Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly; That the chief Engineer employed by the late Canal Commissioners, shall continue to act as chief Engineer under his contract with said commissioners, during the months of January, February[,] and March1 in the year 1837. That Said Engineer shall, during the period aforesaid, make estimates of the amount, or value of work done upon the Canal by the Contractors, and superintend the said work according to the rules and regulations adopted by the said Board. He shall also certify the amount due and payable to Contractors upon their contracts, and payment shall be made of the several amounts, so certified to be due and payable by the Bank or Banks in which the Canal fund is, or may be deposited, as though a warrant or check had been made as required by the thirteenth Section of the act entitled “An act for the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal” Approved January 9^th 1836.” Provided that the payments to be made under the provisions of this act shall not exceed the sum of thirty thousand dollars2: Provided further, that nothing herein contained shall authorize said Engineer to act as aforesaid, after Canal Commissioners are appointed, qualified and enter upon the discharge of their duties. And the power of said Engineer shall extend only to the work now under contract and during the months aforesaid, and in all events shall expire on the last day of March next.3