Chapter CXXIX. *making Appropriations for certain Civil Expenses of the Government for the Year ending the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven.* 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 sums
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Chap. CXXIX.— An Act *making Appropriations for certain Civil Expenses of the Government for the Year ending the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven.* 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 sums be,*Post*, p. 147. and the same are hereby, appropriated for the objects hereafter expressed, for the fiscal year ending the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred mid fifty-seven, viz: *Survey of the Coast.—*For survey of the Atlantic and Gulf coast ofCoast survey. the United States, (including compensation to superintendent and assistants, and excluding pay and emoluments of officers of the army and navy and petty officers, and men of the navy employed on the work,) two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
For continuing the survey of the western coast of the United States, one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. For continuing the survey of the Florida reefs and keys, (excluding pay and emoluments of officers of the army and navy and petty officers, and men of the navy employed on the work,) forty thousand dollars. For running a line to connect the triangulation on the Atlantic coast, with that on the Gulf of Mexico, across the Florida peninsula, fifteen thousand dollars. For publishing the observations made in the progress of the survey of the coast of the United States, fifteen thousand dollars.
For repairs and alterations of steamers “Hetzel ” and Vixen, and of sailing vessels employed in the coast survey, fifteen thousand dollars. For fuel and quarters, and for mileage and transportation for officers and enlisted soldiers of the army serving in the coast survey, in cases no longer provided by the quartermaster’s department, ten thousand dollars. For the discharge of such miscellaneous claims not otherwise providedMiscellaneous claims. for, as shall be admitted in due course of settlement at the treasury, five thousand dollars: *Provided,* That no part of this appropriation shall be drawn from the treasury except in pursuance of some law or resolution of Congress auth[or]izing the expenditure. 82 Seamen.To supply the deficiency in the fund for the relief of sick and disabled seamen, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Light-house establishment.*Light-House Establishment.—*For supplying five hundred and eleven light-houses and beacon-lights with oil, glass chimneys, wicks, chamois-skins, polishing powder, whiting and cleaning materials, transportation and other necessary expenses of the same, repairing and keeping in repair the lighting apparatus, two hundred and ninety-three thousand three hundred and fifty-seven dollars and fifty-five cents. For repairs and incidental expenses, refitting and improvements of all the light-houses, and buildings connected therewith, one hundred and seventy-three thousand two hundred and eighty-nine dollars and twenty-one cents.
For salaries of five hundred and forty-three keepers of light-houses and light-beacons and their assistants, and including one thousand two hundred dollars for salary of superintendent of supplies on the upper lakes, two hundred and eighteen thousand four hundred dollars. For salaries of fifty-one keepers of light-vessels, twenty-nine thousand and fifty dollars. For seamen’s wages, repairs, supplies, and incidental expenses of fifty-one light-vessels, one hundred and ninety-four thousand six hundred’and thirty-four dollars.
For expenses of raising, cleaning, painting, repairing, remooring and supplying losses of buoys and day beacons, and for chains and sinkers for the same, and for coloring and numbering all the buoys, one hundred and seven thousand two hundred and twenty-eight dollars and seventy-eight cents. For expenses of visiting and inspecting lights, and other aids to navigation, two thousand dollars. For commissions, at two and a half per centum, to such superintendents as are entitled to the same under the proviso to the act of third 1851, ch. 32.March, eighteen hundred and fifty-one, entitled “An act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of government for the Vol. ix. pp. 598, 608.year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and fifty-two, and for other purposes,” on the amount that may be disbursed by them, eight thousand dollars.
Pacific coast.*For the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.—*For oil and other supplies for twenty-three lights, cleaning materials of all kinds, and transportation of the same, expenses of keeping lamps and machinery in repair, publishing notices to mariners of changes of aids to navigation, forty-five thousand three hundred and twenty-eight dollars and seventy-five cents. For repairs and incidental expenses of twenty-three lights, and buildings connected therewith, twenty-four thousand five hundred and sixty-three dollars.
For salaries of forty-six keepers and assistant keepers of light-houses, at an average not exceeding eight hundred dollars per annum, thirty-six thousand eight hundred dollars. For expenses of raising, cleaning, repairing, remooring, and supplying losses of floating beacons and buoys, and chains and sinkers for the same, and for coloring and numbering all the buoys, twenty-one thousand five hundred dollars. For commissions, at two and a half per centum, to such superintendents as are entitled to the same under the proviso to the act of third 1861, ch. 32.March, eighteen hundred and fifty-one, entitled “An act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of government for the year Vol. ix. pp. 598, 608.ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and fifty-two, and for other purposes,” on the amount that may be disbursed by them, one thousand dollars.
Light-houses.Coffin’s Patches.For completing the light-house near Coffin’s Patches, off Dry Bank, 83on the Florida reef, between Carysfort Reef and Sand Key light-houses, twenty-four thousand one hundred and five dollars and sixty cents. For completing the light-house on Ship shoal, Louisiana, to take theShip shoal, (La.) place of the light-vessel at that point, thirty-eight thousand and nineteen dollars and seventy cents. For continuing the construction of the light-house on the rocks calledSow and Pigs. the “Sow and Figs,” near the entrance to Buzzard’s bay, in Massachusetts, twenty thousand dollars.
