Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

THIRTIETH CONGRESS—SECOND SESSION.
H. R. 790.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
February 22, 1849.
Read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. Grinnell, from the Committee on Commerce, reported the following bill:
A BILL
Making appropriations for light-houses, light-boats, buoys &c.,
and providing for the erection and establishment of the same,
and for other purposes.

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10 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That the following appropriations be, and the
same are hereby, made, and directed to be paid out of any
money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to
enable the Secretary of the Treasury to carry the provi-
sions of this act into effect: Provided, however, If a
good title to any land which it may be necessary to use
cannot be obtained on reasonable terms, or the exclusive
right to such land cannot be acquired by cession, where

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35 the interest of the United States demands it, before the ap-
propriation would by law fall into the surplus fund, in any
and all such cases the appropriations shall be applicable
to the objects for which they are made, at any time within
two years after the first meeting of the legislature, subse-
quent to the passage of this act, in any State wherein any
such land may be situated, to wit: in
MAINE.
For thirteen spar buoys and three beacons in Casco
bay, three thousand dollars;
For a light-house at Gilkey’s harbor, three thousand
five hundred dollars;
For a light-house at Beauchamp point, or on the op-
posite side of the harbor, in the town of Camden, three
thousand five hundred dollars.
MASSACHUSETTS.
For a screw pile beacon, or other practicable struc-
ture on the South shoal off Nantucket, lately discovered
by the survey of the coast, twenty-five thousand dollars, to
be expended under the direction of the Bureau of Topo-
graphical Engineers;
For six large bouys, on the shoals off Nantucket, one
thousand dollars;
For a light-boat on Pollock Rip, off Chatham, twelve
thousand five hundred dollars.

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60 NEW YORK.
For a light-boat on Horse Shoe reef, Niagra river,
or the erection of a light-house thereon, if the Secretary
of the Treasury shall deem it practicable and expedient,
ten thousand dollars;
For four buoys to mark the channel from the
aforesaid shoal to Bird island, three thousand dollars;
For a beacon on the southeast part of Romer shoal,
in the lower bay of New York, ten thousand dollars;
For three spar buoys in Buttermilk channel, two hun-
dred dollars;
For four additional spar buoys in the lower bay of
New York, at such points as may be designated by the
Secretary o the Treasury, four hundred dollars.
NEW JERSEY.
For a light-house on the rocks at Bergen point, five
thousand dollars;
For five spar buoys at Thom’s river, three hundred
dollars;
For five spar buoys at Barnegat inlet, three hundred
dollars;
For a light-house at the mouth of the Passaic river,
five thousand dollars;
For two buoys on the east and west oyster beds in
Newark bay, one hundred dollars.

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85 DELAWARE.
For the foundation and construction of a light-house
at the Delaware breakwater, ten thousand dollars.
MARYLAND.
For two spar buoys at the mouth of Chester river,
one hundred and twenty dollars.
TEXAS.
For a light-boat on Galveston bar, twelve thousand
five hundred dollars;
For a light-house at Sabine pass, seven thousand five
hundred dollars.
ILLINOIS.
For the foundation and construction of a light-house
at or near the end of the north pier at Chicago, fifteen
thousand dollars, to be expanded under the direction of the
Bureau of Topographical Engineers, and the present light-
house within the city, and the beacon light on the pier,
shall be discontinued, from and after the completion of the
aforesaid light-house;
For a light-house at the mouth of Calumet river, four
thousand dollars, to be expended under the direction of
the Bureau of Topographical Engineers.
MICHIGAN.
For a light-house at the mouth of Muskegon river
three thousand five hundred dollars;

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7 For a light-house on Manitou island, Lake Superior,
seven thousand five hundred dollars;
For a light-house at Eagle harbor, Lake Superior,
four thousand dollars;
For a floating bell at Stanard rock, Lake Superior,
one thousand dollars;
For a light-house on Skilagalee rock, Lake Michi-
gan, four thousand dollars;
For a beacon light on the pier at New Buffalo, seven
hundred and fifty dollars;
For a light-house at North Black river, Lake Mich-
igan, three thousand five hundred dollars.
For providing surf boats, life boats, and other means
for the preservation of life and property shipwrecked, on
the coast of the United States, ten thousand dollars, to be
expended under the control and direction of the Sec-
retary of the Treasury.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That if the
Fifth Auditor shall report, in any of the cases herein pro-
vided for, that preliminary surveys are necessary to de-
termine the site of a proposed light-house or light-boat, or
to ascertain more fully what the public exigency demands,
the Secretary of the Treasury shall, thereupon, appoint
one or more officers of the navy, employed on the coast

