Chapter 354. to authorize the purchase of a site for a building for a post-office, courthouse, and other offices in Ban Francisco, California
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CHAP. 354.— An Act to authorize the purchase of a site for a building for a post-office, courthouse, and other offices in Ban Francisco, California.Mar. 3, 1887. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,San Francisco, Cal.Commission to select site for public building. That the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to appoint three competent citizens to act as commissioners on behalf of the United States to select and purchase a piece of ground in the city of San Francisco upon which shall be erected a suitable building for a post-office, courthouse, and other offices.
Sec. 2. That immediately after the passage of this act the SecretaryAppointment. of the Treasury shall notify each person selected as aforesaid of his appointment under this act, requesting prompt notice of his acceptance or nonacceptance thereof, and in the latter case shall appoint some other prominent, disinterested citizen in his place, and upon their consent to act shall give notice to the commissioners to proceed as soon as practicable to examine such pieces of ground as shall be judged most suitable for the site of said building; in said examination having due regard to the present needs and future accommodation of the inhabitants, to security against accidents, and the convenience of the public service at all times.
They shall negotiate an option of purchase for each site so examined, at the lowest practicable price, decide upon and recommend for purchase said sites in the order of their relative merits, and submit a report t hereof, Report.with a proper description of each, to the Secretary of the Treasury, who, in conjunction with the Postmaster-General and Decision.Attorney-General, shall immediately decide which site is to be preferred, if any is to be preferred; and if the Secretary of the Treasury, Postmaster General, and Attorney-General shall approve of any such site and the title thereto, then the commissioners shall be notified Purchase.*Provisos*.Open space.thereof, who shall then complete the purchase of the site so chosen: *Provided*, That the site so selected shall be of such dimensions as to leave an open space of not less than forty feet in width, including streets and alleys, around the building to be constructed thereon:Maximum price. *Provided further*, That the sum to be paid therefor shall not exceed three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Sec. 3. That the sum of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, orAppropriation. so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated for making *Proviso*.Title.said purchase: *Provided*, That no part of said sum shall be expended until a valid title to said site shall be vested in the United States, and the State of California shall cede to the United States exclusive jurisdiction over the same, during the time the United States shall be or remain the owner thereof, for all purposes except the administration of the criminal laws of said State and the service of any civil process therein.
Approved, March 3, 1887.