Chapter CLX. *making Appropriations for Light-houses, Light-boats, Buoys, &c. and providing for the Erection and Establishment of the same, and for other Purposes.* Aug. 18, 1856. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * That the following
3,419 words·~16 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-11/chapter-clxA research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Chap. CLX.— An Act *making Appropriations for Light-houses, Light-boats, Buoys, &c. and providing for the Erection and Establishment of the same, and for other Purposes.* Aug. 18, 1856. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * That the following appropriationsAppropriation. 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 provisions of this act into effect: *Provided, however,* If a good title to any land, which it may be necessaryProviso as to titles to sites, and cessions of jurisdiction.96to use, cannot be obtained on reasonable terms, or the exclusive right to such land cannot be acquired by cession, when the interest of the United States demands it, before the appropriation 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 in any State wherein such land may be situated, subsequent to the passage of this act, to wit:
Maine.*Maine.—*For altering, refitting, and improving the light at Mount Desert Rock, ten thousand dollars. For building a suitable tower and keeper’s dwelling, and for providing and placing the necessary illuminating apparatus at Martinicus Rock, thirty-five thousand five hundred dollars. For rebuilding the light-house tower and keeper’s dwelling, and for supplying and fitting first order illuminating apparatus at Seguin, thirty-five thousand dollars. For rebuilding the light-house, and fitting it with proper illuminating apparatus at West Quoddy Head, fifteen thousand dollars.
For rebuilding Brown’s Head light-house, and fitting it with proper illuminating apparatus, five thousand dollars. For rebuilding the light-house at Marshall’s Point, and fitting it with proper illuminating apparatus, five thousand dollars. For rebuilding the light-house at Fort Point, and fitting it with proper illuminating apparatus, five thousand dollars. For a light-house at Deer Island Thoroughfare, five thousand dollars. For a light-house at Bass Head Harbor, five thousand dollars. 1854, ch. 194.Vol. x. p. 336.For a light-house on or near Spoon Island, in addition to the appropriation of five thousand dollars, approved August third eighteen hundred and fifty-four, for a light-house in Isle-au-Haute Thoroughfare, one thousand dollars. 1854, ch. 194.Vol. x. p. 336.For a light-house on or near Widow’s Island, in addition to the appropriation of third August, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, two thousand five hundred dollars.
For a bell buoy to be placed on the south breaker off White Head light-house, at the entrance of Penobscot Bay, five thousand dollars. For a bell buoy to be placed on the ledge about three miles east of Boone Island, five thousand dollars. For the erection of a stone beacon on Fiddler’s Ledge, three thousand dollars. For placing buoys at various points in the waters of Maine, for which none have heretofore been authorized, three thousand dollars. For a light-house and keeper’s dwelling on Round Island, in Machias Bay, five thousand dollars.
Massachusetts.*Massachusetts.—*For the construction and repair of beacons at Newburyport, two thousand dollars. For the erection of a light-house, on a proper foundation, on or near Billingsgate Island, in plac[e] of the present one, fourteen thousand dollars. For the erection of beacons on “Old Cock,” and “Cormorant ” Rock, in Buzzard’s Bay, and on Great Rock, entrance to Hyannis Harbor, three thousand dollars. For a fog bell at Eastern Point light-house, eight hundred dollars.
For a light-house on the Bishop and Clerk’s Shoal, in place of the light-vessel now placed near that danger, and for stationing the light-vessel (on the completion of said light-house) off the south end of the “Handkerchief” Shoal, in the Vineyard Sound, twenty thousand dollars. For rebuilding the stone beacon at Lane’s Point, Annisquam Harbor seven hundred dollars. Rhode Island.*Rhode Island.—*For the erection of a keeper’s dwelling, and foot-bridge to Lime Rock light-house, one thousand five hundred dollars.
For reconstructing the light-house tower, and for new illuminating apparatus at Dutch Island, four thousand dollars. 97 For rebuilding the light-house tower, for preservation of site, and for new illuminating apparatus for Nayat Point light-house, six thousand five hundred dollars. For completing the sea-wall for the preservation of the light-house site at Watch Hill, ten thousand dollars. For rebuilding a light-house tower on a proper site, in place of the present light on Block Island, and for fitting the same with suitable apparatus, nine thousand dollars.
