Resolved by the House of Representatives, (The Senate concurring herein,) That the Commissioners of Public Works of this State cause to be surveyed, by some competent engineer, the Mississippi river between the mouth of the Little Piasa creek, at the city of Alton, and Smeltzer’s ferry2 for the purpose of a site for a bridge acros[s] said river; and that they report to the next General Assembly the practicability of constructing said bridge, and, if practicable, the cost of the same; also the cost of constructing a McAdamized road along the bank of said river, from Alton to said site; and should the report be in favo[r] of said bridge, it shall be the duty of said Commissioners of Public Work[s] to publish said report, and furnish a copy of the same to the chief enginee[r] of the United States, and to each of the Senators and Representatives in Congress from this State: Provided, however, the aforesaid survey sha[ll] not be ordered unless the same can be made without increasing the engineers in the employ of the State.

And, also, that the Board of Public Works cause a survey to be made of the Embarrass river: Provided, That the same can be done by engineers, now in the employment of the State, without an increased expense to the State.

And, also, that the said Commissioners require a like survey of the Mississippi, between Illinois town and St. Louis, for the same object, and under similar restrictions.3