And provided, That all of the lands not taken within twelve months Lands after one after the passage of this act may be sold in amounts not to exceed one year may be sold hundred and sixty acres to any one person, at the appraised price in the at appraisal. land district in which they are situated. taken before nota SEC. 3. That in preparing or giving their testimony, all settlers or Testimony of setpurchasers of land under the provisions of this act may have such tes- tlers and purtimony taken, after due and legal notice to the opposing party in inter- chasers may be est, before any notary public or person qualified to administer an oath, ries public, &c. and may forward such testimony with their application to the land offices or parties authorized to dispose of said lands, which testimony shall be received as if taken before the officers of such land office. tribe in common; SEC. 4. That the net proceeds arising from such sales, after defraying Net proceeds of the expenses of appraisement and sale, which have heretofore or may sales to belong to hereafter be incurred, and also the outstanding indebtedness, principal how held and used, and interest, of said Kansas tribe of Indians, which has heretofore been &c. incurred under treaty stipulations, shall belong to said tribe in common, and the residue not so required shall be placed to their credit on the books of the Treasury, and bear interest at the rate of five per centum, per annum and be held as a fund for their civilization, the interest of which and the principal, when deemed necessary by the President of the United States, may be used for such purpose. [June 23, 1874.] CHAPTER 472. AN ACT TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE SALE OF CERTAIN INDIAN LANDS IN KANSAS SECTION 1. Settlers on Miami Indian lands may make payment in three instalments. Be it enacted, &c. SECTION 2. Purchasers of New York Indian lands, Kan- Settlers on Mi [SECTION 1], That those persons who by the provisions of the second section of the act entitled "An act to abolish the tribal relations of the ami Indian lands may make payMiami Indians, and for other purposes," approved March third, eight- ment in three ineen hundred and seventy-three, are entitled to purchase, for cash, the stalments. land occupied by them at the appraised value thereof, be permitted to 1873, ch. 332 (17 make payment for said lands at the land office at Topeka, Kansas, under Stat. L., 631). such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, in three equal annual instalments; the first instalment to be payable on or before the thirtieth day of October, eighteen hundred and seventyfour, and the remaining two instalments annually thereafter, with interest at the rate of six per centum per annum, from the thirtieth day of October, eighteen hundred and seventy-four. lands in Kansas SEC. 2. That those persons who, by the provisions of the act entitled Purchasers of "An act to provide for the sale of certain New York Indian lands in New York Indian Kansas," approved February nineteenth, eighteen hundred and seventy may make paythree, are entitled to enter and purchase, for cash, the lands in said act ment in two anset forth, be permitted to make payment for the same at the land office nual instalments. at Independence, Kansas, under such regulations as the Secretary of 1873, ch. 167 (17 the Interior may prescribe, in two equal instalments; the first instal. Stat. L., 466). ment to be payable on or before the thirtieth day of September, eighteen hundred and seventy-five, and the remaining instalment within one year thereafter, with interest at the rate of six per centum per annum from said thirtieth day of September, eighteen hundred and seventyfive. Provided, however, That this act shall only apply to actual settlers on the land so purchased. [June 23, 1874.] Act to apply only to actual settlers. CHAPTER 475. Bridge across Niagara River de clared a lawful structure and a post-route. AN ACT TO DECLARE THE BRIDGE ACROSS THE NIAGARA RIVER, AUTHORIZED BY THE Bridge across Niagara River declared a lawful structure and a post-route. Be it enacted, &c., That the modifications in the plans of the bridge authorized by the act approved on the thirtieth day of June, eighteen hundred and seventy, as stated in the report of the board of engineers of the War Department, dated February seventh, eighteen hundred and 1870, ch. 176 (16 seventy-one are hereby approved; and said bridge as constructed is Stat. L., 173). hereby declared to be a lawful structure, and an established post-route R. S., vol. 2, Post- for the mail of the United States. [June 23, 1874.] Roads, p. 1. June 23, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 275. Work on public buildings may be suspended by Sec CHAPTER 476. AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY TO SUSPEND WORK UPON [SECTION 1], That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to defer operations on any public buildings that retary of Treasury. are authorized by existing laws but not