For a beacon on Sand Spit, off Cannonicut Point, west side of entrance to Providence River, one thousand dollars. For restoring pier, dyke-wall, and shore-facing at Goat Island light-house, two thousand five hundred dollars. For rebuilding keeper’s dwelling and for alterations at Point Judith light-house, three thousand five hundred dollars. *Connecticut.—*For the protection and preservation of a light-house siteConnecticut. and for a new dwelling for keeper at Lynde Point, mouth of Connecticut River, eight thousand six hundred dollars.
For a light-vessel to mark the Long Sand Shoal, off Cornfield Point, in Long Island Sound, eighteen thousand three hundred and seventy dollars. *New York.—*For completing the first-class light-house at Great WestNew York. Bay, Long Island, twelve thousand dollars. For the protection and preservation of the light-house site at Sand’s Point, Long Island Sound, four thousand nine hundred and thirty-five dollars. For securing the foundation and preservation of the light-house site at Execution Rocks, Long Island Sound, five thousand two hundred and fitly dollars.
For an iron spindle on the “Hen and Chickens” Rock, Long Island Sound, seven hundred dollars. For the protection and preservation of the piers in the Hudson River, upon which lights are placed, five thousand four hundred and forty-eight dollars. For completing the light-house authorized August three, eighteen hundred1854, ch, 194.Vol. x. p. 338. and fifty-four, for Horton’s Point, in addition to the former appropriation of tour thousand dollars, three thousand five hundred dollars.
For a light-house at or near Tarrytown Point, on the Hudson River, seven thousand dollars. For the preservation and protection of the light-house site at the mouth of the Genesee River, two thousand dollars. For rebuilding the beacon-light at Van Wie’s Dam, Hudson River, one thousand two hundred dollars. For a day-beacon on Charity Shoals, Lake Ontario, five thousand dollars. *New Jersey.—*For erecting a first-class light-house, and fitting it withNew Jersey. first order apparatus at Barnegat, in place of the present inefficient one, forty-five thousand dollars.
For continuing and completing the light-house authorized August1854, ch. 194.Vol. x. p. 338. three eighteen hundred and fifty-four, to be erected at or near Absecum, seventeen thousand four hundred and thirty-six dollars and sixty-two cents. For rebuilding the foundation of the light-house tower and keeper’s dwelling at Bergen Point, twenty thousand dollars. For rebuilding the foundation, light-house tower, and keeper’s dwelling at Passaic light-house, in Newark Bay, twenty thousand dollars.
For compensation of two superintendents for the life-stations on the coasts of Long Island and New Jersey, three thousand dollars. For compensation of fifty-four keepers of stations, at two hundred dollars each per annum, ten thousand eight hundred dollars. 98 To complete the fitting of stations, old anti new, on the coast of New Jersey, eleven thousand five hundred dollars. To complete the fitting out of stations, old and new, on the coast of New York, eight thousand five hundred dollars.
For contingencies, five thousand dollars. Delaware Bay.*Delaware Bay.—*For making additions to the light-house works at Brandywine Shoals, and for their protection and preservation, eighteen thousand one hundred and twenty-one dollars and forty-four cents. 1854, ch. 194.Vol. x. p. 338.For continuing the construction of the light-house authorized August third, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, on or near Ship John Shoals, twenty-five thousand dollars. 1854, ch. 194.For continuing the construction of the light-house authorized August third, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, for Cross Ledge, forty-seven thousand four hundred and ninety-two dollars and twenty-nine cents.
For banking in and protecting the site of the light-house on Reedy Island, three thousand eight hundred and forty-seven dollars and ninety cents. Delaware.*Delaware.—*For the erection of a light-house on Fenwick’s Island, twenty-five thousand dollars. Maryland.*Maryland.—*For buoys, stakes, and day-marks to mark the bars and channels of Eastern Bay and its tributaries, (Chesapeake Bay,) at south end of Kent Island, at Southwest and Southeast points, at Ward’s Point, and the bars and channels leading to the St.
