The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-07-06
BY AUTHORITY.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES
Pubic 81.


AN ACT to provide for the care and preser-
yation of the works constructed by the
United States for bringing the Potomac
water into the cities of Washington and
Georgetown, for the supply of said water
for all governmental purposes and for the
uses and benefits of the inhabitants of the
said cities
Be It enacted JyAe Senate AMI House Of hep
yesentotives of the United States Of 4nterfea
an CONGRESS assembled That the dams and aque-
ducts, water gates, reservoirs, and all fixtures
and improvements connected herewith WHICH,
have been or may hereafter be constructor py
the United States for the conveyance Oh the
water from the Potomac river ABOVE uie
Great Falls thereof to the cites oil ashihs-
ton and Georgetown together with tile FaIds,
bauses fencing. water, and other rights ana
onn,,,.tena ncesS conneeted with the same and
belonging to fie Government, as also the
main condpts, supply pipes, basins hydrants,
| fontains, stop-cocks, sewers drains, RECEIVING
h,s;,,s, and all other fixtures connected with |
lie same, which have been or may hereafter |
/ he laid down or constructed by the United
States, shall be placed by the President OF the
| United States. under the immediate care,
| management, and superintendent of pro-
| perly qualified officer of the United States
corps of engineers, to be appointed by him,
| who shall act under the Department Of the
| Interior, and who shall make an annual re-
port to that Department in the month OF Nov
! ember in each year, to be laid before Congress
at the commencement of their regular annual
session, of the work, proceedings, repairs,
casualties, and expenditures connected with
the said water-works for the preceding year;
and such officer as q compensation lorthe du-
| ties and responsibilities imposed upon hun by
this act. shall receive for his pay rs said en-
gineer no more than his regular pay as an
officer of the corps he shall occupy the ne
eessary apartments in one of the public build
ines in the city of Washington as may be
directed by the President, and shall be sup
! nlied by the Government with the stationery,
instruments, books, and furniture required IN
4 the performance of his public duties. And
in this office of the engineer of the Potomac
1 water-works shall be kept and preserved a
u complete record of all the lands and other
property and matters and things enumerated
: in this section and otherwise connected with
:, or belonging to these wateT-works, or whici
2, NAV hereafter be acquired or procured Tor the
same. The said engineer shall have lui
:, power and control over the sad water-Works
10 and shall regulate the manner III whlcl LII
Ie sa;d Corporations of Washington and George
y of and shall stop the same whenever II
=; found no more than adequate to meet th
~ wants of the General Government. The SAT-
80 engineers decision on all questions connecte'
=. Herewith to be subject only to appeal to tn
" Secretary of the Interior.
u SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, Ina
full power and authority are hereby gwen
nc the Corporations of Washington and Georgt
!" town in the District of Columbia, to suppl
a. the inhabitants within their respective limit
!" with Potomac water from the aqueduct man
nc or mines now laid or to he laid in the street
u and avenues by the United States, and
M make all laws and regulations for the props
u, distribution Of the same, subject to the re-
- nc tricaions prescribed by this act Provide
~ That no expense shall devolve upon the Tn
l.e ted States in consequence of SAID Distribute
10 SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That Il
u said Corporations shall have authority, by o
dinance act or otherwise, to establish sea
e Of annual rates for the supply and use OF sa
water. apportioned to different classes
buildings in said city, according to their sl2
n dimensions, assessed values, exposure to flrt
III uses for dwellings, stores, shops, stables, ma
of ufactories, or other purposes number OF Gee
he pants. or consumption of water, measured
on meter or otherwise, and to modify, alt'
amend.
- time to time and extend it to other descr
,all ton of buildings and establishments to c.
nv lect such rates or rents when so fixed,
A. advance or otherwise, through such agents
ON commissioners as they may authorize, trt
eff the owners or occupants VI an sun o1i 'l
or establishments respectively who may U
the the water therein to stop the supply OF wal
h. to any such dwelling or establishment upol
tho failure to pay said rate, charge, or rent; a
a. | generally to enact such laws as may be nee
Low sary to supply the inhabitants OF said city
lin. Washington with pure and wholesome wa
.bo and to carry into full and complete effect
M powers herein granted Provided, That
on, rates levied by the cities Of Georgetown a
ta,, Washington shall never be source of re-
80 ~ TssS stIsss FFsss ~ fHSriH t'r
al. the said cities supply of water.
,h. SEc 4 And be it further enacted, That
the purpose of enabling the Corporatie
aforesaid. to carry out the provisions oil
rate act it shall be competent for them to borrt
,th. in such proportions as they may deem exl
Ill dent. sum of money not exceeding one HI
ZOOS dred and fifty thousand dollars for the city
aor, Washington, and fifty thousand dollars
y Georgetown, redeemable within a period
4ha ten wears out of any revenue to be der'
,t+Ia from water rents.
~ Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, Tha
! shall not be lawful for any person or persC
- other than said Corporations or persons
thorized by them, to tap or open the mans
pipes laid or to be laid by the United St.
for any purpose whatever, under penalty
Sew not less than fifty nor more than five hund
s in dollars for each AID every offence. AM
any person or persons shall wilfnlly and m
that ciously break, injure, deface, or destroy ;
aug main, or pipe, bend, branch, valve, hydr:
the service-ppe, or any other fixtures used for
i'm distribution of water throughout the STR
the and avenues, or for its introduction into
low houses, tenements, or buildings oil SAID cit
,ked such person or persons shall be subject to
the prisonment in the county Jail for period
dos exceeding two years for each and every 81
uals offence.
IS no SEC. .. ana pe II iurthei en"o'eu'
like whenever 1t shall become necessary 10
s. main pipes for the supply of water to the ci
ora. of Georgetown and Washington, the cos
LONG the same shall be paid by the said cities,
ntIe' the engineer aforesaid is hereby prohib
vbot from making any contracts for the same
thew less approved by the Corporations AZORES
the and expressly stipulated with the contrat
ions or contractors that the payment for the s;
ont is to be made by the said Corporations
a DIES yided, That no greater number OF main p
shall be laid by the General Government
mar are sufficient to give to said Government
wing necessary supply Of water
ddy SEC. I. And be it further enacted, Tbs
;ome shall be unlawful for any person or person
, the do or commit any act by reason of which
cefnl supply of water, or any part thereof,
kirts become impure, filthy, or in any way u
ther for use; and that any person or persons C
are hitting any such act or acts wilfilly, KIN
i are ingly and maliciously, shall be subject
fine of not exceeding one thousand nor
than five hundred dollars, or not excees
way three nor less than one years confinement
the penitentiary of the District of Colum
for every such offence.
lin, SEE. g. And be it further enacted, Tha
way acts or parts of acts inconsistent with thi
little and the same are hereby repealed
n by SEC. g. And be it further enacted,
n the the cities of Washington and Georget
i'm respectively, shall have power to establis
has complete system of sewerage in aid OF
} girl execution Of the provisions of this act.
L be- Approved March, 1888.
800.