actually commenced, or to proceed with the same, as may, in his opinion, be for the best interests of the public service: Unexpended balances available until completion. to be covered into Treasury after completion. Selection of sites Provided, That all moneys heretofore appropriated for the construction of public buildings and now remaining to the credit of the same on the books of the Treasury Department, or which may hereafter be appropriated for such buildings, shall remain available until the completion of the work for which they are, or may be, appropriated; And upon the final completion of each or any of said buildings, and the payment of all outstanding liabilities therefor, the balance or balances remaining shall be immediately covered into the Treasury. SEC. 2. That in the selection of a site for any public building not yet for public build- commenced, reference shall be had to the interest and convenience of ings. the public, as well as to the best interests of the Government; and the R. S., § 3734. 1875, March 3, Secretary of the Treasury shall have power, and it shall be his duty, to ch. 130, § 1, par. 14. set aside any selection which in his opinion has not been made solely with reference thereto. commissioners No expenditure shall be made upon any building, a site for which has for, to file certain been selected, and work upon which has not been commenced, until affidavits before such of the persons who acted as commissioners in selecting such site expenditure of money, and on fail- shall make and file with the Secretary of the Treasury an oath or affirure selection void. mation that he is not at the time of making the affidavit, and was not at the date of making the selection of such site, directly or indirectly interested in the property selected for the same, and a similar affidavit shall be made and filed by each and every person hereafter appointed as such commissioner, before any site shall be finally adopted. In either case a failure on the part of any commissioner to make and file such an affidavit shall render the selection void. [June 23, 1874.] 1. Standard power and purity of gas in District of Columbia, &c. Penalty for supplying gas of less power, &c. 2. Inspector of gas and meters to be appointed; his salary and duties. Assistant inspector. 3. Laboratory for inspectors to be provided by Washington Gas-Light Company. 4. Companies and persons furnishing gas may 5. Inspection, record, and publication. 7. Meters, how tested, &c. Standard foot, &c. Record of meters. gas be 8. Meters now in use to be tested on request. Meters to be first inspected, proved, sealed, &c. Application of fees. Be it enacted, &c. SECTION 9. Companies to remove meters for test and re- 10. Inspector and assistant to give bond and take 11. Price of gas. Discount for prompt payment. Advance or reduction of price according to Gas-Light Company to furnish statement to 12. Gas to be furnished to District government Rate for light, cleaning, and repair, &c., of 13. Stoppage of gas for non-payment of bills and 14. Act may be amended or repealed. June 23, 1874. 18 Stat. L., 277. Standard power [SECTION 1], That from and after the thirtieth day of June, eighteen hundred and seventy-four, the illuminating power of the gas furnished and purity of gas by any gas-light company, person, or persons, in the District of Colum- in District of Columbia, &c. bia, shall be equal to sixteen candles by the Bunsen photometer, using the English parliamentary standard Argand-burner, having fifteen holes and a seven-inch chimney, consuming five cubic feet of gas per hour, and such gas shall not contain more than twenty grains of sulphur in any form in one hundred cublic feet, nor more than five grains of ammonia in any form in one hundred cubic feet. Penalty for sup When the illuminating gas supplied by any company, person, or persons in the District of Columbia, shall at any one time be of less illumi- plying gas of less nating power or of less purity than according to the standard just here- power, &c. tofore given, it shall be so reported by the inspector of gas and meters to the company, person, or persons supplying the same, who shall be subject to a penalty of one hundred dollars, to be recovered before the proper tribunal and paid into the treasury of the District of Columbia aforesaid, for each and every day during which such violation shall continue: Provided, however, That if it shall appear that such deviation from the above-named standards could not have been prevented by ordinary care and prudence, but was occasioned by some unavoidable cause, then the said penalty shall not be enforced. ary and duties. SEC. 2. That a suitable and impartial person, competent as a chemist, Inspector of gas who is not a stockholder or employee in any gas-works, shall be ap- and meters to be pointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice appointed; his saland consent of the Senate to be designated and known as inspector of gas and meters, whose compensation shall be a salary of