848

JOINT RESOLUTIONS.

earning annual revenues sufficient to pay its ordinary current

expenses is wholly impracticable, and that a sale or lease of

said work is sooner or later inevitable; and

WHEREAS, it is desirable that some steps shall be taken by this

general assembly whereby provision can be made if possible for

a just and equitable settlement of the claims of the said pre-

Preamble

ferred and repair bondholders under said acts of eighteen

hundred and forty-four, chapter 281, and eighteen hundred

and seventy-eight, chapter fifty-eight, respectively, at the same

time for some return to this State for her heavy investments

in said canal so as to save the same from total loss; and

WHEREAS, it is well known that for several months past the

Preamble

board of public works have been prepared to receive and con-

sider proposals from any responsible bidders for the leasing of

said canal, and his excellency, the governor in his recent mes-

sage to this general assembly strongly recommends that such

lease shall be made; and

WHEREAS, legislation will be necessary to authorize and make

valid any such disposition of said canal and its works, and

Preamble

until it is known whether any person or corporation can be

found with the necessary capital to enter into such lease, and

to carry out the proper covenants and terms thereof, such leg-

islation must be conjectural and inadequate, and may be wholly

ineffectual; therefore,

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That in

order to enable such necessary and proper legislation to be pre-

pared and enacted by this general assembly; the board of public

Advertise

works be, and they are hereby directed to advertise in such public

to pro-

newspapers of large and general circulation as they deem proper,

posals

for not less than twelve days for sealed proposals to lease said

Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and all its property of every descrip-

tion, lands, water-rights and franchises; the bids to be opened

by said board of public works at twelve o'clock, noon, on Tuesday

the fourth day of February, eighteen hundred and ninety, and to

be reported without delay to this general assembly for such action

thereon as shall be deemed expedient.