Chapter 69. to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Potomac River at or near Georgetown in tbo District of Columbia, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 69.— An Act to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Potomac River at or near Georgetown in tbo District of Columbia, and for other purposes.Feb. 23, 1881. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the Secretary of War be, 329 FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS. Sess. III. Ch. 69. 1881. and he is hereby, authorized and directed to cause to be constructedFree Bridge across Potomac River. across the Potomac River at or near Georgetown in the District of Columbia, at such point as he may select, a substantial iron and masonry bridge, with approaches; and the sum of one hundred and fortyAppropriation. thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the construction of said bridge and approaches, the same to be maintained as a free bridge for travel: *Provided*, That the said Secretary of War shall construct *Proviso.*a bridge upon such plan as shall cost no more than the amount herein appropriated, and which cost shall include the construction of a substantial bridge over the canal, and any and all approaches to the said iron bridge; and no part of this appropriation shall be paid ont of the Treasury until contracts shallContracts. have been entered into with responsible parties, and with good and sufficient sureties to be approved by the Secretary of War, for the construction and completion of said bridge, including the masonry, ironwork, and approaches, at a cost not to exceed one hundred andCost.*Proviso.*Draw. forty thousand dollars: *And provided also*, That a draw of sufficient width to permit the free passage of vessels navigating that part of the Potomac River shall be constructed in said bridge, unless said bridge shall be constructed upon or by the side of,*Proviso.* or up the river from, the present aqueduct and at the same or greater elevation above the water: *And provided also*, That the sum which may be expended under this act shall be treated and regarded as a part of the general expenses of the District of Columbia, and the United States shall be credited with the amount which it may1878, ch. 180,Stat., 20, 102. pay under this act for the erection of said bridge upon its fifty per centum of the expenses of the District of Columbia, as provided in the act of June eleventh, eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, entitled “An act providing*Proviso.*Location, etc. a permanent form of government for the District of Columbia”: *Provided further*, That the Secretary of War shall, as soon as may be, fix and determine the location of said bridge, and cause a survey of the river to be made at such place of location, determine the length, width, and height of said bridge, and the length of draw, if oue isAdvertisement. required, and thereupon advertise for plans and price for the construction of such bridge; such advertisement to be inserted in one or more daily newspapers published in Washington, District of Columbia, New York, Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Michigan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Chicago, Illinois, for the space of one week.
Sec. 2. That for the purpose of establishing a free bridge, and in lieuPurchase of aqueduct bridge. of erecting the bridge provided for in the preceding section, the Secretary of War may, in his discretion, purchase the aqueduct bridge now *Proviso.**Proviso.*Title.*Proviso.*Alexandria Canal Company, rights of.crossing the Potomac River at Georgetown: *Provided*, said bridge with all the appurtenances, rights and franchises connected therewith including piers and real estate for abutments and approaches can be purchased for a sum not exceeding eighty-five thousand dollars; which sum or so much thereof as may be necessary may be paid out of the money appropriated by this act: *Provided further*, That a good and sufficient title thereto can be secured to the United States, to be approved by the Attorney-General of the United States. *It is further provided* That the Alexandria Canal Company or its present lessees shall have therightto maintain at their own cost and expense, a canal aqueduct of the same width and depth as the one now in use, and to attach it to or suspend it from said bridge; and whenever a permanent bridge shall be erected upon said site, the same shall be of sufficient strength to sustain the weight of such canal aqueduct; but the construction attachment and maintenance of such aqueduct shall be such as the Secretary of War may determine and shall be without cost or liability to the United States or the District of Columbia. *And it is further provided*, That*Proviso.* if upon the erection of such permanent bridge the said canal company or their present lessees shall neglector refuse to reconstruct secure and attach the said aqueduct at their own expense, or if at any time for the space of six months, they shall fail to use such aqueduct for the purposes of a canal, or fail to keep the same in good condition and repair, or if at any time, 330 FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
Sess. III. Ch. 69, 70, 71. 1881. they shall use the same for other than canal purposes, then all rights of said canal company, its lessees or assigns in said bridge and property, shall cease and determine, and the said aqueduct shall be detached and removed by the Secretary of War. Sec. 3. And the Secretary of War is further authorized, in his discretion,Repairs. in the event of said purchase, to repair the wooden bridge now on said piers, and for that purpose is authorized to expend, of the moneys hereinbefore appropriated, a sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars.
Approved, February 23, 1881.