The weekly standard., 1870-08-17
Official.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Passed at the Second Session Of tile Forty Fas
C0n01ess

Congress.
TPUBLIC-No. 1875.
An act for the improvement of water communi-
cation between the Mississippi river and Lake
Michigan, by the Wisconsin and Fox rivers.
Be if enacted by the Senate and House Of Rep
reseDtatiyes of the United States OF America in
Congress assembled, That the Secretary OF Var
is hereby authorized to adopt for the improve.
ment OF the navigation of the Wisconsin river
such plan as may be recommended by the Chief
o, the Bureau of Engineers.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the
Secretary aforesaid il hereby authorized to as.
ccrtained, at any time ne shall deem proper
within three years from the passage OF this act
the sum which ought in justice to be paid TO the
Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company, Il
corporation existing under the laws Of Wiscon-
sin As an equivalent for the transfer OF all and
singular its property and rights OF property in
anu TO the line of water communication between
the Wisconsin river aforesaid and the mouth Of
the Fox river, including its locks, dams, canals,
and franchises, or SO much of the same as shall.
in the judgment If said Secretary, be needed !;
and to that end is authorized to join with said
company in appointing board of disin.erested
and impartial arbitrators, one Of whom shall be
selected by the Secretary Aforesaid, another by
said company, and the third by the two arbitra.
tors so selected. The Secretary aforesaid is au-
thorized to employ competent agent or attor-
ncy TO represent the interests oil theUntrd States
b q,
That in making their award the sail arbitrators
shall take into consideration the amount of
money realized from the sale OF lands heretofore
granted by Congress to the State OF Wisconsin
to aid in the construction of said water commu.
nication, which amount shall be deducted from
the actual value thereof as found by said arbi.
traitors. kg
Sec. g. And be it further enacted, That no
money shall be expended on the improvement
OF the Fox or Wisconsin liver until the Green
Bay and Mississippi Canal Company shall make
and file with the Seer, tiry OF War an agreement
in writing, whereby it shall agree to grant and
convey to the United States the property and
franchises mentioned in the foregoing section,
upon the terms awarded by the arbitrators. 1t
is hereby made the duty OF the Secretary OF War
to transmit to Congress copy OF the report OF
the arbitrators, upon which Congress may, at its
then present session, elect TO take such property
upon making 40 appropriation 10 pay the amoi
awarded: Provided, That it the Secretaz
War shall not transmit to Congress -sscslSf0.
the report OF the arbitratoIs at least sixty days
before the close OF Its session, Congress may at
its next session make such election and appro-
priation.
! Sec. t. And be it further enacted That all
tolls and revenues derived from the improve
ments made or acquired under the provisions OF
this act after providing for the current expenses
of operating and keeping the same in repair
shall DC paid INTO the treasury OF the United
States, and whenever the United States shall be
reimbursed for all sums advanced Tor the same
with interest thereon, then tue tolls aforesaid
shall be reduced 10 the least sum which, to-
gethcr with other, revenues properly applicable
thereto, it any, shall be sufficient to operate and
keep the improvements IN repair..N
Sec s. And be it further enac.ed, That the
Secretary OF War shall annually report to Con-
gress the progress made in the completion o.
said improvements, the amount cxpcudet
thereon, the amount, 1t any, required for tht
succeeding fiscal year, and the amount Of rev.
cnue derived therelrom.
Approved. July7, 1870.