For continuing the construction of the light-house on Minot’s Ledge,Minot’s Ledge. one of the Cohasset Rocks, Boston bay, Massachusetts, seventy-five thousand dollars. For restoring the bracing, and repairing injuries to the iron screw-pileBrandywine shoal. light-house on Brandywine shoal, by the breaking up of the ice in the Delaware river and bay, seven thousand three hundred and fifty-two dollars and three cents. For restoring and repairing beacons, buoys, and spindles destroyed orBeacons, buoys, &c. injured by the breaking up of the ice on the coasts of Maine and Massachusetts, in Long Island sound, and in Newark, New York, Delaware, and Chesapeake bays, forty-one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four dollars.
For restoring lost moorings, and repairing injuries to light-vessels, byMoorings and light-vessels. the breaking up of the ice in Vineyard sound, Boston and Chesapeake bays, fourteen thousand seven hundred and twenty-seven dollars and fifty-four cents. For the erection of a “boarding station” at Pass a l’Outre, in Louisiana,Boarding station at Pass a l’Outre. twelve thousand dollars. For fuel and quarters for officers, of the army serving on light-house duty, the payment of which is no longer provided for by the Quarter-master’s department, five thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine dollars and thirty-eight cents.
For enlarging the /hint at San Francisco, California, forty-five thousandMint at San Francisco. dollars. For the purchase-money agreed by the Secretary of the Interior to beSite for Court house in Philadelphia. paid, on the part of the United States, for the purchase of a lot and building for the use of the United States courts at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, seventy-eight thousand dollars, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated; but said payment is not to be paid until the Attorney-General’s certificate is produced to the Secretary of the Treasury that a valid, unencumbered title is become vested in the United States.
For the purchase of the lot or parcel of land, with the appurtenancesSite for post-office in Philadelphia. and buildings thereon, belonging to the Bank of Pennsylvania, and particularly referred to and described in articles of agreement bearing date the twelfth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, for the purposes of a post-office in the city of Philadelphia, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars: *Provided,* That.no part of the money hereby appropriated shall be expended for the purchase aforesaid, until the Attorney General of the United States shall give his written opinion in favor of the validity of the title of said lot or parcel of land.
For the purpose of making alterations required in the building herebyAlterations of the building thereon. authorized to be purchased of the Bank of Pennsylvania, to adapt it to the uses of a post-office in the city of Philadelphia and to furnish the necessary cases and boxes for the same, fifty thousand dollars. That the sum of two hundred thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated, to enable the President to procure and pay for a site for a building for the accommodation of the United States courts inCourt-house in Baltimore. the city of Baltimore, and to erect, thereon a tire-proof building for such purpose, on such plan as the President may approve; and the further sum of three hundred thousand dollars, or so much thereof as maybe 84necessary, for a post-office in the said city; and the President is hereby authorized to reconsider the conditional contract heretofore made by him with the Merchants Exchange Company and to appoint a commissioner to whom, together with another commissioner, to be appointed by the Selection of site therefor.mayor of Baltimore, he shall refer the question of the selection of a site or site and building for said post-office; and if said commissioners disagree they shall choose a third, and the said commissioners shall make their decision and submit the same to the President for his approval; and if the President approve their selection, his approval shall be final; and if he disapprove their selection, the whole subject shall be referred by him to Congress at their next session. *Provided,* That no part of the money shall be applied for the erection of such buildings till a contract shall be concluded with responsible parties, with detailed plans and estimates to erect and complete such buildings according to such plan and estimates, and to deliver the same to the United States for or within the sum above appropriated, after paying thereout for the land contracted for by the President, under the authority of law, for the site of such buildings.
Marine hospitals.For raising the roof of the marine hospital at Natchez, Mississippi, one thousand five hundred dollars. To enable the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase for the United States, the lot in the rear of marine hospital at Mobile, Alabama, six thousand dollars. For the completion of the marine hospitals at St. Mark’s, Florida, and Galena, Illinois: For St. Mark’s, seventeen thousand dollars. For Galena, twenty-five thousand dollars. Custom-house and post-office at Cincinnati.For completing the custom-house and post-office building at Cincinnati, Ohio, with all necessary additions, appendages, and accommodations, thirty-five thousand dollars.
Marine hospitals.For fencing and grading the grounds of the marine hospital at St. Louis, Missouri, twenty-six thousand three hundred dollars. For completing the marine hospital at Evansville, Indiana, ten thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary. For annual repairs of marine hospitals, twenty thousand dollars. Custom-house at New Orleans.For the continuation of the custom-house at New Orleans, Louisiana, three hundred thousand dollars. Court-room and post-office at Canandaigua.To enable the Secretary of the Interior to procure a lease from the Board of Supervisors of Ontario county, New York, for a court-room and post-office at Canandaigua, New York, and to furnish the same, twelve thousand dollars.
