Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 30.djvu/1188

1150 FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. Sess. III. Ch. 425. 1899. until funds for the commencement of the proposed work shall have been actually appropriated by law. I·*h¤¤¤ °€P°¤¤m¤· Sec. 3. That the President of the United States of America be and eoligzsilgtisiutxi gihgii he is hereby authorized and empowered to make full and complete · investigation of the Isthmus of Panama with a view to the construction of a canal by the United States across the same to connect the Ni<=¤¤g¤¤¤ Md Atlantic and Pacific oceans; That the President is authorized to make P°°°m° r°°t'°°' investigation of any and all practicable routes for a canal across said Isthmus of Panama, and particularly to investigate the two routes known respectively as the Nicaraguan route and the Panama route, with a view to determining the most practicable and feasible route for such canal together with the proximate and probable cost of construct- E¤¤*i¤S*¤¤°hi°°*· ing a canal at each of two or more of said routes: And the President is further authorized to investigate and ascertain what rights, privileges and franchises if any may be held and owned by any corporations, associations or individuals, and what work, if any, has been done by such corporations, associations or individuals in the construction of a canal at either or any of said routes, and particularly at the so-called —¤¤¤¤ <>f 1>¤¤=¤=¤i¤B· Nicaraguan and Panama routes respectively; and likewise to ascertain the cost of purchasing all of the rights, privileges and franchises held and owned by any such corporations, associations and individuals in any and all of such routes, particularly the said Nicaraguan route and w;_>;•i:i<>Y l=¤¤‘b°¤‘¤ et the said Panama route; and likewise to ascertain the probable or ' proximate cost of constructing a. suitable harbor at each of the termini of said canal, with the probable annual cost of maintenance of said harbors respectively. And generally the President is authorized to make such hill and complete investigation as to determine the most feasible and practicable route across said Isthmus for a canal, together with the cost of constructing the same and placing the same under the control, management and ownership of the United States. 1¤¤si¤¤¤¤~ Sec. 4. To enable the President to make the investigations and ascertainments herein provided for, he is hereby authorized to employ in said service any of the engineers of the United States army at his discretion, and, likewise to employ any engineers in civil life, at his discretion, and any other persons necessary to make such investigation, and to fix the compensation of any and all of such engineers and other persons. uA1>li>;>:¤¤¤¤¤ M Sec. 5. For the purpose of defraying the expenses necessary to be P° incurred in making the investigations hereiu provided for, there is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of one million dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be disbursed by order of the President. Report- Sec. 6. That the President is hereby requested to report to Congress the results of such investigations, together with his recommendations in the premises. Efjgggsgg Qggfdgf Sec. 7. That the Secretary of War shall cause the Chief of Engitergaration in worn, neers of the United States Army, in submitting his annual reports to °'~°· Congress with regard to works of river and harbor improvement under his charge, to state what deterioration, if any, has taken place by destruction, decay, obstructions, or otherwise, in connection with any of such works, tog··ther with an estimate of the cost of rebuilding, or repairing such works, or removing such obstructions; and he shall also cause the said Chief of Engineers to recommend, with his reasons therefor, the discontinuance of appropriations for any river and harbor work which he may deem unworthy of further improvement. mxwgmcgmwzggi Sec. 8. That the Secretary of War is directed to cause to be prepm {y ,,;;,,,5., ,,0,. pared and reported to Congress a list of all piers, wharves, and other 1><>r¤¤i¤¤¤· structures or property pertaining to river and harbor works belonging to the Government of the United States now occupied by private corporations or persons, together with the terms upon which such piers, wharves, or other property are occupied, and the date of the agreement or permission granting the privilege to occupy the same, and shall