two thousand dollars per annum, and whose duties shall be to test and determine the illuminating power and purity of the gas furnished by any company, person, or persons in the District of Columbia; and to test, prove, and seal all meters that may be hereafter used by them; Assistant in And that a suitable person, who shall be a gas-fitter by trade, shall be appointed by the President, as aforesaid, on the recommendation of spector. the inspector of gas and meters, as an assistant inspector, at a salary of one thousand dollars per annum, who shall assist in the duties speci fied under the direction of the inspector of gas and meters. SEC. 3. That a laboratory shall be provided and fitted up by the Laboratory for Washington Gas-Light Company, subject to the approval of the in- inspectors to be spector, in the central part of the city of Washington, at a distance as provided by Washnear as may be, of two thousand feet from any gas works, and furnished ington Gas-Light Company. with suitable apparatus for the transaction of the business of the inspector and assistant inspector, for which it is intended, and the labora'tory shall be kept open on all business-days between the hours of eight o'clock in the forenoon and five o'clock in the afternoon : Provided, That the cost of fitting up said laboratory shall be paid for by each Gas Company in the District of Columbia in proportion to their sale of gas for the year eighteen hundred and seventy-three. Companies and SEC. 4. That the company, person or persons furnishing the gas may, persons furnishing if they see fit, on each occasion of the testing of the gas by the inspector gas may be represented at each test- or assistant inspector, be represented by some officer, but such officer ing. shall not interfere in the testing. tion. Inspection, rec- SEC. 5. That daily inspections, Sundays excepted, shall be made in ord and publica- conformity to the intent of this act between the hours of five and eleven o'clock in the afternoon, and a record shall be kept of each inspection, giving the illuminating power and purity, which shall be open to the public, and a copy of the daily inspection shall be furnished the following day to the company, person, or persons furnishing the gas, Saturday's inspection to be furnished on Monday, and a full report for the month to be furnished, upon request, to any daily paper printed in the city of Washington on the day of their publication, next after the twenty-fourth day of each month, to include each day's test from the date of previous publication, and giving the average illuminating power for the month. Bills to state SEC. 6. That all bills for gas furnished by any company, person, or power and be re- persons shall state the average illuminating power for the month; and duced if gas below if the same shall fall below sixteen candles, as in this act prescribed, standard. then the amount of the bill shall be reduced pro rata. Meters, how tested, &c. Standard foot, &c. Record of meters. Meters now in SEC. 7. That in testing meters, the inspector or assistant inspector shall ascertain whether the meter is of proper construction, and requires only the pressure of a column of water indicated by the water-guage, commonly used for such tests, of one-fourth of an inch high to work it, and whether it works regularly and correctly, and registers exactly the amount of gas passing through it, first, at the rate the meter is marked to supply; secondly, at one-third its rate; thirdly, at twice its rate. The standard foot shall be one cubic foot, containing sixty-two and three hundred and twenty-one one-thousandths pounds, avoirdupois weight, of distilled water at the temperature of sixty-two degrees Fahrenheit, and with a barometrical pressure of thirty inches; and meters registering within two per centum either way of the exact number of such feet passing through them at the first-named rate, and within three per centum at the second and third rates, and no others shall be deemed accurate and be stamped by the inspector. The inspector shall keep at the laboratory a correct record of all meters inspected by him, with their proof at the time of inspection, which record shall be open at all times to the public for any reasonable examination by any company, person, or persons having any interest therein. SEC. 8. That any gas-meters now in use shall be proved and tested on use to be tested on the written request of the consumer of gas on whose premises it may be, request. and in his presence, if he requires, upon the payment in advance to the inspector or assistant inspector of fifty cents for each and every meter inspected, proved, and sealed, and if any such meter, on being tested, shall be found to register inaccurately to the injury of the consumer to an extent exceeding two per centum, the fee of fifty cents shall be returned to the person applying for said inspection and be paid to the inspector by the company, person, or persons supplying the gas; and every such meter shall be considered