Custom-house at Oswego.For enclosing and grading the lot, constructing pavements, and cisterns, and introducing gas for the custom-house at Oswego, New York, five thousand dollars. For fencing and grading the grounds, completing and furnishing the At Barnstable.custom-house at Barnstable, Massachusetts, nine thousand eight hundred seventy dollars eighty cents. Bridge at Bangor.For bridging the Kenduskead river on each side of the custom-house at Bangor, Maine, from the middle bridge to the lower bridge, five thousand three hundred dollars.
And the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and directed Sale or exchange of custom-house at Providence.to sell the old custom-house and lot at Providence, Rhode Island, and apply the proceeds thereof to the purchase of land for the enlargement of the site of the custom-house now being constructed tit that place; or to exchange said old custom-house and lot for land for the enlargement of said site, if in the opinion of said Secretary it shall be more advantageous.
Board of Revisors of Laws of District of Columbia.For compensation of the members of the Board of Revisors appointed in pursuance of the act of Congress approved March third, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, entitled “An act lo improve the laws of the District 85of Columbia, and to codify the same, twelve thousand dollars,: *Provided, *That the President of the United States shall determine the sum to be received by each member of said board, the same not to exceed the sum1855, ch. 174.Vol. x. p. 642. of one thousand dollars per annum, to each during his term of service, and that the whole compensation shall not exceed the sum hereby appropriated.
That the officers of the late surveying and exploring expedition to thePay of certain officers in the Bheering Straits expedition. China seas and Bheering’s Straits, who, under the orders of the Secretary of the Navy, performed the duties of grades higher than their own respectively, shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of the pay of their own grades, the pay of the grades whose duties they performed respectively, for and during the time they performed the same, and that the same be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
That the Secretary of the Treasury be and he is hereby directed, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to pay to HenryHenry Woods.Samuel Roseburg. Woods, and to the legal representatives of Samuel Roseburg, deceased, the sum of three dollars a day, each, for the services of the said Woods, and the said Roseburg, in superintending the construction of the building for a custom-house, post-office, and court-house at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. For completing custom-house at Pensacola, Florida, five thousand dollarsCustom-house at Pensacola. in addition to the sum already appropriated.
For the completion of the marine hospital at New Orleans, in additionMarine hospital at New Orleans. to the appropriation heretofore made by an act approved August fourth, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, one hundred and fifty-one thousand1864. ch. 242, § 4.Vol. x. p. 571. six hundred and fifty-nine dollars and twenty cents: *Provided,* That the Secretary of the Treasury shall be authorized to direct, the said hospital to be built either of iron or of brick, or of both materials, and fire proof, as in his discretion he may deem best adapted to the climate.
For enlarging the building provided by law to be constructed at Chicago,Public buildings at Chicago. in the State of Illinois, for a custom-house, post-office, and court-house, over the plan heretofore adopted for that purpose, and so modifying said plan as in the opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury the public convenience shall require, sixty-five thousand dollars, and ten per cent, on the same for contingencies: *Provided,* That such enlargement and modification can be completed within the sums heretofore and hereby appropriated.
For completing the custom-house at Norfolk, Virginia, fifty-four thousandCustom-house at Norfolk. six hundred and fifty-two dollars and fifty-three cents. *Provided, *That the proceeds that shall be received from the sale of the present custom-house shall be paid into the treasury of the United States. For enlarging the building provided by law to be constructed at Bristol,Public buildings at Bristol, R. I. Rhode Island, for a post-office and court-house, over the plan adopted under the appropriation heretofore made, and so modifying said plan as in the opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury the public convenience shall require, seven thousand five hundred dollars, and ten per centum on the same for contingencies: *Provided,* That such enlargement and modification shall be completed within the sums heretofore and hereby appropriated.
To complete the rooms in the city hall, Utica, New York, necessaryCourt-rooms at Utica, N. Y. for the proper accommodation of the United States district and circuit courts held in said city and their offices, which was directed by the act of Congress approved thirtieth September eighteen hundred and fifty, five thousand dollars. For the alteration and improvement of the court room in the city hallAt Washington. of the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars.
For the continuation of the custom-house at Charleston, South Carolina,Custom-house at Charleston. three hundred thousand dollars. 86 Repairs of custom-houses.For annual repairs of custom-houses, thirty thousand dollars. Vaults.For building vaults as additional security to the public funds in sixty-six depositories, sixty-six thousand dollars. Ventilating basement of treasury building.For ventilating basement-rooms of the Treasury building, in addition to surplus funds for ventilating and lighting upper rooms of the same building, fifteen thousand dollars.
Extension of treasury building.For continuing the Treasury extension, four hundred thousand dollars—and that the appropriation for removing the stone wall which now forms the southern boundary of the park at the President’s, may be expended in accordance with such plan as may be hereafter approved by the President, for the purpose of removing said wall and enclosing said park. Capitol extensionFor continuing the Capitol extension, seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Mall.For continuing the grading and planting with trees the unimproved portions of the mall, ten thousand dollars.
Washington Aqueduct.*Post*, p. 323.For paying existing liabilities for the Washington aqueduct, and preserving the work already done from injury, such sum of money as shall be necessary, not exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. New dome of Capitol.For continuing the construction of the new dome of the Capitol, one hundred thousand dollars. House for plants from Japan.Vol. x. p. 669.That the President shall cause the money appropriated for the erection of a suitable house for the plants recently brought from Japan, for the United States, to be applied as directed by the act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of government for the year ending the thirtieth of June eighteen hundred and fifty-six.
