Sec[Section] 1 Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That there be, and there is hereby appropriated, out of the internal improvement fund, the sum of twenty thousand dollars, to be applied and expended under the authority and direction of the Board of Commissioners of Pubic Works, for the improvement of the navigation of the Big Muddy river. The said improvements shall be made by removing snags and other timber obstructions in the bed of the stream; by excavating bars when deemed necessary; cutting and clearing timber from the banks, and making cutoffs or otherwise changing the channel when found necessary; which said improvements shall be commenced at the mouth of said river, and be continued upwards as high as the said appropriation can be judiciously extended.