68 



Doc« No. 75. 



and in case of the resignation or death of any of the said commissioners;, 

 the vacancy thereby occasioned shall be supplied by the legislature in the 

 manner in which senators of the United States from this State are directed 

 to be chosen. 



^^2. And be it further enacted, That the said commissioners shall 

 choose one of their number to be president of their board, and shall ap- 

 point a fit person for their secretary, who shall be allowed and paid such 

 salary as the said commissioners shall deem proper and reasonable; and 

 the president of the said board of commissioners shall have power to call 

 a meeting of the same whenever in his opinion the public interests re- 

 quire it; and the same board may adjourn from time to time, to meet at 

 any time and place they may deem most conducive to the public goodr 

 and further J, the said commissioners shall have power to employ such 

 and so many agents, engiueers, surveyors, draughtsmen, and other per- 

 sons, as in their opinion may be necessary to enable them to fulfil and 

 discharge the duties imposed upon them by this act, and to allow and pay 

 the said agents, engineers, surveyors, draughtsmen, and other persons, 

 for their respective services^ such sum or simis as may be adequate and 

 reasonable. 



3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the said com- 

 missioners, as soon as may be after the passing of this act, to cause those 

 parts of the territory of this State which may lie upon or contiguous to 

 the probable courses and ranges of the said canals to be explored and 

 examined for the purpose of fixing and determining the most eligible and 

 proper routes for the same, and to cause all necessary surveys and levels 

 to be taken, and accurate maps, field-books, and draughts thereof to be 

 m3.de; and further, to adopt and recommend pro]:)er plans for the construc- 

 tion and formation of the said canals, and of the locks, dams, embank- 

 ments, tunnels, and aqueducts, which may be necessary for the comple- 

 tion of the same; and to cause all necessary plans, draughts, and models 

 thereof to be executed under their direction. 



4. And be it further enarted, That the Laid commissioners, or a majority 

 of them, shall be, and they are hereby, authorized and required to make 

 application in behalf of this State to the government of the United States, 

 and of such States and Territories as may be benefited by the said canals, 

 or either of them, to the proprietors of lands through or near which the 

 said canals, or either of them, may or may be proposed to pass, to all 

 bodies politic and corporate, pul3lic or private, and all citizens or inhabit- 

 ants of this or any other of the United States, for cessions, grants, or 

 donations of land or money, for the purpose of aiding in the constructing 

 or completing of both or either of the said canals, according to the discre- 

 tion of the several grantors or donors; and to take to the people of this 

 State such grants and conveyances as may be proper and competent to 

 vest a good and sufficient title in the said people to the lands so to be 

 ceded or granted as aforesaid; and, for the purposes above mentioned, it 

 shall be the duty of the said commissioners to open books of subscription 

 in such and so many places as they may think necessary or expedient, 

 and under such rules and regulations as they may from time to time 

 establish: and further, it shall be their duty to ascertain whether to any 

 and to what amount, and upon what terms, loans of money may or can 

 be procured on the credit of this State for the purposes aforesaid. 



'^5. And be it further enacted y That it shall be the duty of the said commis- 