Public buildings at Detroit.And that the Secretary of the Treasury be and he is hereby authorized to cause the building provided by Law to be constructed at Detroit, in the State of Michigan, for a custom-house, post-office, and court-house, to be increased in length over the plan heretofore adopted for that purpose, not to exceed twenty-five feet, and to modify and enlarge said plan so as to adapt the same to such increased length, if in the opinion of the Secretary the public convenience shall require such modification: *Provided, *That such extension and modification can be accomplished at an expense not exceeding thirty thousand dollars, and a sum not exceeding ten per cent on the said last-mentioned sum, for superintendence and contingencies, which sums, or so much thereof us shall be necessary, are hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated: *And provided, further,* That no money shall be paid under this clause of this bill, until the Secretary of the Treasury shall contract for the completion of said so extended building, at a cost within the sums heretofore and hereby appropriated therefor.
Electoral messengers.For payment of messengers of the respective States for conveying to the seat of government the votes of the electors of the said States, for President and vice-President of the United States, twenty thousand dollars. Land Surveys.*Survey of the Public Lands.—*For surveying the public lands, (exclusive of California, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, and Utah,) including incidental expenses and island surveys in the interior, and all other special and difficult surveys demanding augmented rates to be apportioned and applied to the several surveying districts according to the exigencies of the public service, including expenses of selecting swamp lands and the compensation and expenses to survey or to locate private land claims in Louisiana, in addition to the unexpended balances of all former appropriations, one hundred thousand dollars.
For resurveying and correcting erroneous surveys in the lower peninsula of Michigan, at a rate not exceeding six dollars per mile, nine thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. For correcting erroneous and defective lines of public and private sur-87veys in Illinois and Missouri, at a rate not exceeding six dollars per mile, two thousand dollars. For completing the survey of towns and villages in Missouri, one thousand two hundred dollars. For the resurvey and correction of old erroneous surveys in Arkansas, discovered since the last report by the Surveyor-General, at a rate not exceeding six dollars per mile, nine thousand seven hundred and twenty dollars.
For the renewal and correction of old, erroneous, and defective surveys in Arkansas, discovered since the last estimate by the Surveyor-General, where the marks have become obliterated by time, accident, and other causes, at a rate not exceeding four dollars per mile, five thousand seven hundred and sixty dollars. For surveying in Louisiana at augmented rates now authorized by law, five thousand and fifty-five dollars and sixty-six cents. For preparing the unfinished records of public and private surveys to be transferred to the State authorities under the provisions of the act1840, ch. 36.Vol. v. p. 384. of twelfth June eighteen hundred and forty, in those districts where the surveys are about being completed, eighteen thousand one hundred dollars.
For resurvey and examination of the survey of the public lands in those States where the offices of the surveyors-general have been or shall be closed under the acts of the twelfth June, eighteen hundred and forty, and twenty-second January, eighteen hundred and fifty-three, including1853, ch. 24.Vol. x. p. 152. two thousand dollars for the salary of the clerk detailed to this special service in the General Land-Office, three thousand dollars. For continuing the survey of the keys off the coast of Florida by theFlorida Keys. officers of the coast survey, thirty thousand dollars.
That all public lands heretofore reserved for military purposes in theCertain reservations in Florida may be sold. State of Florida, which said lands, in the opinion of the Secretary of War, are no longer useful or desired for such purposes, or so much thereof as said Secretary may designate, shall be and are hereby placed under the control of the General Land-Office, to be disposed of and sold in the1858, ch. 156, § 6.*Post*, p. 336. same manner and under the same regulations as other public lands of the United States: *Provided,* that said lands shall not be so placed under the control of said General Land-Office until said opinion of the Secretary of War, giving bis consent, communicated to the Secretary of Interior in writing, shall be filed and recorded.
For continuing the survey of the islands off the coast of California by the officers of the coast survey, forty thousand dollars. For surveying the public lands and private land claims in California, including office expenses incident to the survey of claims, and to be disbursed at the rates prescribed by law for the different kinds of work, fifty thousand dollars. For continuing the survey of the base, meridian, correction parallels, township and section lines in the Territory of Utah, fifty thousand dollars.
For continuing the survey of base, meridian, standard parallels, township and section lines in New Mexico, thirty thousand dollars. For defraying the expenses of running the boundary line betweenBoundary between Texas and New Mexico. the State of Texas and the Territory of New Mexico, ten thousand dollars. For the support, clothing, and medical treatment of the insane of theInsane in district of Columbia. District of Columbia, and of the army and navy at the asylum in said District, including five hundred dollars for books and incidental expenses, twenty thousand five hundred dollars.
For the erection of a barn and carpenter’s shop at the Insane Asylum of the District of Columbia, seven thousand two hundred dollars. 88 For enclosing the grounds of the Insane Asylum of the District of Columbia, thirteen thousand eight hundred and seventy-two dollars. For the completion of the centre building and three other sections of the Insane Asylum of the District of Columbia, one hundred and thirty-eight thousand six hundred and seventy-three dollars. Lots in Congressional burying ground.To enable the Secretary of the Interior to purchase five hundred burial lots in the Congressional burying-ground, a sum not exceeding five thousand dollars: *Provided,* That the same be expended in the construction of an iron fence on the north side of said burial-grounds.
