372 FIFTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 1079. 1902. nance and improvement according to the respective projects herein or heretofore adopted by Congress, after giving due regard to the respective needs of each and considerin the necessities of traiiic. The allotments to the respective works Tierein consolidated shall be made by the Secretary of War upon recommendations by the Chief of Engim_g,¤§ed°*m bgyugggf neers. Any balances now remaining to the credit of the consolidated dated mms. items in this bill shall be carried to the credit of the respective` aggregate amounts aplpropriated for the consolidated items herein contained. mfggbining °<>¤· In all cases w ere separate appropriations are made for works in ` this bill if money can be more advantageously expended by combining under one contract two or more of such works, such combinations are authorized and shall be made. mgghigegw ¤¤¤¤¤i- Sec. 2. For preliminary examinations and surveys (other than those Apprdpriation. mentioned in section one), contingencies, expenses connected with inspection of bridges, the service of notice required in such cases, the examination of bridge sites and reports thereon, and for incidental repairs for which there is no special appropriation for rivers and har- ,Q’x*;’g}ks_ bors, three hundred thousand ollars: d, That no preliminary examination, survey, project, or estimate for new works other than those designated in this or some prior Act or resolution shall be made: pos-j_g{P‘°’“°“*°‘ ·*’** P¢·0vided_fu1·¢}aer, That after the regular or formal reports made as required by law on any examination, survey, project, or work under way or proposed, are submitted no supplemental or additional report or estimate shall be made unless ordered by a concurrent resolution of Congress. The Government shall not be deemed to have entered upon any project for the inéprovement of any waterway or harbor mentioned in this Act until fun for the commencement of the proposed work shall have been actuall a propriated by law. O,,*§’_j’_;‘,‘Q’ of ‘;§‘,$_§,P§§{ Sec. 3. That there shall)be organized in the Office of the Chief of sm-veys. em. Engineers, United States Army, by detail from time to time from the Duties- Cor s of Engineers, a board of live engineer officers, whose duties shall)be fixed by the Chief of Engineers, and to whom shall be referred for consideration and recommendation, in addition to any other duties assigned, so far as in the opinion of the Chief of Engineers may be necessary, all reports upon examinations and survevs provided for by Con ress, and all projects or changes in projects for works of river and harbor improvement heretofore or hereafter provided for. And the board shall submit to the Chief of Engineers recommendations as to the desirability of commencing or continuing any and all improvements upon which reports are required. And in the consideration of such works and projects the board shall have in view the amount and character of commerce existing or reasonably prospective which will be benefited by the improvement, and the relation of the ultimate cost of such work, both as to cost of construction and maintenance, to the public commercial interests involved, and the public necessity for the work and propriety of its construction, continuance, `or maintenance at the expense of the United States. And such consideration shall be given as time permits to such works as have heretofore been provided for by Congress, the same as in the case of new works proposed. The board shall, when it considers the same necessary, and with the sanction and under orders from the Chief of Engineers, makeyas a board or through its members. personal examinations of localities. And all facts, information, and arguments which are presented to the board for its consideration in connection with any matter referred to it bv the Chief of Engineers shall be reduced to and submitted in writing, and made a rt of the records of the Ofhce of the Chief of Engineers. It shall fnrthielr be the duty of said board, upon a request transmitted to the Chief of Engineers by the Committee on Rivers and Harbors of the House of Representatives, or the Committee on Commerce of the Senate, in the same manner to examine and report through the
