Chapter 3532. Authorizing the Secretary of War to acquire, for fortification purposes, certain tracts of land on Deer Island, in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts
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CHAP. 3532.— An Act Authorizing the Secretary of War to acquire, for fortification purposes, certain tracts of land on Deer Island, in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. June 25, 1906. [[S. 6333](/us/bill/59/s/6333).] [[Public, No. 284](/us/pl/59/284).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Boston Harbor, Mass. Deer Island. Purchase of land on, for fortifications authorized. That the Secretary of WarBoston Harbor, Mass.Deer Island.Purchase of land on, for fortifications authorized. is hereby authorized to acquire, for fortification purposes, from the city of Boston. two certain tracts of land on Deer Island, in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, containing together about one hundred acres above mean low-water mark, the said tracts being marked on the ground 458by certain monuments, and to pay for the same not to exceed the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars from funds heretofore appropriated for purchase of sites for fortifications and seacoast defenses: *Provided,* That the city of Boston shall build a masonry wall, which*Provisos.*Improvements, etc., required. shall be approved by the Secretary of War, at least ten feet in height above the ground level, extending across said Deer Island, to separate the portion of said island hereby authorized to be acquired from the remaining portion of said island; and shall remove the piggery from the portion of the island hereby authorized to be acquired, and discontinue interments in the cemetery within said area, and shall permit the United States Government to connect its water mains with the city’s water-supply mains on said island, and furnish water to the Government at current rates: *Provided further,* That before making paymentAction by Boston. for the said land the Secretary of War may require the city of Boston to execute such valid agreement or obligation as he may consider necessary to insure full compliance with all the requirements of the fore-going proviso.
Sec. 2. That the United States shall be liable for any damage to theLiability for damages from tiring guns. property of the city of Boston or to the works of the North Metropolitan Sewerage System located on said island that may be caused by the firing of guns in time of peace from batteries erected within the area that may be acquired as aforesaid; and the Secretary of War is authorized and directed, whenever any such damage occurs, to ascertain and determine what would be a reasonable and proper compensation to pay the city of Boston and shall certify the same to Congress for consideration.
Approved, June 25, 1906.