The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-02-19
TPuRLIc-No. Ill

AN ACT to authorize the President of the
United States in certain cases to take
possession of railroad and telegraph lines,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted 6y the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States Of Ameri-
ca an Congress assembled. That the Presi-
dent of the United States, when in his
judgement the public safety may require it.
be and he is hereby authorized to take pos
session of any or all the telegraph lines in
the United States, their Offices and appur-
tenances; to take possession of any or all
the railroad lines in the United States,
their rolling-stock, their offices, shops, build
ings, and all their appendages and appur-
tenances; to prescribe rules and regulations
for the holding, using and maintaining of
the aforesaid telegraph and railroad lines,
and to extend, repair, and complete the same,
in the manner most conducive to the safety
and interest of the Government; to place
under military control all the officers,
agents, and employees belonging to the tele-
graph and railroad lines thus taken possess
sion of by the President, so that they shall
be considered as post road and part of
the military establishment of the United
States, subject to all the restrictions imposed
by the rules and articles of war.
Sec. 2. ARd be Il further enacted That
any party or parties whomsoeVer, in any
State or District in which the laws of the
United States are opposed, or the execution
thereof obstructed by insurgents and rebels
against the United States, too powerful to
be suppressed by the ordinary course of ju-
dicial proceedings, to resist or interfere
with the unrestrained use by Government
of the property described in the preceding
section, or any attempt to injure or destroy
the property aforesaid, shall be punished as
a military offence, by death, or such other
penalty as court martial may impose.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That
three commissioners shall be appointed by
the President of the United States, by and
with the advise and consent of the Senate,
to assess and determine the damage suffered
or the compensation TO which any railroad
or telegraph company may be entitled by
reason of the railroad or telegraph line
being seized and used under the authority
conferred by this act, and their award shall
be submitted to Congress for their action.
Sec. 4. And be 1t further enacted, That the
transportation of troops, munitions of war,
equipments, military property and stores,
throughout the United States, shall be under
the immediate control and supervision of the
Secretary of War and such agen as he may
hpPoluLJ auo oil IuISs5 AoS oSuiaIlOHSJ dEtlCie61
usages, and laws in conflict with this pro-
vision are hereby annulled.
Sec. 5. Aad be IL further enacted, That the
compensation of each of the commissioners
aforesaid shall be eigh: dollars per day
while in actual service; and that the pro-
visions of this act, SO far as it relates to the
operating and using said railroads and tele-
graphs, shall not be 10 force any longer
than is necessary for the suppre sion of this
rebellion.
Approved, January 81, 1862.