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6 survey, or when the expenditure is to be made under the
direction of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, the
Secretary of War shall appoint one or more officers of
the corps of topographical engineers possessing the requi-
site skill and experience to perform the required service.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted,That any officer
so appointed shall forthwith enter upon the discharge of
the duty, and, after fully ascertaining the facts, shall re-
port, first, whether the proposed facility to navigation is
the most suitable for the exigency which exists; and se-
cond, where it should be placed if the interests of com-
merce demand it; third, if the thing proposed be not the
most suitable, whether it is expedient to make any other
kind of improvement; fourth, whether the proposed light
has any connexion with other lights, and if so, whether it
cannot be so located as to subserve both the general and
local wants of trade and navigation; and fifth, whether
there be any, and if any, what other facts of importance
touching the subject.
Sec. 4. And it be further enacted, That all such re-
ports shall, as speedily as may be, be laid before the Sec-
retary of the Treasury, and if such as to authorize the
work without further legislation, he shall forthwith pro-
ceed with it, otherwise such reports shall be laid before
Congress at the next ensuing session; but in all cases

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21 where the Fifth Auditor does not report such preliminary
examination as expedient, the provisions of this act shall,
without delay, be carried into execution.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That vessels,
steamboats, and propellers, navigating the northern and
western lakes, shall, from and after the thirtieth day of
April next, comply with the following regulations, for the
security of life and property, to wit: During the night,
vessels on the starboard tack shall show a red light; ves-
sels on the larboard tack, a green light; and vessels going
off large, or before the wind, or at anchor, a white light;
steamboats and propellers shall carry on the stem, or as
far forward as possible, a triangular light, at an angle of
about sixty degrees with the point forward; and on the
starboard side, a light shaded green; and on the larboard
side, red; said lights shall be furnished with reflectors,
&c., complete, and of a size to insure a good and suffi-
cient light; and if loss or damage shall occur, the owner
or owners of the vessel, steamboat, or propeller, neglect-
ing to comply with the these regulations, shall be liable to the
injured party for all loss or damage resulting from such
neglect; and the owner or owners of any vessel failing to
comply with said regulations, shall forfeit a penalty of one
hundred dollars, which may be recovered in an action of

