY for the
improvement of said bay, rivers, bayous and
lakes, according to the population arcomoda-
ted by the same. 1t will be seen, therefore,
that no contract can le e..tered into for any
portion Of the Improvements contemplated by
said act, until after the first of January next;
and that no definite survey ofury bay or river
can be made until after said opportionment, as
it cannot until then brknown what amount of
the State appropriation can be applied to any
particular locality, Yet, as far as it can be
done, such preliminary examinations shall be
made as Ray be deemed likely to facilitate
the letting of contracts after the first of jan
Iuary. have an extensive field Of operations
before me, but proper energy on my part, and
patience on the part of those infested in this
work, will enable me, beyond doubt to meet
the public wish.
To secure the benefits of the State appro-
priat ion, the people Of each comfy separately,
or of any number of counties jointly, interest
ed in the improvement of any navisable river,
bayou, lake or bay, at general meeting for,
the purpose, may appoint Collector and
Treasurer, who must return to the Govern or,
before the first oil January, 1857, a list OF a II
subscriptions received by him, and also his
official bond. Said subscription list and that
five per cent. upon the same has been paid in,
must verified by the affidavit of such Collector
and Treasurer.
The people subscribing should designate the
stream upon which their subscriptions are to
be used and four times the amount SO subscri.
bed may be drawn from the State appropria.
ton and applied to such stream. No State
funds are applied where less than one thousand
dollars shall be subscribed by the people /; and
no river, bayou, lake or bay, which is not
navigable forat least ten miles, can receive any
of the benefits Of said said appropriation and
not more than $4,000 can be applied to any
streams except the Sabine, Trinity, Brazos
andColorado neither Of which can draw more
than $4,000. Only $4,000 can be drawn
for the improvement of any one bay, there
being but $4,000 appropriated for the improve
ment of the different bays of the State. "Alt
Gulf of Mexico, locally designated as bays and
lakes, shall be considered as parts of the bay
through which they have their principal outlet
to the Gnlf and all passages between bays,
sometimes designated as bayous, shall be con-
sidered as parts of the bays which they con-
meet"
The provisions of the act above alluded to
are also extended to the constructions of canals
connecting any two navigable points provided
the sum subscribed added to the amount drawn
from the State Treasury shall be shown TO be
amply sufficient to complete such canal ) and,
provided also that no canal, river bayou, lake
or bay, receiving the benefits Of the provisions
said act, shall at any time collect tolls for the
navigation of the same. ef f
Respectfully, &c,
WILLIAM FIELDS.