Compensation to postmasters.

Ship, steamboat, and way letters.

Wrapping pa

per.

⚫ Office furniture.

Advertising.

Mail bags.
Blanks.

Mail locks, &c.

Mail depreda

Bremen, by way of Southampton, under the contract made with the Ocean Steam Navigation Company, of New York, in addition to the sum of three hundred and eighty-three thousand six hundred and nine dollars of former appropriations for the same object, which it is estimated will remain unexpended on the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and forty-nine, sixteen thousand three hundred and ninety one dollars;

For transportation of the mails between Charleston, South Carolina, and Havana, by way of Key West, calling at Savannah, under the contract made with M. C. Mordecai, fifty thousand dollars; and for transportation of the mail by said line or by other steamers, to such other places on the coast of Florida as the Postmaster General may deem practicable and expedient, five thousand dollars;

For compensation of postmasters, one million two hundred and twenty thousand dollars;

For ship, steamboat, and way letters, thirty thousand dollars;

For wrapping-paper, twenty-two thousand dollars;

For office furniture, (in the offices of postmasters,) three thousand dollars;

For advertising, fifty thousand dollars;

For mail bags, twenty-five thousand dollars;

For blanks, twenty-one thousand dollars;

For mail locks, keys, and stamps, six thousand dollars;
For the detection and prevention of mail depredations and

tions and special for special agents, including the two agents for Oregon and

agents.

Clerks.

Miscellaneous.

California, twenty thousand dollars;

For clerks for offices, (the offices of postmasters,) two hundred and sixty thousand dollars;

For miscellaneous, sixty thousand dollars.

That the better to enable the postal treaty with Great Britain to go into full effect with equal advantage to both countries, letRates of letters ters shall be maited as composing one rate only where the lettransported unter does not exceed the weight of a half ounce avoirdupois; der the postal treaty with Great where it exceeds a half ounce but does not exceed an ounce,

Britain.

as composing two rates; where it exceeds an ounce but does not exceed two ounces, as composing four rates; where it exceeds two ounces but not exceed three ounces, as composing six rates; where it exceeds three ounces but does not exceed four ounces, as composing eight rates; and in like progression for each additional ounce, or fraction of an ounce, and that each rate shall be subject to the full postage charge; that letters refused, or which cannot be delivered, may be immediately returned to the dead letter office, and that newspapers not sent from the office of publication shall be charged with the same postage as other papers, to be prepaid.

Approved March 3, 1849.

CHAP. 105.-AN ACT making appropriations for light-houses, light-boats, Appropriation buoys, &c., and providing for the erection and establishment of the same, and for light-houses, for other purposes. light-boats, buoys

[SEC. 1.] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following appropriations be, and the same are hereby, made, and directed to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to enable the Secretary of the Treasury to carry the provisions of this act into effect: Provided, however, If a good title to any land which it may be necessary to use cannot be obtained on reasonable terms, or the exclusive right to such land cannot be acquired by cession, where the interest of the United States demands it, before the appropriation would by law fall into the surplus fund, in any and all such cases the appropriations shall be applicable to the objects for which they are made, at any time within two years after the first meeting of the legislature subsequent to the passage of this act, in any State wherein any such land may be situated, to wit:

IN MAINE.

For thirteen spar buoys and three beacons in Casco bay, three thousand dollars;

For a light-house at Gilkey's harbor, three thousand five hundred dollars;

For a light-house at Beauchamp point, or on the opposite side of the harbor, in the town of Camden, three thousand five hundred dollars;

For a fog-bell at the light-house on Libby's island, seven hundred and fifty dollars.

MASSACHUSETTS.

For a screw-pile beacon, or other practicable structure, on the south shoal off Nantucket, lately discovered by the survey of the coast, twenty-five thousand dollars, to be expended under the direction of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers;

For six large buoys on the shoals off Nantucket, one thousand dollars;

For a light-boat on Pollock Rip, off Chatham, twelve thousand five hundred dollars.

&c.

Proviso.

Maine.

Massachusetts.

NEW YORK.

For a light boat on Horse Shoe reef, Niagara river, ten thousand dollars; or for the erection of a light house instead thereof, if after the survey herein provided for, it shall be deemed more advisable, twenty thousand dollars;

For four spar buoys, to mark the channel from the aforesaid shoal to Bird island, three hundred dollars;

For a beacon on the southeast part of Romer shoal, in the lower bay of New York, ten thousand dollars;

New York.

New Jersey.

Delaware.

Maryland.

Texas.

Illinois.

For three spar buoys in Buttermilk channel, two hundred dollars;

For four additional spar buoys in the lower bay of New York, at such points as may be designated by the Secretary of the Treasury, four hundred dollars.

NEW JERSEY.

For a light-house on the rocks at Bergen Point, five thousand dollars; :

For five spar buoys at Thom's river, three hundred dollars; For five spar buoys at Barnegat inlet, three hundred dollars; For a light-house at the mouth of the Passaic river, five thousand dollars;

For two buoys on the east and west oyster beds in Newark bay, one hundred dollars;

For a light-house on the east point of Maurice river, Cumberland county, five thousand dollars;

To provide surf boats, life cars, rockets, carronades, lines, and other necessary apparatus for the better preservation of life and property from shipwreck along the coast of New Jersey, between Little Egg Harbor and Cape May, ten thousand dollars, to be expended under the direction of such officer of the revenue marine service as may be designated for that purpose by the Secretary of the Treasury.