Michael’s and Wye rivers, five thousand dollars. For a small beacon-fight at or near the landing at Fort Washington, on the Potomac River, five hundred dollars. Virginia.*Virginia.—*For rebuilding the Cape Charles light-house upon a proper site, and fitting it with proper illuminating apparatus, thirty-five thousand dollars. For rebuilding, on a proper site, the light-house destroyed by ice during the last winter, at Pungoteague, five thousand dollars. S. Carolina.*South Carolina.*—-For a first order lens apparatus, placing the same, and rebuilding dwelling for keeper and assistant, at Charleston light-house, fifteen thousand dollars.
For a keeper’s house on Morris’ Island, Charleston harbor, in place of the one destroyed by the storm of September, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, two thousand five hundred dollars. For a light-house to be placed in or near the town of Mount Pleasant, Charleston harbor, six thousand dollars. For completing the two beacons or range-lights on South Island Point and North Island, Georgetown, in addition to the former appropriations, five thousand dollars. For a light-house on Fort Point, near Georgetown, six thousand dollars.
Georgia.*Georgia.—*For a beacon-light on or near the south point of Sapelo Island, to range with the main light for the bar and channel, one thousand five hundred dollars. For a beacon-light to range with the Amelia Island light and the outer bar, two thousand dollars. For two beacon-lights and keeper’s dwelling, on or near the north front of Amelia Island, five thousand dollars. For a small light to be erected on the “bay,” in the city of Savannah, to guide vessels from Fig Island light-house, two thousand dollars.
For a bell-buoy to mark the entrance to Savannah River, five thousand dollars. For a bell-buoy to mark the approach to the bar at Doboy, five thousand dollars. Florida.1853, ch. 140.Vol. x. p 242.*Florida.—*For continuing and completing the erection of the first-class light-house, authorized March three, eighteen hundred and fifty-three, to be placed near Jupiter inlet, nineteen thousand five hundred and twenty-two dollars and ninety cents. 99 For continuing the efforts to erect a beacon on Rebecca Shoal, authorized August thirty-one, eighteen hundred and fifty-two, and August three,1852, ch. 112.Vol. x. p. 117.1854, ch. 194. eighteen hundred and fifty-four, ten thousand dollars.
For a bell-buoy to mark the approach to the bar at the mouth of the St. John’s River, five thousand dollars. For a small light-vessel to be placed near Dame’s Point, in the St. John’s River, nine thousand five hundred dollars. For beacon-lights at Piney Point, Cuckoo Point, and Nine-mile Point, in the St.John’s River, between Jacksonville and Pilatka, fifteen thousand dollars. For buoys and day-marks in the St. John’s River, two thousand dollars. For a day-beacon on Sea Horse Reef, (Cedar Keys,) three thousand dollars.
For buoys and stakes for Cedar Key Channel and Manitee River, one thousand two hundred dollars. For rebuilding the light-house, on a proper site, at Dry Tortugas, and fitting it with first order apparatus, thirty-five thousand dollars. For the erection of proper range-lights for crossing the bar at the1854, ch. 194Vol. x. p. 341. entrance to Pensacola harbor, and for completing the light authorized at that place August three, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, thirty thousand dollars.
For rebuilding the light-house tower and keeper’s dwelling at Egmont Key, sixteen thousand dollars. For a day-beacon at Turtle harbor, Florida Reef, one thousand five hundred dollars. For a light-house to mark the entrance to St. Andrew’s Bay, fifteen thousand dollars. For buoys and stakes for the bar and channels leading to and in St. Andrew’s Bay, four thousand dollars. For buoys and day-marks in Pensacola Bay and tributaries, three thousand five hundred dollars. *Alabama.—*For the erection of a sea-coast light, and fitting it withAlabama. proper illuminating apparatus, on Sand Island, off the entrance to Mobile Bay in place of the present light at that point, thirty-five thousand dollars.
