Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

THIRTIETH CONGRESS—FIRST SESSION.
H. R. 492.
(No Report.)
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
May 17, 1848.
Read twice, and committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union.
Mr. Chapman, from the Committee for the District of Columbia,
reported the following bill:
A BILL
To provide a communication across the eastern branch of the
river Potomac, in the District of Columbia.

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13 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he
is hereby, directed to purchase, for and on behalf of the
United States, one or more of the bridges already con-
structed across the eastern branch of the Potomac river,
and now in actual use, which he may deem advisable for
public convenience and suitable for the interest of the
United States, together with all the rights, privileges, prop-
erty, and immunities appertaining thereto, now held or en-
joyed by the company or companies owning the same, if
he, the said Secretary, shall be able to obtain the same at
a price which two or more disinterested persons, to be ap

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6 pointed by the said Secretary, shall, by their award, state
them to be respectively worth, and to hold such con-
veyance of the same as shall be sufficient in law, which
conveyances said company or companies is, or are hereby,
authorized to make by deed under their corporate seal,
which shall be recorded among the land records of the
county of Washington, in the District of Columbia, and
the original preserved in the Treasury Department.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That if the Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall not be able to purchase one
or more of said bridges, in the manner aforesaid, he shall
be, and he is hereby, directed to cause to be constructed,
by contract of otherwise, a bridge, upon such plan and of
such dimensions as he may approve, across the eastern
branch of the river Potomac, within the District of Co-
lumbia, at such site as he shall deem best for the conve-
nience of the public, with a draw of sufficient width in
said bridge over the channel of the river.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That a sum not
exceeding thirty thousand dollars, payable from the trea-
sury of the United States, be, and the same is hereby, ap-
propriated to carry this act into effect: Provided, That
not more than thirty thousand dollars shall be paid for
the purchase of said bridges.

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5 Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That before the
purchase of said bridges, or either of them, shall be made,
the corporation of Washington shall consent to take the
same, and to keep them in repair; and shall file with
the Secretary of the Treasury a transcript of their pro-
ceedings, under the seal of the corporation.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the said cor-
poration of Washington shall have power, if it is deemed
necessary, to collect such tolls for passing said bridge or
bridges, if the same shall be purchased, as may be sufficient
to keep them in repair.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, directed to purchase, for and on behalf of the United States, one or more of the bridges already con- structed across the eastern branch of the Potomac river, and now in actual use, which he may deem advisable for public convenience and suitable for the interest of the United States, together with all the rights, privileges, prop- erty, and immunities appertaining thereto, now held or en- joyed by the company or companies owning the same, if he, the said Secretary, shall be able to obtain the same at a price which two or more disinterested persons, to be ap
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14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6	pointed by the said Secretary, shall, by their award, state them to be respectively worth, and to hold such con- veyance of the same as shall be sufficient in law, which conveyances said company or companies is, or are hereby, authorized to make by deed under their corporate seal, which shall be recorded among the land records of the county of Washington, in the District of Columbia, and the original preserved in the Treasury Department. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That if the Sec- retary of the Treasury shall not be able to purchase one or more of said bridges, in the manner aforesaid, he shall be, and he is hereby, directed to cause to be constructed, by contract of otherwise, a bridge, upon such plan and of such dimensions as he may approve, across the eastern branch of the river Potomac, within the District of Co- lumbia, at such site as he shall deem best for the conve- nience of the public, with a draw of sufficient width in said bridge over the channel of the river. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That a sum not exceeding thirty thousand dollars, payable from the trea- sury of the United States, be, and the same is hereby, ap- propriated to carry this act into effect: Provided, That not more than thirty thousand dollars shall be paid for the purchase of said bridges.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5	Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That before the purchase of said bridges, or either of them, shall be made, the corporation of Washington shall consent to take the same, and to keep them in repair; and shall file with the Secretary of the Treasury a transcript of their pro- ceedings, under the seal of the corporation. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the said cor- poration of Washington shall have power, if it is deemed necessary, to collect such tolls for passing said bridge or bridges, if the same shall be purchased, as may be sufficient to keep them in repair.