Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 21.djvu/359

 FORTYSIXTH CONGRESS. Sess. HI. Ch. 69. 1881. 329 and he is hereby, authorized and directed to cause to be constructed Free Bridge across the Potomac River at or near Georgetown in the District of “9'°°’ P°*’°m**° Columbia, at such point as he may select, a substantial iron and masonry R""' bridge, with approaches; and the sum of one hundred and forty thou- Appropriation. sand dollars be, andthe same is hereby, appropriated, out oi any money 1n_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 a bridge Provm. 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 bridgeand no part of this appropriation shall be paid out of the Treasury until contracts shall have been entered into with respon sible parties, and with Contracts. good and sufficient sureties to be approved by the Secretary of War, for the construction and completion of said bridge, including the masonry, iron-work, and approaches, at a cost not to exceed one hundred Cost. and forty thousand dollars: And provided also, That a draw of sufficient 1e-oriro. width to permit the free passage of vessels navigating that part of the DmW· Potomac River shall be constructed in said bridge, unless said bridge shall be constructed 11pon or by the side of', 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 1h-emo. 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 may pay under this act for the erection of said bridge 1878, oh. 180, upon its fifty per centum of the expenses of the District of Columbia, as SW-» W 10*- provided in the act of June eleventh, eighteen hundred and seventy- eight, entitled “An act providing a permanent form of government for the District of Columbia ": Provided further, That the Secretary of War p,·,,,,;_,0_ shall, as soon as may be, hx and determine the location of said bridge, Location, oro. 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 one is required, and thereupon advertise for plans and price ,mvmi¤°mo,,t_ for the construction of such bridge, such advertisement to be inserted in one or more daily newspapers published in Wasliiiigton, District of Columbia, New York, Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Michigan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Chicago, lllinois, for the space of one week. Sec. 2. That for the purpose of establishing a free bridge, and in lieu Pu mi, M., of of erecting the bridge provided for in the preceding section, the Secre- aqnodoot bridge. tary of War may, in his discretion, purchase the aqueduct bridge now crossing the Potomac River at Georgetown: Provided said bridge with prmm 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 p,.,,v,,,,_ thereto can be secured to the United States, to be approved by the Title. Attorney-General of the United States. It is further provided That the Proriso. Alexandria Canal Company or its present lessees shall have therightto Alexandria. oomaintain at their own cost and expense, a canal aqueduct of the same eel, t _C y¤¤i>¤·¤v. width and depth as the one now in use, and to attach it to or suspend it **5*’ " ‘ 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 if upon the I’rM>i¤¤¢>· erection of such permanent bridge the said canal company or their present lessees shall neglect or 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,