Year: 1874

The Canal Bill.


The following is the full text of the canal
bill as it passed the House of Representa-
tives on Friday:


SECTION l. That q ship canal to connect
the Mississippi river with the Gulf of Mexico,
commencing at some convenient point on
the Mississippi river, below Fort St. Philip,
on the east side of said river, and termi-
mating at some convenient point in Breton
pass, in the Gulf of Mexico, shall be con-
structed and maintained at the expense
and under the supervision and control of
government Of the United States; and for
this purpose the Secretary Of War shall
cause to be made, in the most expeditions
manner, thorough, detailed and final sur
vey and location of said canal. The sur.
vey and report of the engineers assigned to
this duty shall exhibit complete plans and
specifications of the v ork of constructions;
and the sum of $50, 900, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is hereby appropri-
ated out of any funds in the treasury not
otherwise appropriated to pay the expenses
of such survey.


SEc.-2. That the dimensions Of said canal
shall not be less than 200 feet wide at the
bottom throughout the trunk, and with not
less than twenty-five feet in depth Of water,
with guard-gates, waste weirs, locks, lock-
houses, basins. bridges, and such 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 engineers.


Sec 3. That the Secretary Of War shall
cause said canal to be made and construct
ed through lands indicated in the report of
the engineers.


SEC L. That said canal shall at all times,
night and day, be open to the free use and
navigation of all vessels and craft belong
ing to The United States or any of its citl-
zens, and, until otherwise provided, to all
nations in commercial amity with the
United States, free from toll or charge.
That after its completion, said canal shall
be maintained in good order and repair at
the expense of the United States, and oper.
ated under the supervision of an officer to
be detailed by the Secretary of War for
said duty, and said canal shall be mill.
tary, naval, postal and public highway con-
Meeting the Mississippi river and the Gulf of
Mexico. That the admiralty and maritime
Jurisdiction of the United States shall
be extended and established over said
canal, to the same extent as it ex-
lists over the navigable waters of the
United States connected thereby. The
Secretary of War shall have power to es-
tablish all needful rules and regulations not
inconsistent with the laws of the United
States, concerning the use and navigation
thereof; and a copy thereof shall be filed in
the in the Office of the clerk of the United
States District Court for the district of
Louisiana; and printed copies Of said rules
place on board all canal and river boats, as
we'll as in the offices at either end of the
canal; also in the pOstOtfice and custom
house at New Orleans; provided, that Con-
gress may at any time revise or abrOgate
such rules.


SEC 5. That no expenditure shall be
made or authorized for the construction OF
said Fort st. Philip canal until valid title
to the land for the site and appurtenances
of said canal, as indicated in the report OF
the engineers, including strip of land not
less tnan 1000 yards on each side of said
canal, and also such lands as may be re-
quired for defensive works by the United
States, shall be vested in the United States.
and until the State of Louisiana shall cede
it's Jurisdiction over said lands for the con.
struction of said canal, and shall duly re-
lease and relinquish to the United States
the right to tax or in any wav assess said
lands or the property of the United States
that may be thereon, during the time the
United States shall be or remain owner
thereof.


Sec. 6. That the total cost of said canal
shall not exceed $4,000, 900, and no money
shall be expended or liability incurred by
the United States for construction until the
entire work is put under contract in accord
ance with this act, at such prices as to secure
the completion of the whole for q sum in
the aggregate of not more than So, ,OO0, 900;
and the sum necessary to complete said
canal, not exceeding said sum Of g, 900 900,
ia hereby appropriated in installments OF
not mora than third of tho aOprppatn
cost in anv one year.


Sec. Z. That the Secretary OF War shall,
on receipt of the survey and report afOre-
said, and without unnecessary delay, ad-
vertise for bids to construct said canal, for
such time and in such newspapers as he
may think sufficient; and he shall award
the contract to the lowest and best respon-
sible bidder or bidders. who shall give
bond with sureties to the satisfaction of
said Secretary, that the work shall be done
according to the stipulations Of such con-
tract. Provided that no bid shall be re-
ceived except the same is accompanied
with deposit with the said Secretary of the
sum of SIS, 900, which sum shall be forfeited
to the United States and paid into the
treasury thereof in. case such bidder fails,
for period of thirty days after notice that
his bid has been accepted, to make con-
tract in accordance with the terms of his
bid. and give security as required by this
act. Provided further, that the contractor
or contractors shall perform their work &C.
cording to the plans and specifications OF
the engineering department, and under the
directions thereof; and provided further,
that said canal shall be fully completed for
use within period of three years from the
commencement thereof


Sec 8. That the United States reserve
the right to modify the conditions and
terms of the use of said canal, or to amend,
alter or repeal this act, if the public inter.
est shall hereafter require it.