For repairing the light-house and keeper’s dwelling, enlarging and fencing in the grounds attached to the same at Choctaw Point near Mobile, Alabama, two‘thousand dollars. *Mississippi.—*For rebuilding the light-house and keeper’s dwelling atMississippi. Round Island, eight thousand dollars. For rebuilding the light-house tower at the west end of Cat Island, and fitting it with proper illuminating apparatus, twelve thousand dollars. *Louisiana.*—-For rebuilding (he light-house and keeper’s dwelling atLouisiana.
Pass Manchac, ten thousand dollars. For the election of a light-house on the southwest reef near the entrance to Atchafalaya bay, to serve as a substitute for the present Atchafalaya Bay light-ship, and also for the light-house at Point de Fer, twenty thousand dollars. For a light-house at or near the mouth of the Amite River on Lake Maurepas, Louisiana, six thousand dollars. *Texas.—*For the erection of a light-house at or near the head of theTexas. “Swash,” abreast of “Alligator Head,” in Matagorda Bay, ten thousand dollars.
For a beacon-light at the mouth of the bayou at Saluria, five hundred dollars. For buoys and stakes for the lower part of Aransas Bay, and for the inland channel to Corpus Christi, three thousand dollars. For the erection of a light at the mouth of the Rio Grande River, six thousand dollars. For a beacon-light at Corpus Christi, five thousand dollars. 100 Pennsylvania.*Pennsylvania.—*For rebuilding the beacon-light at Erie, five thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. Ohio.*Ohio.—*For rebuilding the beacon-light at Huron, four thousand five hundred and eighty dollars.
For rebuilding the light-house at Black River, seven thousand three hundred dollars; and for the completion of the rebuilding and repairs of the west pier and pier head, upon which said light-house is erected, and connecting the same with the shore, eleven thousand and twenty-six dollars. For a channel range-light at Maumee Bay, three thousand five hundred dollars. Michigan.*Michigan.—*For additional buoys in Detroit River and to mark obstructions to navigation in the St. Lawrence River and Niagara River, and in Lakes Ontario and Erie, five thousand dollars.
For a light-house to be erected on Traverse or Charity Island, in Saginaw Bay, five thousand dollars. For a light-house at the mouth of the Un Sable River, on Lake Huron, five thousand dollars. For a light-house at Fort Austin, on Saginaw Bay, five thousand dollars. For repairing light-house, banking in and protecting the site of the light-house at Huron, Ohio, ten thousand dollars. For a light-house on Point Peninsula, between Big and Little Bay du Noquet, in Lake Michigan, five thousand dollars.
For a beacon-light at Sand Point, on the west side of Little Bay du Noquet, one thousand dollars. For a lake-coast light at Grand Point au Sable, Lake Michigan, six thousand dollars. Wisconsin.*Wisconsin.—*For rebuilding the light-house at Port de Mort, six thousand dollars. For a light on the outer end of the outer pier at Kenosha, one thousand dollars. For a lake-coast light on the west shore of Lake Michigan, at or near the Portage, and opposite to the head of Big Sturgeon Bay, five thousand dollars.
Minnesota Territory.*Minnesota Territory*.—For a light-house at Beaver Bay, Lake Superior, six thousand dollars. *Post*, p. 424.For a light-house at Grand Marais, Lake Superior, six thousand dollars. California.*California.—*For providing a suitable vessel, and for maintaining the same for one year in visiting the lights and other aids; for inspections and delivery of supplies; for placing and removing buoys; and for the transportation of materials, supplies, and laborers for constructing and repairing light-houses on the Pacific coast, sixty thousand dollars.
For the construction of a road for the keeper’s dwelling at the South Farallone to the light-house tower on the Peak, one thousand five hundred dollars. For the construction of a road from La Playa, San Diego Bay, to the light-house at Point Loma, one thousand five hundred dollars. For improving the road from the Coxo or landing at Point Conception to the light-house, one thousand dollars. For the erection of a sea-coast light on the main land between Buena Ventura and Point Duma, at such place as may be determined upon to indicate the approach to the Santa Barbara channel, in addition to tile appropriation contained in the third section of the act of August third, 1854, ch. 194, § 3.Vol. x. p. 343.eighteen hundred and fifty-four, making appropriations for light-houses, &c., thirty-five thousand dollars.