Ingraham medal.Vol. x. p. 524.To enable the Secretary of the Treasury to pay for or allow for the engraving of the “Ingraham Medal,” in pursuance of a contract made by direction of the Secretary of the Navy under authority of law, two thousand two hundred dollars. Works of exploring expedition.For replacing the works of the Exploring Expedition, destroyed by the fire at Philadelphia, on the eleventh April last, the sum of ten thousand four hundred and ninety-four dollars and forty-six cents.
Public buildings at Toledo.To authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to enlarge the building now in progress of erection, to be used as a custom-house, and post-office at Toledo, in the State of Ohio, by the addition of another story and otherwise, us he may find expedient, the sum of nineteen thousand five hundred dollars, with ten per centum thereon for contingencies: *Provided,* That the money hereby appropriated shall not be expended until the Secretary shall have contracted, upon such security as he may, approve, for the completion of the said building so enlarged, at a sum equal lo or less than the amount heretofore and hereby appropriated.
Seventh census.For arranging and binding for preservation the original returns of the seventh census, and those prior thereto two thousand five hundred dollars. Surveys in Kansas and Nebraska.For surveying the necessary base, meridian, standard parallels, township and section lines in Kansas and Nebraska, also outlines of Indian reservations, one hundred and one thousand dollars. Paupers in Washington infirmary.Public grounds.For support, care, and medical treatment of transient paupers, medical and surgical patients in Washington Infirmary, three thousand dollars.
For purchase of manure for the public grounds one thousand dollars. For hire of carts on the public grounds, one thousand dollars. For purchase and repair of tools used in the public grounds, five hundred dollars. For purchase of trees and tree-boxes, to replace where necessary such as have been planted by the United States, and the repair of pavements in front of the public grounds, five thousand dollars. Works of art for the capitol.For furnishing and ornamenting the Capitol with such works of art as may be ordered and approved by the Joint Committee on the Library, to be placed in either wing of the extension, when ready for their reception, twenty thousand dollars.
Law-library room.For enlarging and shelving the law-library room, and a new carpet and other furniture for the same, four hundred dollars. Repairs of capitol.For annual repairs of the Capitol, water-closets, public stables, water-pipes, pavements, and other walks within the Capitol square, broken glass, and locks, eight thousand dollars. Of President’s house.For annual repairs of the President’s house and furniture, improvement of grounds, purchasing trees and plants for garden, and making hotbeds therein, and contingent expenses incident thereto, six thousand dollars.
Fuel and lights.For fuel in part for the President’s house, one thousand eight hundred dollars. For lighting the President’s house, and Capitol, the public grounds around them, and around the Executive offices, Pennsylvania avenue, and East Capitol street to Second street, twenty-seven thousand dollars. 89 For grading, gravelling, and completing the culvert across TiberCulvert creek on Indiana avenue six thousand dollars. For the payment of laborers employed in shovelling snow from theShovelling snow. walks to and around the Capitol, the President’s house and other public buildings, five hundred dollars.
For the purchase of books for library at the Executive mansion, to beExecutive library. expended under the direction of the President of the United States, two hundred and fifty dollars. For repairs of the Potomac navy yard and upper bridges, eleven thousandBridges. dollars. And, with a view to the construction of a new and substantial bridgePlans end estimates for a new bridge across the Potomac. across the Potomac, the Secretary of the Interior be and he is hereby authorized to cause drawings and estimates for the construction of an iron suspension bridge and also for a stone-arched bridge to be prepared and submitted to Congress at its next session: and with a further view of enabling Congress to select the most eligible site for said bridge, the Secretary aforesaid is instructed to cause drawings and estimates to be prepared for a bridge at or near the site of the present Potomac bridge, another at or near a place known as the “Three Sisters” and another at such intermediate point as may be deemed most eligible.
For repairs of Pennsylvania avenue, three thousand dollars.Public grounds. For filling up ravine in Judiciary square, three thousand dollars. For the purchase of one dozen settees for Lafayette square, one hundred and seventy-five dollars. For repairs of water pipes, five hundred dollars.Miscellaneous. For repairing heating apparatus, raising, repairing passages, painting, reglazing and extending seed-room and green-house according to plan, six thousand dollars, to be expended under the direction of the Commissioner of Public Buildings.
For public reservation number two, and Lafayette Square, three thousand dollars. For rebuilding Franklin-engine house, including the purchase of a suitable lot, &c., &c., five thousand dollars. For taking care of the grounds south of the President’s house, continuing the improvements of the same, and keeping them in order, three thousand dollars. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby authorized andSite for new jail. required to cause a suitable site for a new jail to be selected at or near the Penitentiary, in the city of Washington, and that he cause to be prepared drawings and specifications for said jail to be submitted to Congress on or before the tenth day of December next, together with estimates of the cost of building said jail.
