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PAPERS OF MIR.ABE.AU BuoN.AP.ARTE LA.MAR
pub[lic work]s, generally composed of five members most interested in five different counties and presided by the Governor of the State. The Governor or President names a Chief Civil Engineer; who, besides the usual qualifications of an Engineer, ought to have great practical experience in public works, such as: Bridges, Wharves, Canals, Rail Roads &c and especially a profound knowledge of Mechanics, Math- ematics and Machinery, for often works can only be performed by the scientific application of those sciences, and by machines of which the invention, form and structure must vary according to local circum- stances. The Board, thus composed of six members, meets every session of Congress, to receive the report of the Engineer upon the improve- ments, works, surveys &c. which he has been charged to examine, or upon those which he proposes to the Bureau. Upon the report of the Chief civil Engineer, the Board, makes its own report to Congress, presents the most possible exact estimate of the expenses necessary for each improvement, as calculated by the Engineer, and asks authority to execute works- As soon as an improvement is decided by Congress the Chief civil Engineer draws the plans of the works and superintend their execution, but he acts only on the orders of the Board or of the Presi- dent, and the account of expenditures is verified by the Board. All improvements although individual, but which requires the authorization of Congress, are not authorized except upon the favor- able report of the Chief civil Engineer of whom one of the most im- portant duties is to make every private or public improvement tend towards one general end. The Chief civil Engineer may be ordered, as a peculiar favor granted by Government to some private companies, to examine a project and, without an additional expense to them, to make surveys, give his report, motive his opinion and even superintend the execution of the works- favor which cannot fail to give immediate impulse to p~r- ticular enterprise. The situation of the public Treasury cannot be an objection for [the ac]tion of the boards of public works, because no work cannot be put in execution before one year from now. [Endorsed] Proposition to Appoint a Board of Civil Engineers Mr Pepin- No. 1609 [1839?, M. EVANS, SECOND AUDITOR'S OFFICE, AUSTIN, TEXAS]. ACCOUNT 79 Account of Balances remaining in the hands of different disbursing Naval officers whos accounts are not yet settled-
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