The New York herald., 1870-02-21
PROPOSITION TO MAKE THE ERIE CANAL
PUBLIC HIGHWAY.

The following bill was introduced in the United
States House OF Representatives on Wednesday BY
Hon. David s. Bennett OF the Buffalo district OF this
State. II was read twice and referred TO the Com,
mtttee on Commerce. II is entitled "a bill to pro.
vide for the better projection OF the northern and
northwestern frontier aud to facilitate commercS
and diminish the expense Of the exchanges between
States:''-
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House OF Repre-.
sentatives OF the United States OF America IN Con-
gress assembled That the Secretary OF the Treasury
the State OF New York. on the credit OF the United
STATES coupon or registered bonds, or such don0mis
he may hnk Ier psooar to an amount not sxcssan
fifteen million dollars, redeemable In coin at th1
pleasure % Of the government a. any Tune after ton
at :as rate q four ana ns osn!S@
before the said bonds shall nave been
delivered to the Comptroller Of the State Of New
msnt or BY Joint resolution. small have Z oven ' :
pledge for the State that ell that portion Of s dsbS
are Col cOnstisut'onay appropriated snail BE- II inmsdi
atey dischargod that thereafter no tolls NOR tax OF
sn, os 81 oaSh
upon any OF she canals, except uniform charga9
not exceeding onehan mill per thousand pounds
Ing the annual cost OF the maintenance Of the said
canals; and that any excess OF appropriation orr
Of the Erie ana Oswego canals, and tnat the
Eric and Oswego canals shall as as early day a.
possbie be fitted Tor navigation BY boats Of not less
than 600 tons burden by an enlargement Of their
locks and by such deepening and widening Of their
prism as may be necessary to their navigation by
such boats.
SEC. 2 And be II further enacted, That 80 much OF
SAID bonds AZ shall be In excess OF an amount equal
to the canal debt Of the State OF New York, which
IL to be discharged IN the manner provided above,
shall DO retained by the secretary Of the
Treasury until the Legislature and authorities OF
the said State snail have made provision for tho
execution OF the work herein stipulated TO bo
done upon the Erie and Oswego canals; and that
thereafter &C the beginning Of every three months
while the said worK shau be In progress the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury shall deliver to the Comptroller
OF the State OF New York an amount OF said bonds
been properly and satisfactorily done within the
three months then last past
SEC. 3. And 1t further enacted, That the Presi-
dent Of the United States Is hereby authorized TO
appoint, with the consent OF the Senate, three Com
mssOners OF the United States, whose duty 1t shall
be to supervise and inspect the work done upon the
Erie and Osweg0 canals IN compliance with the
stpulat0ns OF this act and upon whose report once
in three months the Secretary OF the Treasury
shall deliver the bonds as above provided TO the
Comptroller OF the state OF New York; the said CON-
mssioners to receive for their compensation
more than at the rate Of $4,000 per annum during
actual sereice, with ten cents per mile for the
penses OF actual travel In the performance OF their
duties.
SEC. 4. And be 1t Iurther enacted, That this act
shall take eject Immediately.