The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-06-17

Sec. T. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the said company be and it is hereby au-
thorized and empowered to cut and excavate
through any portion of the said Atchafalaya
bay, lying to the west of the channel through
the said bay from the Atchafalaya river to
the open sea, now used by scagoing vessels,
channel or channels of depth not less than
teen feet, and of sufficient width to afford
passage through the same for the steamers
and other vessels. Said company arc also
authorized and empowered to build all such
wharves, beaconS and such buildingsa as may
be deemed requisite and proper to carry the
objects of this act into full effect.
SEC. 8. Be it further enacted, etc, That
as scon as said company shall have deep
cncd or excavated channel Of sufficient
depth to admit the passage of steamers or
other vessels drawing ten Q0) feet of water,
they shall be authorized to charge and re-
ceive from all such steamers and other YES
sells as may pass through said channel,
either in or out, a toll or duty at a rate not
exceeding twenty-five (25) cents per ton of
the registered tonnage of said vessels or
steamers, and every steamer or Other vessel
which shall become liable for tell as afore-
said, whose captain, owner or other person
who may be in charge, neg|ecting Or re(u-
sing to pay the same for five days after the
same shall have been demanded, shall be
liable for the amount Of toll due, together
with fifty per cent damages, recoverable
before any court Of competent jurisdiction,
and said steamers and other vessels, and the
owners thereof shall be liable for the same,
together with costs and legal interest, and
tie said company shall have the power to
prevent any vessels from passing through
the said channel until the tolls arc paid
Sec. g.. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the said Atchafalaya Bay Company of Loni-
siana be and is hereby invested with all the
rights and powers requisite for the construc-
ton and repair Of said channel or channels,
and it is stipulated and agreed that for and
during the space Of twenty five years from
the passage of this act the said company shall
have and enjoy the exclusive right and privi-
lcge of constructing channel or canal for
the passage of steamers or other vessels
through the said bay; provided, that the
said work shall be so far advanced as to
admit Of the passage Of steamers or other
vessels drawing ten feet of water within
twenty-four months after the passage Of
this act; otherwise this act shall be null
and void.
Sec. 10. Be it further enacted, etc. That
said company shall have power to sell and
convey any portion OR all of the rights and
privileges conferred on it by this act at any
time after said company shall have so far
completed said work as to admit the passage
of steamers or other vessels drawing ten feet,
it being expressly provided that in the event
the said channel or channels so cut or exca-
waited should at any time become obstructed
or filled up from the operations of any cause
or causes whatever, so that the same should
not have the said depth of ten feet or the
said width, then and in that case the said
company shall have twelve months to remove
the said distractions, and return the said
channel or channels to the depth as proyi-
eJd for in section seven.
Sec. II. Be it further enacted etc. That
should any person or persons willfully or
carelessly do any act or acts whereby said
work shall be impaired or injured, or the
navigation of the channel authorized to be
cut and excavated by this act ob,trnct.d,
or whereby said company or others inter-
csteNRm said work shall be hindered or dis
turbed in the possession or enjoyment of
said work, such person or persons so often
ding shall be liable to fine of five hundred
dollars, to be sued for and recovered before
anv court of competent jurisdiction and
thew thall also be liable to The said company
for all damages which they may have caused
to them by Sch act or acts, to be sued for
and recovered before any competent tribu-
nal. It is likewise enacted that the said
company, in order to protect and prevent
said channel or channels from being obstruc-
ted by the grounding and consequent deten-
tion of steamers and vessels in same through
the neglect or incompetency of pilots, mas
ters or other person or persons in charge of
said steamers and vessels, the said company
arc hereby empowered to select and appoint
the pilots who alone shall be authorized to
assume the charge or direction of all stea-
mers and vessels while passing through said
channel or channels.
SEC. -. Be it further enacted ETC.. That
the capital stock of said company shall be
exempted from taxation, and that its works,
wharves, beacons and other constructions
or buildings, and dredge boats or other ves-
sells employed in the excavation or in con-
nection with the work of keeping open the
said channel or channels, shall not be sub
ject to, any taxation until twenty-five years
after the said channel or channels have been
first opened to the depth of ten feet for the
passage of vessels.
Sec. 13 Be it further enacted, etc, That
this act shall go into effect from and after its
passage.
(signed) GEO. W. CARTER,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(Signed) OSCAR J. DUNN,
Lieutenant Governor and President of the
Senate.
Approved April %, 1871.
(Signed) Fl. G. WARMOTH.
Governor of the State of Louisiana.
A true copy:
Gro. E. BovEE,
Secretary Of State.