For the collection of agricultural statistics, investigations for promotingAgricultural statistics. Report. agriculture and rural economy, and the procurement and distribution of cuttings and seeds seventy-five thousand dollars, to be expended under the direction of the Commissioner of Patents: *Provided,* That the Commissioner shall report to Congress the varies [various] kinds, and amounts of saids [seeds] purchased, and to be purchased under this appropriation, from whom, and where obtained and the cost of the same.
Towards the erection of the north front of the Patent-Office building,Patent-office building. for the accommodation of the Department of the Interior, two hundred thousand dollars. To complete the bridge across the Potomac at Little Falls, agreeablyLittle Falls bridge. to the plan already adopted, seventy-five thousand dollars. To meet necessary expenses attendant upon the execution of the neutralityExpenses of executing neutrality act.1818, ch. 88.Vol. iii. p. 447.1810, ch. 44.Vol. ii. p, 608. act of the twelfth (twentieth) April, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, ten thousand dollars, to be expended under the direction of the President, pursuant to the third section of the act of Congress of the first May, one thousand eight hundred and ten, entitled “An act 90fixing the compensation of public ministers and consuls residing on the coast of Barbary, and for other purposes.
” Suppression of slave-trade.1819, ch. 101.Vol. iii. p. 532.To enable the President of the United States to carry into effect the act of Congress of the third March, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, and any subsequent acts now in force for the suppression of the slave-trade, eight thousand dollars. Audubon’s “Birds and Quadrupeds.”To enable the Secretary of State to purchase one hundred copies, each, of Audubon’s “Birds of America,” and “Quadrupeds of North America,” for presentation to foreign governments, in return for valuable works sent by them to the government of the United States, sixteen thousand dollars.
Filling up dock in Boston.For filling up the dock between Central and Long wharves in Boston, the widening of the street on the east front of the custom-house, and the extension and maintenance of the drains, fifteen thousand dollars. Minnesota.For arrearages on account of legislative expenses of the Territory of Minnesota, being for printing, binding, and miscellaneous items, for the sessions of eighteen hundred and fifty-one, eighteen hundred and fifty-two, eighteen hundred and fifty-three, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, and eighteen hundred and fifty-six, twenty-two thousand one hundred and twenty-two dollars and four cents.
Powder magazine at Man Island, California.For the construction of a powder magazine for the naval service at Man Island, California, the sum of one hundred and nineteen thousand three hundred dollars. Extra clerks in office of Indian affairs.1854, ch. 267.Vol. x. p. 576.1855, ch. 204.Vol. x. p. 686.For the continuation of extra clerk hire in the office of Indian Affairs authorized by an act making appropriations for the support of the army, approved August fifth, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and the act making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian department, approved March third, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, seven thousand dollars.
Compensation and mileage of senators and members of House of Representatives, and extra pay of employees.For additional compensation and mileage of senators for the present Congress, one hundred and seventy-eight thousand one hundred and twenty-eight dollars. For additional compensation and mileage of members of the House of Representatives and delegates from Territories for the present Congress, seven hundred and seventy-three thousand four hundred and thirty-two dollars; and to enable the clerk of the House of Representatives to pay the additional compensation to its employes and others authorized by the resolution of the House of Representatives of August fifteenth, eighteen hundred and fifty-six, a sum sufficient for that purpose is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, and is hereby added to the contingent fund of the House of Representatives.
Sec. 2. Revenue cutters on the Lakes.Sale of the Ingham, and of the Harrison. *And be it further enacted,* That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby authorized to cause to be sold at public auction the revenue-cutter “Ingham,” now stationed at Detroit, and the “Harrison,” now stationed at Oswego, and in lieu thereof, to cause to be built six cutters for the protection of the revenue on the lakes, of the burden of about fifty tons each; and that the sum of forty-five thousand dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated for said purpose, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, in addition to the proceeds of the sale above authorized.
Sec. 3. Officers for said cutters. *And be it further enacted,* That not more than two competent officers (one of whom to be a captain or first lieutenant, at the discretion of said Secretary) shall be allowed to each of said six cutters. Sec. 4. Additional clerks of Postmaster-General. *And be it further enacted,* That in addition to those now allowed by law, the Postmaster-General shall be authorized to employ four clerks of class one; and the sum of four thousand eight hundred dollars is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated to pay such increased compensation and the 91clerks thus authorized, including arrears now due to temporary clerks to the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven.
Sec. 5. *And be it further enacted,* That the Secretary of the TreasuryPurchase of stores at Atlantic dock. be authorized to purchase for the United States the three stores at the Atlantic dock, at the port of New York, now held by the United States under a lease for a term of years, and the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be required for the purpose, is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated: *Provided,* That the title to said stores, and the grounds thereunto belonging, shall be made to the United States in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the President.
Sec. 6. *And be it further enacted,* That the commissioner underCommissioner under reciprocity treaty with Great Britain.Vol. x. p. 1089.*Ante*, p. 29.*Post*, p. 325. the treaty with Great. Britain, of June fifth, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, shall be allowed the stun of four dollars per diem for subsistence, the same to be paid out of the appropriation made on the first of August, eighteen hundred and fifty-six, “for the prosecution of the work, including pay of commissioner, and all other expenses provided in the first article of the reciprocity treaty with Great Britain.
