Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-02-04
Free Bridge Across the Potomac.

AID Tho dsy before SIS having been introduced
10 the Senate Dy Mr. Whyto, of Maryland, re-.
latiug to tho equeduct OF the Alexandria Canal
Company OF Georgetown, in the District Of
Columbia, and to provide free bridge across
the Potomac River on the piers Of said eque.
duct:
Whereas the Alexandra Canal Company
received from tho Uaited States as o loan, at
the times herein stated, the following amounts,
to Wit: May first, eighteen hundred ard thirty
seVeD, fifty thousand dollars; June twenty
first, eighteen hundred end thirty seven, ten
thousand dollars; August first. eighteen hun.
dred AID thirty seven, twenty thousand dollars;
September tbrtieth, eighteen hundred and
thirty ssVtn, twenty thousand dollars: Noyem.
b,r nicth, eighteen hundred aud thirty seven,
twenty i've thousand dollars; December twenty
frs. tishtecn buudred aud thirty seycn.
twenty five thousand dollars; March twenty
second, eighteen tuodred and thirty eight.
twenty Two thousand dollars; Juno thirtieth,
eighteen tuadred and thirty eight, eighteen
THOUSAND dollars September thirtielh, eigh.
teen hundred and thirty eiah', thirty Eve thou.
sand dclcrs; December thirty first, eighteen
hui drcd and thirty eight, twenty five thousand
dollar; September thirieth, eighteen hundred
aud thirty riac. forty thousand dollars; March
thirty first. eighteen hnrdted ard forty, ten
thousand dollars, mskiug in the aggregate
tbrco Eu1dred thousand d,l,as, to secure The
payment of which said loan The corporate au
tboriies Ct tho town of Alexandra wero 70.
quircd, BY AN &C. 10 provide for certain har-
bors. and so FORTH" approved March third,
eighteen hundred and thirty seven. to transfer
the stock he'd by them 10 tho said canal com
pauy to tho Secretary of the Treasury, in trust
tor tbo payment OF said advances; and
Whereas tho said suheriies faiod 10 traus.
fer said stock. and the said canal Company is
Indebted to the United States 10 The said sum
OF three huadled thousand dollars, with inter-
est on the several sums from the dates when
obsued; spd
Whereas the said Alexandria c,usl and equc.
due. sroo the establishment of towing faciIi.
Iiss Oh the Potomac River between George
town and Altxandrla. aud Of the outlets from
tho Chesapeake and Ohio Canal into the Poto-
mac River at nod above Goorsetowo, has ncw
tho traffic of Only one coal company, AID is O
barrier to the navigation Of said river. and bin
ders the luther development Of the port of
GeorgetoWp: Therefore, tor tho collection of
said debt duo By said osnal company, and for
the establishment sud maintenance CT free
fridge Tor the convenience of the ci,izeDs of the
Dis re. of Columbia at Georgetown.
Is 1t enacted by the Senate urd House Of
Representatives OF tho Uoited Ststes of Amer
10, IN Congress assembled, That the Secretary
OF War, for and 10 behalf of tho United
States bo. and ho Is hereby. fully author.
lied ard required 10 open negotiations
with tho said Alexandra Causl Company for
tho purchase Of tho said canal and acoueduct,
or the piers of sid tcqucduct, With such nor.
lion ct the lsrds and rights CT said canal oom-
patty in Virginia or the District cf Columbia IS
may DO necessary for tho approaches to FREQ
iron bridge, to DO CONSTRUCTED and maintained
across tho Potomac River on said piert; and
the said company ia hereby author zsd to trans
fer aod convey TO tho United States, BIZ deed of
eonVeyarc,, under its corporate seal, and signed
BY ths president of said company all is right
and tito therein: Provided. That the amount
loaned to said company. or necessary part
thereof, With interest therooa ct six per centum
per annum from tho date OF its advance, shall
DO applied by said Secretary 10 making pay
mont Of the amount agreed on.
Sec. ,. That if tho said Secretary shall be
unable TO mako aoy agreement with said
canal company for the purchase Of slid prop
erty as herein provided for, Wiihio the period
CT months from tho date CT tho approval OF
this act, be IS hereby authorized and required
10 present petition to tho supreme court OF
the District OF Columbia, setting 10 geueraltcru,
recting such facts IS may DO necessary, and
praying that such prcc ,edirg5 may bo he'd az
viii Condemn or transfer tho said property TO
the pubic use. Tho said court hereby en-,
powered TO appcins commissioners, cot lees
than three nor moro than twelve in mum.
Dor, to apprase tho Value ct said Drop.
er'y proposed to DO taken; AID tho court
may adopt any rulos and regulations necessary
to obtain Just. fair, aud equitable assessment
thereof. The Indebtedness Of said canal com.
raoy to the Unitod States shall bs sscerlained
by tho court, and shall be credited upon such
proceedings; sDd no judgment or order shall
% c0tired in favor Of said company except for
The amount CT arpralsement, should there BIO
any. IN excess OF said iadebtness, with interest
as aforesaid. the authorities of Ito District of
Columbia bclcg hereby required to pay or cause
to DO paid to the United States for the use Of
said canal company, whatever amount may be
assessed 10 favor OF Sid company over ard
ab6vo tho amount fauod to DO Gu, 10 tho
United States fer moneys leaned es afore
said, and interest; sold sno1nt to DO collected
and apriied by tho Secretary of War. Iu case
OF final Judgment. the court shall order that i'm.
mediate possession of tho properly shall be Do
livered to tho said Secretary for and in behalf
Of tho United States.
SEQ 8. That the costs oecasio1cd by tho 10.
qury and assessment shall bo paid at tho Treas.
urV OF The United States upon presentation of
proper vouctcis. TIE report of tho first COM
mlssloEers may be sct aside for good cause
shown, Oh application of either party, after the
filing of eaid report, and other commissioners
appointed. who shall proceed as directed By
said conrt.
Sec 4. Tia tho Secretary of War be.
and be is hereby AUTHORIZE and direct.
cd 10 cause 10 DO constructed across the 20.
tomac River. on the piers Of said Alex.
andria Canal Aqueduct at GEORGETOWN, &C.
eording to plans 70 be approved BY tho Chief of
Engineers Of the United States Army, and uu.
der hia supervision and direction, q substantial
iron bridge, with suitable and necessary sp.
proc caes at each end and that the sum of one
hundred thousand dollar, or so much thereof as
may be neceesasy, be, ana the Same is hereby,
appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated. for the construction
OF said bridge and approaches, the Same to be
maintained IS q free bridge for travel which |
coet eha1l melinda Tho nopofrnniion &C .,,h.4..