DELAWARE.

For the foundation and construction of a light-house at the Delaware breakwater, ten thousand dollars.

MARYLAND.

For two spar buoys at the mouth of Chester river, one hundred and twenty dollars.

TEXAS.

For a light-boat on Galveston bar, twelve thousand five hundred dollars;

For a light-house at Sabine Pass, seven thousand five hundred dollars.

ILLINOIS.

For the foundation and construction of a light-house at or near the end of the north pier at Chicago, fifteen thousand dol lars, to be expended under the direction of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, and the present light-house within the city, and the beacon light on the pier, shall be discontinued from and after the completion of the aforesaid light-house;

For a light-house at the mouth of Calumet river, four thousand dollars, to be expended under the direction of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers.

For buoys on and near the bar of Nassau river, on the coasts of Georgia and Florida, in the neighborhood thereof, one thousand dollars.

MICHIGAN.

For a light-house at the mouth of Muskegon river, three thousand five hundred dollars;

For a light-house on Manitou island, Lake Superior, seven thousand five hundred dollars;

For a light-house at Eagle harbor, Lake Superior, four thousand dollars;

For a floating bell at Stanard rock, Lake Superior, one thousand dollars;

For a light-house on Skilagalee rock, Lake Michigan, four thousand dollars;

For a beacon light on the pier at New Buffalo, seven hundred and fifty dollars;

For a light-house at North Black river, Lake Michigan, three thousand five hundred dollars;

For providing surf-boats, life-boats, and other means for the preservation of life and property shipwrecked on the coast of the United States, ten thousand dollars, to be expended under the control and direction of the Secretary of the Treasury.

Michigan.

In case of preliminary report by

cers of the Navy

neers to make

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it the Fifth Auditor shall report, in any of the cases herein provided for, that 5th Auditor, offpreliminary surveys are necessary to determine the site of a pro- cr of the Topoposed light-house or light-boat, or to ascertain more fully what graphical Engi the public exigency demands, the Secretary of the Navy shall, surveys for sites thereupon, appoint one or more officers of the navy, not under of light-houses, the grade of commander, to perform the required service; or when the expenditure is to be made under the direction of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, the Secretary of War shall appoint one or more officers of the corps of topographical engineers, possessing the requisite skill and experience to perform the like service.

make report of

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That any officer so ap- said officers to pointed shall forthwith enter upon the discharge of the duty, the result of their and after fully ascertaining the facts, shall report: first, whether examinations. the proposed facility to navigation is the most suitable for the exigency which exists; and second, where it should be placed if the interests of commerce demand it; third, if the thing proposed be not the most suitable, whether it is expedient to make any other kind of improvement; fourth, whether the proposed light has any connexion with other lights, and if so, whether it cannot be so located as to subserve both the general and the local wants of trade and navigation; and fifth, whether there be any, and if any, what other facts of importance touching the subject.

laid before the

SEC: 4. And be it further enacted, That all such reports Reports to be shall, as speedily as may be, be laid before the Secretary of the secretary of the Treasury, and if such as to authorize the work without further Treasury.

be observed by

boats, &c., navi

ern lakes.

legislation, he shall forthwith proceed with it, otherwise such. reports shall be laid before Congress at the next ensuing session; but in all cases where the Fifth Auditor does not report such preliminary examination as expedient, the provisions of this act shall without delay be carried into execution.

Regulations to SEO. 5. And be it further enacted, That vessels, steamvesels, steam boats, and propellers, navigating the northern and western gating the north- lakes, shall, from and after the thirtieth day of April next, ern or northwest comply with the following regulations, for the security of life and property, to wit: during the night, vessels on the starboard. tack shall show a red light, vessels on the larboard tack a green light, and vessels going off large, or before the wind, or at an chor, a white light; steamboats and propellers shall carry on the stem, or as far forward as possible, a triangular light, at an angle of about sixty degrees with the horizon, and on the starboard side a light shaded green, and on the larboard side red; said lights shall be furnished with reflectors, &c., complete, and of a size to insure a good and sufficient light; and if loss or damage shall occur, the owner or owners of the vessel, steamboat or propeller, neglecting to comply with these regula tions, shall be liable to the injured party for all loss or damage resulting from such neglect; and the owner or owners of any vessel failing to comply with said regulations shall forfeit a penalty of one hundred dollars, which may be recovered in an action of debt, to be brought by the district attorney of the United States, in the name of the United States, in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Approved March 3, 1849.

Superintendent

at St. Louis, and

CHAP. 106.-AN ACT making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian department, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with the various Indian tribes, for the year ending June thirtieth, one thousand eight hundred and fifty.

[SEC. 1.] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums be, and they are hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of paying the current and contingent expenses of the Indian department, and fulfilling treaty. stipulations with the various Indian tribes.

For the current and contingent expenses of the Indian department, viz:

For the pay of superintendent of Indian affairs at St. Louis, of Indian affairs and the several Indian agents, as provided by the acts of June Indian Agents. thirtieth, eighteen hundred and thirty-four, and of March third, eighteen hundred and thirty-seven, and of June twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and forty-six, fourteen thousand dollars;

Sub-agents.

For the pay of sub-agents, authorized by the act of June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and thirty-four, six thousand seven hundred dollars;