” Sec. 7. *And be it further enacted,* That in the settlement of the accountsExtra allowances for clerks, &c. in land offices. of registers and receivers of the public land-offices, the Secretary of the Interior be and be is hereby authorized to allow, subject to the approval of Congress, such reasonable compensation for additional clerical services and extraordinary expenses incident to said offices as he shall think just and proper, and report to Congress all such cases of allowance at each succeeding session, with estimates of the sum or sums required to pay the same.
Sec. 8. *And be it further enacted,* That the Secretary of War isPayment authorized to holders of war bonds of California.1854. ch. 267, § 9.Vol. x. p. 582. hereby authorized and directed to pay to the holders of the war bonds of the State of California the amount of money appropriated by act of Congress approved May [August] fifth, eighteen hundred and fifty-four “in payment of expenses incurred and now actually paid by the State of California for the suppression of Indian hostilities within the said State prior to the first day of January, Anno Domini eighteen hundred and fifty-four, under the following restrictions and regulations:
Before any bonds shall be redeemed by the Secretary of War, they shall be presented to the board of commissioners appointed by the legislature of said State by an act approved April nineteenth, eighteen hundred and fifty-six, and the amount due and payable upon each bond be endorsed thereon by said commissioners. Upon presentation to the Secretary of War of any bond or bonds thus endorsed, it shall be his duty to draw his warrant in favor of the holder or holders thereof for the amount certified to be due upon the same by the said commissioners, upon the Secretary of the Treasury, who is hereby directed to pay the same: *Provided,* That said amounts in the aggregate shall not exceed the amount of money appropriated by act of Congress approved August fifth, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, said bonds, after redemption, and after taking off the coupons that may remain unpaid, shall be delivered to the Secretary of War to be cancelled.
Sec. 9. *And be it further enacted,* That there shall be appointed and paid,Additional examiners and assistant examiners in the Patent-Office. in the manner now provided by law, two principal examiners and two assistant examiners, in addition to the examining force now authorized by law to be so employed in the Patent-Office. Sec. 10. *And be it further enacted,* That the Commissioner of PatentsPayment of persons acting in those grades heretofore. is hereby authorized to pay those employed in the United States Patent-Office from April first eighteen hundred and fifty-four until April first, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, as examiners and assistant examiners of patents, at the rates fixed by law for these respective grades: *Provided,* That the same be paid out of the Patent-Office fund, and that the compensation thus paid shall not exceed that, received by those duly en-92rolled as examiners and assistant examiners of patents for the same period.
Sec. 11. Examination into expenses of suppression of Indian hostilities in Oregon and Washington.1857, ch. 106, § 13.*Post*, p. 205. *And be it further enacted,* That the Secretary of War be directed to examine into the amount of expenses necessarily incurred in the suppression of Indian hostilities in the late Indian war in Oregon and Washington, by the territorial governments of said Territories, for the maintenance of the volunteer forces engaged in said war, including pay of volunteers, and that he may, if in his judgment it be necessary, direct a commission of three to proceed to ascertain and report to him all expenses incurred for purposes above specified.
Sec. 12. Pay of clerk of courts in S. Illinois for transcribing records under act of 1856, ch. 18.*Ante*, p. 4. *And be it further enacted,* That the compensation of the clerk of the district and circuit courts of the United States for the southern district of Illinois, for transcribing certain records under the act of Congress approved April twenty-third eighteen hundred and fifty-six, shall be the same as is authorized by the act of February twenty-six, eighteen hundred and fifty-three, concerning fees and costs for copying records and attending courts during their sittings.
Sec. 13. Payment to commissioners of land claims in California and their disbursing agents.1851, ch. 41.Vol. ix. p. 631.1857, ch. 110, § 8.*Post*, p. 243. *And be it further enacted,* That there be allowed and paid to the late commissioners for settling private land claims in California, appointed under the act of March third eighteen hundred and fifty-one, and acts additional thereto, one month’s salary for services rendered subsequent to March third eighteen hundred and fifty-six, (and to the several disbursing agents for said commission the same compensation for the receipt and disbursement of monies as are allowed to other disbursing officers of the government in California, the same to be paid out of the unexpended balance of monies heretofore appropriated for the salaries and expenses of said commission.
) Sec. 14. Payment to certain Cherokees east of the Mississippi. *And be it further enacted,* That the Secretary of the interior ascertain the number of Cherokees east of the Mississippi that were omitted in the census taken by D. W. Siler in eighteen hundred and fifty-one, and pay the five thousand dollars appropriated by the eighth section of the act making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian department, approved July thirty-one eighteen 1854, ch. 167, § 8Vol. x. p. 333.hundred and fifty-four, to said Indians, according to the *per capita* distribution made by the Department of the Interior, in pursuance of the principles contained in the opinion of the Attorney-General of the United States on that subject, of April sixteenth, eighteen hundred and fifty-one.
