The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-06-12
FORT ST. PHILLIP,S CANAL.
Full Text of the Improvement Bill as I
Passed the House.

FORT ST. PHILLIPS CANAL.
Full Text of the Improvement Bill as ii
Passed the House.
That a ship canal to connect the Mis-
sissippi river with the Gulf of Mexico,
commencing at St. Vincent Point, in the
Mississippi river, below Fort st. Phillip,
on the east side of said river, and termi-
mating at some convenient point in Gre
ton Pass, in the Gulf of Mexico, shall
be constructed and maintained at the
expense of the government of the United
States, and for this purpose the secreta-
ry of war shall cause to be made,
in the most expeditions manner, a
thorough and final survey OF said canal.
The survey and report of the engineers
assigned to this duty shall exhibit COM
plete plans and specifications of the
work in the construction of such sur
vey, and the sum of $40, 200, or so
much thereof as may be necessary, Is
hereby appropriated out of any funds
in the treasury not otherwise appropri-
ated, to defray the expenses OF such
survey.
Sec. 2. That the dimensions of said
| canal shall not be less that 200 feet
wide at the bottom throughout the
! trunk, and with not less than twenty-five
| feet depth of water, with guard-gates,
/ locks, Lighthouses, basins, bridges, and
other erectiOns and fixtures as may be
| necessary for the safe and convenient
navigation of said canal shall be that
! indicated in the report of the engineers.
Sec. 3. That the secretary of war
shall cause said canal to be made and
constructed through the lands indicated
in the report of the engineers.
Sec. 4. That said canal shall, at all
times, night and day, be open to the
! free use and navigation of all vessels
and crafts belonging to the United
States or any of its citizens, and, until
/ otherwise provided, to ali nations in
commercial amity with the United
| States, free from toll or charge said
canal shall be maintained in good or
! der and repair at the expense of the
| United States, and operated under the
supervision of an officer to be detailed
by the secretary of war for said duty
and under his orders; and said canal
/ shall be military, naval, postal and.
/ public highway, connecting the Missis-
sippi river and the Gulf of Mexico :;
that the admiralty jurisdiction of the
United States be extended and estab-
lished over said canal to the same ex-
| tent as it exists over the navigable wa
/ tiers of the United States connected
thereby. The secretary of war shall
have power to establish all needful rules
and regulations not inconsistent with
the laws of the United States concern
ing the navigation thereof, a copy
whereof shall be filed in the office If
! the clerk of the United States district
court for the district of Louisiana, and
| printed copies of said rules shall be
framed and hung in conspicuous places
on board of said canal and river tow
boats, as welt as the offices at either
end of the canal, also in the post-offi
and custom-hous at New Orleans :;
I provided that congress may at any
time revise such rules.
| Sec. 3. That no expenditure shall be
made or authorized for the construction
of said Fort st. Phillip canal until
valid title to the lands for the site and
I appurtenances of said canal, as indica-
! ted in the report of the engineers, in
Guiding a strip of land not less than one
/ thousand yards on each side of the
canal, and also all such lands as may
be required for defensive works by the
United States, shall be vested in the
United States, and until the state of
Louisiana shall cede its jurisdiction
over said lands for the construction of
said cana, and shall also duly release
and relinquish to the United States the
right to tax or in any way assess said
lands or property of the United States
that may be thereon during the time the
United States shall be or remain the
owner thereof.
Sec. 6. That the total cost of said
canal shall not exceed So, 900, 600, and
no money shall be expended or liability
incurred by the United States for its
under contract, in accordance with this
act, at such prices as to secure the COM
pletion of the whole, forming an aggre-
gate of not more than IS, 600, 900, and
a sum necessary to complete said canal,
not exceeding said sum of So, 1000, 900,
Is hereby appropriated in installments
of not more than one-third of the ag-
gregate cost in any one year.
Sec. z. That the secretary of war
shall, on receipt of survey and report
aforesaid and without unnecessary de-
lay, advertise for bids to construct, in
such newspapers as he may think suffi-
cient, and he shall award the contract to
the lowest responsible bidder or bidders
who shall give bond and securities to the
satisfaction of said secretary, and that
the work shall be done according to the
stipulatiOns of such contract; provided
no Dlu SualI De received unless I06 same
is accompanied with deposit with the
secretary of the sum of $15, 900, which
sum shall be forfeited to the United
States and paid into the treasury there
of in case such bidder fails for period
of thirty days after notice that his bid
has been accepted, to make the contract
in accordance with the terms of his bid,
and give the securities as required by
this aet provided further that the
contractor or contractors shall perform
their work according to plans and
specifications of the engineers depart
ment and under direction thereof; and
provided further, that said canal shall
be fully completed for use within the
pe.iod of three years from the COM
mencement thereof, and the entire cost
of such canal shall not exceed the sum
of IS, 0OO, 900.
Sec. s. That the United States re-
serve the right to modify the conditions
and terms, and use of the canal, or to
amend, alter or repeal this act if the
public interest shall hereafter require it.