Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-03

WE PUBLISHED YESTERDAY brief abstract
Of the bill in regard to the Alexandra Canal,
introduced in the Senate by Mr.. Nye yesterday
The preamble sets forth the following:
By an act of Congress on the aOth OF Nav.
1885, the Alexandria Canal Company was in-
corporated, and authorized and ernpo wered TO
construct, operate, and maintain canal from
Georgetown 10 Alexandria, with an aquedu
across the Potomac river al Georgetown: aud
by an act of the General Assembly of Virginia
passed on the 10th Of February, 1866. the Board
of Public Works was authorized to u mite with
the corporate authorities of Alexandria in
making disposition of the Alexandria canal,
In order TO repair and nal he said canal nayl-
cable; and said Board of Public Works did, in
pursuance OF said authority, so unite with said
corporate authorities, and did. by their Joint
vote, and vote of a majority of the stool khold-
ers, mpower and direct the president and di-
rectors OF said canal company TO lease the said
canal for period OF ninety nine years: and
the said President and Directors, in pursuance
OF said authority, did, on the 10th of NAY,
1850, grant, lease and convey the said canal. its
aqueduct locks. banks, lands, gates, and pro-
perry OF all description, to Henry H. Wells,
Philip Quigley and Wm. ". DUNCAN. the
grantees therein named; and afterward and by
an act passed by the General Assembly of Nir-
ginia on the 18th day of April, 1o67, the said
lease was ratified and affirmed. and the lessees
We're further authorized and empowered to
build, operate and maintain a new aqueduct,
and IN conjunction herewith a railroad and
railroad bridge across said piers, and TO build,
maintain and operate a railroad from George
entered into possession of and repaired the SAID
canal. and have erected a new 40 ueduct across
the Potomac upon the said piers, connecting
with the chesapeake and Ohio canal and with
the Alexandria canal. r
Tire bill enacts that the said grant lease and
conNe vance be, and the same is hereby, sane
ton d, ratified. and confirmed, and the said
presldsnt II and directors are authorized and en-
powered TO execute any and all other leases.
;grt ements. and conveyances that NAV be me-
cessary to render the said aqueduct across the
lNar rom u
ginia shore, and so connecting the said canal.
is hereby declared TO be q lawful structure i'm
IT'S pres nt position and elevation. any thing in
any law or laws of the United States. or of any
State, to the contrary notwithstanding.
The second section authorizes the lessees.
their associates. heirs. and assigns TO maintain
and operate sa;d aqueduct and TO erect and op-
crate across the Potomac from Georgetown 10
the Virginia shore. and upon and over the
stone piers upon which the aq ued uct now rests
IN connection Herewith, bridge of wood
iron, or stone, with one or more WAYS for the
passage of persons, animals, and vehicles: and
also with one or more tracks or ways for the
passage of engines and cars, with such other
conyenlences as are necessary or usual for a
railroad.
The third section authorizes the lessees to
construct said railroad, and to connect IL with
the Orange and Alexandria railroad, and the
Alexandria, Loudon and Hampshire raIlroad,
al Alexandra, or with any other railroad run
ming 10 Alexandria or Georgetown, said rail-
road 10 run along the BERN bank of the canal
The fourth section authorizes the collection
OF fares and tolls and contains provision 10
the effect that IN case the Alexandra Canal
Company shall elect, as by the terms of said
lease they have a right to do, to re-enter and
repossess the said canal, said company shall
also have the right, al the same time, TO take
possession of the railroad and bridge. by first
paying the lessees and their successors the
actual value of the superadded and superim-
posed work. to be ascertained by referees TO be
chosen equally by the company and lessees. II
the company shall not SO eject, the lessees shall
retain the property for the term OF the lease.
being liable for all damages done 10 the canal
by the construction pf the railroad.
The fifth section appropriates the sum Of
S3co.soO out Of the United States Treasury for
The building and completing of said bridge.
twenty-five per cent 70 be paid when one
fourth OF the work and material is done and
furnished; and proportionate sums during the
progress OF the work: Prorided That. m con-
sideration of such payment, the bridge shall be
free for the passage of all persons, and free for
the passage Of the transportation equired by
the United States for troops, persons and
property, ard shall also be kept on the same
footing as postal road. Another provision
of the section is to the effect that the United
states Government may at any time seize and
possess said bridge, unless the same is kept in
complete repair, unobstructed, and free for
passage. as above required. The bill was re-
terred TO the Senate District Committee.