The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-13
DEEP WATER.
FULL TEXT OF SENATOR MAX.
EY'S BILL.
The Improvements Proposed to be
Effected in Galveston.
OPENING UP THE HARBOR TO
THE GULF.
The Measure in Which all Texas is
Interested.
Special Telegram to The Statesman

ii.
WASHINGTON, d. c., March g.
\ knowing the deep interest the peopl
OF Texas take in the movement set OF
, loot for improving the channel be
tween Galveston Harbor and the Gul
OF Mexico, L herewith transmit a Iul
text of Senator MaXey's bill on thi
subject. 1t has already been read twic,
IN congress, and is now before tn,
committee on commerce. The follow
ing is the bill
Be it enacted by the senate anG
house OF repro ~entatives of the United
States of America in congress assem-.
bled, That James B. Eads, of the stats
OF Missouri, with such others as he
may aslo ciate with him, be, and he is
hereby authorized, on the conditions
hereinafter mentioned, to construct
such permanent and sufficient jetties
and such auxiliary works as he may
deem necessary to create and perma-
nently maintain wide and deep chan
mel between the harbor of Galveston
and the Gulf of Mexico; and for that
purpose he may construct in the har-
Dor and bay of Galveston, and their
adjacent waters, and on the shores of
the Gulf of Mexico, such jetties, dike5,
levees and other structures, and en-
ploy such boats, RATS, dredges and
machines as he may, in the prosecu-
ton Of said work, deem necessary
either for the construction of said
works or to hasten the deepening, de-
velopment, control and maintenance
OF said chlnnel: Provided, That no
such structures or means employed
shall hinder, delay, or materially in
terfere with the navig ation between
Galveston Harbor and the Gulf of
Mexico: And provided further, That
unless the construction of the proposed
works shall be commenced within
eight months after the approval of
this act, and unless the nayigable
depth in said channel shall be iuCreas-
ed at least two feet before the end of
tWenty-four additional months, con-
gress may revoke the privileges herein
granted and cancel the obligations
herein assumed by the United States
And p. )Jided further, That unless
said Eads and his associates shall Sc
cure an additional depth of not less
than one foot during each year after
the expiration of said last mentioned
two years, congress may revoke the
privileges granted and cancel the OBJ
legations herein assumed by the Uni
ted StateI.
Sec. 2. That the conditions herrin
prescribed IS to the commencement
and prosecution of said work having
been fully complied with, and no for
feiture OF the privileges herein grant
ed having been previously declared by
congress, for any OF the causes he rein
before specified, the United States
hereby promise and agree to pay to
said Eads, and his associates, as
signs, or legal representatives, the sum
OF seven million seven hundred and
fifty thousand dollars for constructing
said works and obtaining navigabie
channel at least thirty feet deep when
measured at men nigh tide. Pay
ments shall be made from time to time
as hereinafter specified, on the certi-
fled statements of the superintendent
of the geodetic and coast survey,
whose duty it shall be to establish the
plane of reference at mean high tide
in the harbor of Galveston, and to
survey and measure from said plane
the depths of said channel from time
to time as hereinafter specified, aud to
furnish promptly to said Eads, or his
associates, assigns, or legal rep cesenta-
tlVeS, such information regarding the
depth of the channel as he may &C
quire by his su veys.
Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty of
the superintendent of the geodetic
and coast survey, Immediately after |
the passage of this act. to cause sur
vey to be made of the Galveston bar, |
harbor and adjacent waters. After |
the completion of such survey full |
and complete charts of the same shall |
be made, upon which shall be clearly |
shown the thirty-foot contour line |
within the harbor, and the thirty-foot |
contour line in the Gulf of Mexico. |
Said charts shall also show the loca-
ton and depths Of the best available |
channel existing at the date of such |
survey between the two contour lines |
aforesaid. The channel to be OBJ |
tanned by said Eads a1d his associates |
as herein provided may be located by |
them on any lines between said thirty |
foot contours of the harbor and the |
Gulf that he or they may determine |
upon and said contour lines, and the |
depths of water upon the bar in the |
best available channel then existing as |
as laid down on said charts, |
and measured from said plane of mean |
high tide, shall be fixed and final as |
affecting all questions between the |
government and said Eads and asso- |
ciate5 as to the measurements of |
channel depths for payments or other |
wise. Two of said charts, when COM |
pleted, shall be duly certified by said |
superintendent, and one of them shall |
be retained in his office, while the |
other shall be given to said Eads and |
his associates. And the sum of ten |
thousand dollars, or so much thereof |
as may be necessary, is hereby appro- |
priated, out of any money in the |
treasury not otherwise appropriated, |
to defray the expense of the aforesaid |
survey and measurements.
Sec. 4. That whenever said Eads |
and his associates shall have obtained |
a navigable channel between the |
thirty-foot contour lines of the harbor |
and the gulf, said lines being fixed |
and establiihed as aforesaid, not less
than one foot deeper than the chan
mel as laid down on said chart, a meas
urement of said deeper channel shall, |
at the request of said Eads or his as
sociates. be made by said superintend- |
ent of the geodetic and coast survey !;
and if such increased depth shall be |
found to exist, said superintendent |
shall certify the fact to
the secretary of war, who !
shall thereupon draw his warrant |
upon the secretary of the treasury of
the United States, in favor of said
Eads or his associates, or his OF their
assigns or legal representatives, for
the sum of one million dollars: and the
secretary of the treasury is hereby au-
thoriZed and directed to pay to said
Eads or his associates, or his or their
assigns or legal representatives, the
sum for which said warrant Is drawn;
and in like manner, upon the request
of said Eads or his associates, meas
urements of the channel shall be made
and certified to by said superintend-
ent as each additional foot of depth
shall be obtained, until the total depth
of thirty feet shall have been secured.
All such certificates shall be trans
mitted to the secretary of war, who
shall, upon receipt of each one thereof,
draw his warrant upon the secretary
of the treasury in favor of said Eads
or his associates, or their assigns or
legal representatives, for such sum of
l. 81. 4 IL