, 1862-06-18
TIE ILLINOIS SHIP CANAL.
Mr.. Blair7s Amended Bill.

In the United States House Of Representa-
tives, June u, Mr. Blair, Of Missouri, from
the committee on military affairs, reported
back, with an amendment, bill u. +, No.
:ss) to construct d ship canal for the passage
Of armed and naval vessels from the Missis-
sippi River to Lake Michigan, ind for other
purposes.
The amendment, in the nature Of substi-
tute, was read, as follows:
g. It enacted By the Senate and House Of Repre-
scntdfiaes Of the United States Of A,ncrica in
Congress assembled, That so soon as the State
Of Illinois shall By conveyance, satisfactory to
United States, transfer to and vest in the Uni
ted States clear and uniucumbercd title to
Tic bed Of the Illinois and Michigan Canal,
and the land over which the same passes, in
cluGing its banks, margins, tow paths, feeders,
right OF way, locks, dams, TateT-power strnc-
lures, and all the property, right, title and In
terest Of the said State OF Illinois, Of, in and
to said canal with the hereditaments and ap-
purtenanccs thereunto belonging, or in any
wise appeTtaining, that William a. Sssitt, now
one o1 the trustees Of the said Illinois and
Michigan Canal, together With ekillful and
experienced engineer in the Typographical
CORPS of the United States army, TO be desig-
lated By the Secretary Of War, aud q citizen
OF the 2tate Of Illinois. to be designated by
the President Of the United States, with au-
1hority, under the direction Of tho Secretary
Of War, to enlarge the Illinois and Michigan
Canal, and to improve the navigation of the
Illinois and Des PLANES Rivers, in such a
hammer as to furnish suitable and sufficient
water communication for the gunboats and
other naval and war vessels Of the United
statce, between Lake Michigan and the Mis-
sissippi River of the dimensions and in the
nlcle hereafter provided
SEC. ?. And be It j further eHdctal, That the
| said commissioners shall forthwith make 3
| careful examination and survey Of the said ca
| nal and river, and determine upon q suitable
| plan for the improvement aforementioned,
| which plan shall provide for the enlargement
| OF Eaiu canal to width Of not less than 160
feet, with locks Of not less than $50 feet in
| length and scycnty-Gye feet in width, and for
the Improvement Of said rivers in such q man
| ner as to insure safe and uninterrupted water
| 1sayiHation between Lake Michigan and the
Mississippi River, at all times during the sea-
son Of navigation, Of gunboats, steamboats,,
<lrd all other vessels not drawing over six feel
Of water, which plan shall be submitted to tn,
President Of the United States for approval.
| SEC. 5. lid te it further enacted, That upor
the approval by the President Of the Unite6
States Of the plan OF said improvement aforc
said, the said commissioners are hereby au
| tl,orizcd to construct the said improvement
! according to said plan, under the direction Q
the Secretary Of War, aud to prosecute th'
same to completion with such dispatch as tn
uatu1e Of the work and the funds appropria
ted for That purpose from time to time b,
Congress shall permit And the said commits
sioncrs shall make report annually to th
Secretary Of War on the progress Of sal
wo1k, with estimates Of the amount wlic
will be required for the prosecution Of th
Secretary of War shall include the amount 6
reported in the estimates for the expenditure
| uf the war department, and the same shall b
provided for In the annual appropriations fo
such department.
SEE. j. AID Be it further enacttd, That til
said commissioners shall, under the directio
of The Secretary OF War, have the excluslv
coutrcI aud management Of the said canal an
| improvements, and shall have power to estal
| lieh all neediul rules and regulations concern
iny the use and navigation thereof and to fl,
altar and modify the rates Of toll upon sal
canal aud rivers included in said improvement
and, under the direction OF the Secretary
War, tc employ such agents, engineers, 6u
veyors and draughtsmen, collectors and 9th,
S persons, as they may judge necessary for tt
to them, with full power to enter upon, Al
: propriate. use and condemn any 1ands, watt
/ streams, and materials Of any
scription necessary for the prosecute
> Of tie improvements contemplated
J, Ibis bill: Ptuyided, That when priya1
. same shall be condemned and compensate
? | made therefor In the manner now provided t
!. the laws Of the State Of Illinois. And 1t shs
- be the duty Of such Commissioners to eau
l! all the work done upon said Improvements
a | be let to the lowest responsible bidder at pu
;. lie lettings, Of which sufficient public motto
" by advertisement IN tho public newspaper
Is shall be given.
- Sec. 5. And be It further enacted, That Il
revenues derived from the said canal and rive
IS over and above the expenses Of management
,c and Of repairs and expenditures thereon. eh;
be paid into the Treasury Of the Unit.
l. States, and separate account shall be kept
10 such receipts, and the same shall be apnr
- priatcd as follows: first, to the payment
OF The interest and principal expended BY t
T. United States upon the eaid work; sccon
to the payment to the State Of Illinois Of t
entire amount which Was charge upon t
eaid canal at the time Of the conveyance the1
Of to the United States, together with the
the Treasury Of the United States, upon s11
a vouchers, and under such regulations, as t
e Secretary Of the Treasury Of the Unit
nj States shall direct.
~ SEC. 6. And Be it further c:l0etea, That I
be said commissioners shah each receive 81
ds salary, not exceeding 5000 per annu
:, as the Secretary Of War shall, with respect
IL their respective duties and services deicr1niu
pc Hotided, That such additional compensatl
,,- only shall be allowed to the said commissit
| ETS IEstH1dIEA 11Olu LIZ kOEORlApb4C@A wi
e. as shall, By the Secretary OF War, be deer
SC. proper, and said commissioners shall respe
fvely give bond for the faithful performance
u their duties in such amount aud upon ST
an condition as the Secretary Of War shall ?
scribe.
SEC. T. Ind be il further enacted. That al
the reimbursement to the United States Of
amount by them expended, and to the st
nd Of Illinois Of the said canal indebtedness,
,r- provided in section five, It shall be the d.
Of the President Of the United States. VI
gh the request Of the legislature of the State
m Illinois, transfer to said State of Illinois
said Illinois and Michigan Canal, and the s
No improvements thereof, with provlso to
lat attached to the said transfer that the Eajd
a. nal shall forever thereafter be open aud
4r a to the navigation Of all the citizens Of
he United States, subject only to such tolls
should be necessary to keep the same in s.
able repair, and defray the current expen
Of it's management, and subject to the furt
condition that The United States should b
rs, the right at all times to transport vessel;
nd war, troops and public poperty over said
1 nal absolutely free from any toll or OF
cIarge whatsoever.