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24 debt, to be brought by the District attorney of the United
States, in the name of the United States, in any court of
competent jurisdiction.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following appropriations be, and the same are hereby, made, and directed to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to enable the Secretary of the Treasury to carry the provi- sions of this act into effect: Provided, however, If a good title to any land which it may be necessary to use cannot be obtained on reasonable terms, or the exclusive right to such land cannot be acquired by cession, where
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11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35	the interest of the United States demands it, before the ap- propriation would by law fall into the surplus fund, in any and all such cases the appropriations shall be applicable to the objects for which they are made, at any time within two years after the first meeting of the legislature, subse- quent to the passage of this act, in any State wherein any such land may be situated, to wit: in MAINE. For thirteen spar buoys and three beacons in Casco bay, three thousand dollars; For a light-house at Gilkey’s harbor, three thousand five hundred dollars; For a light-house at Beauchamp point, or on the op- posite side of the harbor, in the town of Camden, three thousand five hundred dollars. MASSACHUSETTS. For a screw pile beacon, or other practicable struc- ture on the South shoal off Nantucket, lately discovered by the survey of the coast, twenty-five thousand dollars, to be expended under the direction of the Bureau of Topo- graphical Engineers; For six large bouys, on the shoals off Nantucket, one thousand dollars; For a light-boat on Pollock Rip, off Chatham, twelve thousand five hundred dollars.
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36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60	NEW YORK. For a light-boat on Horse Shoe reef, Niagra river, or the erection of a light-house thereon, if the Secretary of the Treasury shall deem it practicable and expedient, ten thousand dollars; For four buoys to mark the channel from the aforesaid shoal to Bird island, three thousand dollars; For a beacon on the southeast part of Romer shoal, in the lower bay of New York, ten thousand dollars; For three spar buoys in Buttermilk channel, two hun- dred dollars; For four additional spar buoys in the lower bay of New York, at such points as may be designated by the Secretary o the Treasury, four hundred dollars. NEW JERSEY. For a light-house on the rocks at Bergen point, five thousand dollars; For five spar buoys at Thom’s river, three hundred dollars; For five spar buoys at Barnegat inlet, three hundred dollars; For a light-house at the mouth of the Passaic river, five thousand dollars; For two buoys on the east and west oyster beds in Newark bay, one hundred dollars.
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61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85	DELAWARE. For the foundation and construction of a light-house at the Delaware breakwater, ten thousand dollars. MARYLAND. For two spar buoys at the mouth of Chester river, one hundred and twenty dollars. TEXAS. For a light-boat on Galveston bar, twelve thousand five hundred dollars; For a light-house at Sabine pass, seven thousand five hundred dollars. ILLINOIS. For the foundation and construction of a light-house at or near the end of the north pier at Chicago, fifteen thousand dollars, to be expanded under the direction of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, and the present light- house within the city, and the beacon light on the pier, shall be discontinued, from and after the completion of the aforesaid light-house; For a light-house at the mouth of Calumet river, four thousand dollars, to be expended under the direction of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers. MICHIGAN. For a light-house at the mouth of Muskegon river three thousand five hundred dollars;
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86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 1 2 3 4 5 6 7	For a light-house on Manitou island, Lake Superior, seven thousand five hundred dollars; For a light-house at Eagle harbor, Lake Superior, four thousand dollars; For a floating bell at Stanard rock, Lake Superior, one thousand dollars; For a light-house on Skilagalee rock, Lake Michi- gan, four thousand dollars; For a beacon light on the pier at New Buffalo, seven hundred and fifty dollars; For a light-house at North Black river, Lake Mich- igan, three thousand five hundred dollars. For providing surf boats, life boats, and other means for the preservation of life and property shipwrecked, on the coast of the United States, ten thousand dollars, to be expended under the control and direction of the Sec- retary of the Treasury. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That if the Fifth Auditor shall report, in any of the cases herein pro- vided for, that preliminary surveys are necessary to de- termine the site of a proposed light-house or light-boat, or to ascertain more fully what the public exigency demands, the Secretary of the Treasury shall, thereupon, appoint one or more officers of the navy, employed on the coast
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8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1 2 3 4 5 6	survey, or when the expenditure is to be made under the direction of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, the Secretary of War shall appoint one or more officers of the corps of topographical engineers possessing the requi- site skill and experience to perform the required service. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted,That any officer so appointed shall forthwith enter upon the discharge of the duty, and, after fully ascertaining the facts, shall re- port, first, whether the proposed facility to navigation is the most suitable for the exigency which exists; and se- cond, where it should be placed if the interests of com- merce demand it; third, if the thing proposed be not the most suitable, whether it is expedient to make any other kind of improvement; fourth, whether the proposed light has any connexion with other lights, and if so, whether it cannot be so located as to subserve both the general and local wants of trade and navigation; and fifth, whether there be any, and if any, what other facts of importance touching the subject. Sec. 4. And it be further enacted, That all such re- ports shall, as speedily as may be, be laid before the Sec- retary of the Treasury, and if such as to authorize the work without further legislation, he shall forthwith pro- ceed with it, otherwise such reports shall be laid before Congress at the next ensuing session; but in all cases
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7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21	where the Fifth Auditor does not report such preliminary examination as expedient, the provisions of this act shall, without delay, be carried into execution. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That vessels, steamboats, and propellers, navigating the northern and western lakes, shall, from and after the thirtieth day of April next, comply with the following regulations, for the security of life and property, to wit: During the night, vessels on the starboard tack shall show a red light; ves- sels on the larboard tack, a green light; and vessels going off large, or before the wind, or at anchor, a white light; steamboats and propellers shall carry on the stem, or as far forward as possible, a triangular light, at an angle of about sixty degrees with the point forward; and on the starboard side, a light shaded green; and on the larboard side, red; said lights shall be furnished with reflectors, &c., complete, and of a size to insure a good and suffi- cient light; and if loss or damage shall occur, the owner or owners of the vessel, steamboat, or propeller, neglect- ing to comply with the these regulations, shall be liable to the injured party for all loss or damage resulting from such neglect; and the owner or owners of any vessel failing to comply with said regulations, shall forfeit a penalty of one hundred dollars, which may be recovered in an action of
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22 23 24	debt, to be brought by the District attorney of the United States, in the name of the United States, in any court of competent jurisdiction.