For completing the light-houses at Santa Barbara, San Pedro, and Santa Cruz harbors, seven thousand five hundred dollars. For a first-class light at Cape Mendocino, forty thousand dollars. THIRTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 161. 1856. 101 *Washington Territory.—*For a light-house at Red Bluff, on Whidby’sWashington Territory. Island, twenty-five thousand dollars. Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That the Secretary of the TreasurySite in Charleston. be, and he is hereby authorized to accept from the city of Charleston a conveyance of a lot, to be held and used solely for the purposes of a light-house site, and not otherwise; and that he be authorized to use the appropriations heretofore made for that purpose to erect a light-house or beacon-light on or near the Battery, in that city, upon the Attorney General certifying to the validity of such limited title.
Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted, * That the following named lightsSundry lights to be discontinued. be discontinued, provided the Secretary of the Treasury so directs, viz: At Silver Creek, on the southeast shore of Lake Erie, New York. At Barcelona, (or Portland,) on the southeast shore of Lake Erie, New York. At Port Clinton, in Portage Bay, Ohio.As to Port Clinton sec 1859 ch. 81, § 8.*Post*, p. 425. At Cleveland, east side of entrance to Cleveland, (on the hill,) Ohio.
At the Northeast Pass of the Mississippi: *Provided,* The Secretary of the Treasury shall decide said light to be unnecessary. At Dice’s Head, Maine. At Parmet Harbor, Massachusetts. Sec. 4. *And be it further enacted,* That the Secretary of the TreasuryReexamination as to a site at Westport, Mass. be and he is hereby authorized to have a reexamination made (under the seventh section of the act approved August three, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, making appropriations for light-houses, and so forth) of the Point of Rocks, West Port, Massachusetts, to determine whether1854, ch. 194, § 7.Vol. x. p. 344. or not the light-house authorized for that place is necessary to the commerce of that vicinity; and if reported upon favorably and approved by him, to use the appropriation heretofore made for that purpose, in erecting a light-house and keeper’s dwelling at or near that place.
Sec. 5. *And be it further enacted,* That if preliminary surveys arePreliminary surveys. required to ascertain the necessity for any light-house or other aid Provided for in this bill, or to determine the proper site for the same, or to ascertain more fully what the public exigency requires, the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause the necessary examinations and surveys on the sea-board to be made under the direction of the Superintendent of the Coast Survey, and those on the northwestern lakes to be made under the direction of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers; and in all cases in which adverse reports are made, they shall be submitted to Congress atReport to Congress of adverse reports.1 its next session, and in all eases in which the objects authorized are favorably reported upon, the works shall be commenced immediately after valid titles and State jurisdiction shall have been obtained to the sites.
Sec. 6. *And be it further enacted,* That if a good title cannot beSite on Damariscotta River, Me. obtained by the United States to Dry Point and Liniken’s Neck, on the western side of the Damariscotta River, in the State of Maine, the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to cause another suitable site to be selected for the light-house appropriated for at the mouth of1854, ch. 194.Vol. x. p. 336. the said river, by the act of Congress approved August third, eighteen hundred and fifty-four.
Approved, August 18, 1856. Chapter CLXI: making Appropriations for the Transportation of the United States Mail by Ocean Steamers and otherwise, during the fiscal Year ending the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred fifty-seven. 11 Stat. 101 1856-08-18 Chapter CLXI Little, Brown and Company text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Digitization Vendor 2026-01-11 34 2 public
Connections1 off-index
1 reference not yet in our index
- 11 Stat. 101
Citation graph
cites case law
Chapter CLX
*making Appropriations for Light-houses, Light-boats, Buoys, &c. and providing for the Erection and Establishment of the same, and for other Purposes.* Aug. 18, 1856. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * That the following
Stat.11 Stat. 101
Cites 1Cited by 0 across 0 sources