correct, and sealed accordingly, which shall register quantities varying from the true standard measure of gas of not more than two per centum, and a record shall be kept of the same and of all fees so collected. Meters to be first and sealed. And all meters hereafter used by any gas-company, person, or perinspected, proved, sons shall be first inspected, proved, and sealed at the laboratory provided for by this act; and for such inspection, proving, and sealing the company, in the first instance, and thereafter the company, person, or persons applying to have the meter inspected, shall pay fifty cents for each meter, a record of which shall be kept and of the fees so collected; And all fees shall be applied to the payment of the expenses for maintaining and keeping in good order and repair the laboratory and apparatus. same. SEC. 9. That each company, person, or persons manufacturing illu Companies to reminating gas in the District of Columbia, shall, when required, in writ- move meters for ing, by the inspector of gas and meters, bring to the laboratory any test and return meter that may have been required to be inspected, proved, and sealed, and to return the same to its proper place after such inspection; and it shall not be lawful for any other party or person to remove and return meters. SEC. 10. That the inspector and assistant inspector of gas and meters shall each give bonds to the extent of double his annual salary, and shall each take an oath or affirmation, before some officer legally quali fied to administer the same, that he will faithfully, diligently, and im. partially discharge the duties of his office. SEC. 11. That the Washington Gas-Light Company shall be authorized, on and after the passage of this act, to charge and receive for illuminating gas furnished to and paid for by the Government of the United States, at the rate of two dollars and fifty cents per one thousand cubic feet; and when furnished and paid for by other parties, or by the inhabitants of the city of Washington, at the rate of two dollars and seventy-five cents per one thousand cubic feet: Inspector and assistant to give bond and take oath. Price for gas. Discount for Advance or re Provided, That if the party or inhabitants so furnished shall pay monthly any bill within seven days after the same shall have been pre- prompt payment. sented, said party shall be entitled to a discount upon the amount of such bill at the rate of twenty-five cents per one thousand cubic feet. And all laws authorizing any higher rates are hereby repealed: Provided, That when the price of gas coals delivered at the works of the Washington Gas-Light Company shall advance to eight dollars and duction of price fifty cents per ton the price of gas to consumers may be advanced ten according to price cents per thousand cubic feet and an additional ten cents per thousand feet for each additional dollar per ton that gas coals may advance in price and in like manner a reduction of ten cents per thousand feet shall be made for each and every dollar per ton that gas coals may fall in price below seven dollars per ton. of coal. And for that purpose the Washington Gas-Light Company shall in Gas-Light Comthe month of May in each year furnish the Secretary of the Interior pany to furnish with a statement of all their coal contracts or purchases for the ensuing statement to Secyear excepting the Ritchie mineral and the Richmond coal, the cost of retary of Interior. which shall not enter into any calculation in making an average, which statement shall be sworn to before a Justice of the Peace by their Engineer and Secretary, and the advance or reduction of price shall take place on the first of July ensuing. same rate as to SEC. 12. That the Washington Gas-Light Company shall be author- Gas to be furized and required to furnish illuminating gas to the government of the nished to District District of Columbia within the distance of fifty yards from any of their government at mains, on the same terms as to the Government of the United States, United States. and in case of the non-payment of any monthly bills by the said District beyond the period of ten days from the time of presentation, the company shall be entitled to demand and receive interest thereon from date until paid. And the said company shall light, extinguish, keep clean, and repair Rate for light, the Washington City street-lamps at the uniform price of forty dollars cleaning and refor each lamp per annum, to burn two thousand two hundred hours per pair, &c., of streetlamps. annum, with a six-foot burner on each lamp, subject to any regulation that may be prescribed by the city authorities as to the time of lighting and extinguishing the same, and any extra number of hours to be charged and paid for at the same rate: Provided, That the city of Washington shall furnish, when necessary, new lanterns to replace old ones, and shall furnish and pay for the reasonable expense of erecting new lampposts to replace such as are old, damaged, and unfit for use. |