Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-06
NASHVILLE, TENN, SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 1874.

Il ACcAdCAh0 a. 10 CeAif Odl -
bic a plan or plans to perfect the
proposed object, whether by canals or ether.
wise, with detailed estimates OF the cost OF
the work and OF the time required 10 COM
plete it; the President to transmit such re-
port to Congress at its next session, with
his recommendation thereon. The, substi-
tute appropriates $50, 600 for the cost
Of the commission ard S100,OOO
for maintaining the security of the nayiga-
tion during the next fiscal year.
Mr.. Hurlbut, who has charge of the bill,
refused to allow the substitute TO be offered.
Mr.. Garfield then moved to reconsider
the vote by which the previous question
was seconded. On division by tellers the
count stood % TO IS. A vote was then
taken, and resulted: yeas 102, nays u9. So
the House refused to reconsider the vote,
and Mr.. Garfeld's substitute was not adj
mitted. -.-.s....
A vote was then taken on substitute Of
fered by Mr.. McCrary, which is to provide
for the construction OF
81. Phillips Canal,
and its maintenance as national high
way. Adopted.
The bill, as thus amended, passed; yeas
l40, nays SO. The following is the
Text Of the Bill.
That ship canal 70 coiihect the Missis-
sippi river with the Gulf of Mexico, COM
mencing at st. Vincent Point, on the
Mississippi river. below Fort st. Phillip,
ON the east side OF said river, and termi-
mating at some convenient point in CretOn
Pass, in the Gulf Of Mexico. shall be e5ns
structed and maintained at the expense of
the Government of the United States, and
for this purpose the Secretary of War shall
cause to be made, in the most expeditions
manner, thorough and final survey of
said canal. The survey and report OF the
engineers assigned to this duty shall ex-
hitit complete plans and specifications of
the work in the construction of such SUR
sey, and the sum OF $4,000, or so much
thereof as may be necessary, is hereby ap-
propriated out of any funds in the Treasu-
~ not otherwise appropriated, 10 defras the
EXPENSES Of such survey.
Sec. 2. That the dimensions Of said
canal shall not be less that POO feet wide at
the bottom throughout the trunk, and with
not less than twenty-five feet in 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,
and that the location of said canal shall be
that indicated in the report OF the en-
gineers.
Sec, ,. 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 10 the Tree
use and navigation of all vessels and craft
belonging to the United States or any Of
its citizens, and until otherwise provided,
to all nations in commercial aInity with
the United States free from toll OF charge;
said canal shall be maintained in, good or
der and repairs 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 a military, naval,
postal and public highway, connecting the
Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico:
that the admiralty Jurisdiction oi
the United States be extedend
and established over said canal
to the same extent as it exists over
the navigable waters of the United 5
connected thereby The Secretary of
| shall have power to establish all nee
rules and regulations not inconsistent W
the laws of the United States concerni
the navigation thereof, a copy whereof shall
be fled in the office Of the Clerk Of the
| United States District Court for the Dis
| trict of Louisiana, and printed copies OF
said rules shall be framed and hung in con-
spicuOus places on board of all canal and
| river tow-bOats, as well as in the Offices al
either end Of the canal, also in the Post
| office and CustOm-hOuse at New Orleans
provided that Congress mat at any time re
| wise such rules.
Sec. ). That no expenditure shall bt
made or authorized for the construction OF
said Fort St. Phillip canal until valid Ii.
tie to the lands for the site and appurte
nances of said canal, as indicated in thC
report of the engineers, including a striI
of land not less than 1000 yards on eacl
side Of the canal, and also all such lands a
NAV be required for defensive works by
the United States shall he vested in thi
United States and until the State of Lou
isiaua shall cede its jurisdiction ever saiI
lands for the construction of said canal, anC
shall also duly release and relinquish Il
the United States the right to tax or il
any way assess said lands or property o
the United States that may be thereon dur
ing the time the United States shall be o
remain the owner thereof.
Sec. 6. That the total cost of said cana
shall not exceed SS,OO0,OOO, and no none
shall be expended or liability incarred b.
the United States for its construction unit
the entire work is put under contract, il
accordance with this act, at such prices a
| IL. oo.,-,Ia@saY, nf fla rrI,ple
forming an aggregate of not more thai
SS,000,000, and sum necessary to CON
plete said canal not exceeding said sum {
SS,0O0,0O0, is hereby appropriated IN install
ments of not more than one-third Of th
aggregate cost in any one year.
Sec. Z. That the Secretary of War shall
on receipt of survey and report aforesai
and without unnecessary delay, advertis
for bids to construct, in such newspapers q
he NAV think sufficient, and he shall awar
the contract TO the lowest responsible biz
; der or bidders who shall give bond and sc
! curities 10 the satisfaction OF said Secretary
and that the work shall be done accordin
to the stipulatiOns of such contract; pre-
vided no bid shall be received unless Il
same is accompanied with deposit with th
Secretary of the sum of SIS, 900, which SUI
shall be forfeited to the United State
and paid into the Treasury thereof
case such bidder fails for period of thirt
days after notice that his bid has been az
cepted, to make the contract in accordanC
with the terms of his bid, and give the ST
D curities as required by this act; provide
{ further that the contractor or contractor
4 shall perform their work according to plar
' and Specifications of the Engineers De
partment and under direction thereof; an
, provided further, that said canal shall b
fully completed for use within the perio
e of three years from the commencement
thereof, and the entire cost of such cani
shall not exceed the sum of SS,O0O,OOO.
Sec. s. That the United States reser'
, the right to modify the conditions, al