Sec. 15. Salary of Chaplain of Penitentiary. *And be it further enacted,* That the annual compensation of the chaplain to the United States Penitentiary shall be five hundred dollars, and twenty percent, on the same, from July first eighteen hundred and fifty-three. Sec. 16. Rate of payment for Globe and Appendix. *And be it further enacted,* That there shall be paid to John C. Rives, by the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives, out of the contingent funds of the two houses, according to the number of copies of the Congressional Globe and Appendix taken by each, one cent for every five pages of that work exceeding three thousand pages, for a long session, or fifteen hundred pages for a short one, including the indexes and the laws of the United States, commencing with this session.
Sec. 17. Special examiner of drugs, &c., to be appointed at San Francisco. *And be it further enacted,* That the Secretary of the Treasury be and he is hereby authorized and required to appoint a suitably qualified person as special examiner of drugs, chemicals, medicines, &c., at San Francisco in California, whose annual salary shall be two thousand dollars. Sec. 18. Public buildings at *And be it further enacted,* That the Secretary of the Treasury be and he is hereby authorized and directed to cause to be constructed the following buildings.
Portsmouth, N. H.At Portsmouth, New Hampshire, for the accommodation of the custom-93house, post-office, and United States courts, a building of stone, with fire-proof floors, of iron beams and brickwork, iron roof, shutters, sills, &c., eighty-five feet long by sixty wide and sixty feet high, to cost not more than eighty-eight thousand dollars. At Nashville, Tennessee, for the accommodation of the custom-house,Nashville, Tenn. post-office, United States courts, and steamboat inspectors, a building of like materials, eighty-five feet long by sixty deep and sixty feet high, to cost not more than ninety-five thousand dollars.
At Ogdensburg, New York, for the accommodation of the custom-houseOgdensburg, N. Y. and post-office, a building of like materials, sixty feet long by forty-five dee.p and thirty-two feet high, to cost not more than fifty thousand dollars. At Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, for the accommodation ofGeorgetown, D. C. the custom-house and post-office, a building of like materials, sixty feet long by forty-five deep and tbirtytwo feet high, to cost not more than fifty thousand dollars.
At Dubuque, Iowa, for the accommodation of the custom-house, post-office,Dubuque, Iowa. and United States courts, a building of like materials, eighty-five feet long by sixty deep and sixty feet high, to cost not more than eighty-eight thousand dollars. At Knoxville, Tennessee, for the accommodation of the custom-house,Knoxville, Tenn. post-office, and United States courts, a building of like materials, eighty-five feet long by sixty deep and sixty feet high, to cost not more than eighty-eight thousand dollars.
At Galena, Illinois, for the accommodation of the custom-house andGalena, Ill. post-office, a building of like materials, sixty feet long by ibrtyfive deep and tbirtytwo feet high, to cost not more than fifty thousand dollars. At Springfield, Illinois, for the accommodation of the United StatesSpringfield, Ill. courts and post-office, a building of like materials, sixty feet long by forty-five deep and thirty-two feet high, to cost not more than fifty thousand dollars. At Rutland and at Windsor, Vermont, suitable buildings for the accommodationRutland and Windsor, Vt. of the circuit and district courts of the United States, and the several offices connected therewith, and the post-offices at said Rutland and Windsor, the cost of which shall not exceed the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars each: *Provided,* That no money shall be expended under this act for the erection of a custom-house, where the duties collected do not equal the expense of collection.
Sec. 19. *And be it further enacted,* That the several sums mentionedAppropriation therefor. in the preceding section of this act, as the cost of the buildings therein authorized to be constructed, together with ten per cent, thereon to cover the compensation of architects, superintendence, advertising, and other contingent expenses, and so much as may be required to purchase suitable sites for said buildings, be and the same are hereby appropriated for the purposes aforesaid, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated: *Provided,* That no money hereby appropriated shall beProviso that title be first secured and right to tax released. used or applied for the purposes mentioned until a valid title to the land for the site of such buildings in each case shall be vested in the United States, and until the State shall also duly release and relinquish to the United States the right to tax or in any way assess said site, or the property of the United States that may be thereon, during the time that the said United States shall be or remain the owner thereof.
Sec. 20. *And be it further enacted,* That to authorize the Secretary ofCustom-house and Post Office at Sandusky.Ohio. the Treasury to enlarge the building now in progress of construction to be used as a custom-house and post-office, at Sandusky, Ohio, by the addition of another story, and otherwise, as said Secretary may deem expedient, the sum of nineteen thousand five hundred dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated, with the per cent, thereon for contingencies: *Provided,* That the money hereby appropriated shall not be expended 94THIRTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 130. 1856.until said Secretary shall have contracted, upon such security as he may approve, for the completion of said building, so enlarged, at a sum equal to or less than the amount heretofore and hereby appropriated Sec. 21. *And be it further enacted,* That the President of the United Court-house at Key West.States cause to be constructed at Key West, Florida, a suitable building for the accommodation of the district court of the United States for the southern district of Florida; and that the sum of eight thousand dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated for this purpose out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Approved, August 18, 1856. Chapter CXXX: making Appropriations for the Service of the Post-Office Department during the fiscal year ending the thirtieth, of June, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven. 11 Stat. 94 1856-08-18 Chapter CXXX 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
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Chapter CXXIX
*making Appropriations for certain Civil Expenses of the Government for the Year ending the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven.* 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 sums
Stat.11 Stat. 94
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