NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1963 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 1117

SENATE BILL 379

 

 

AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PRESIDENT JAMES K. POLK BIRTHPLACE.

 

WHEREAS, President James K. Polk, born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, rose to national greatness and true statesmanship in his services to the Nation, including the acquisition for the United States of the western third of the Nation, comprising the present great States of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington and parts of Montana and Colorado, as well as indirectly influencing the annexation of the State of Texas; and

WHEREAS, since 1955 successive Sessions of the General Assembly, in making appropriations to be applied to the acquisition and development of the site, have recognized the importance of restoring and preserving the birthplace of this great President as a State Historic site; and

WHEREAS, these appropriations, together with a grant of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500.00) from the Richardson Foundation, have provided a total of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for the restoration, but an approximately equal amount is needed in addition to complete the project and other funds are needed to provide for supervision of the restoration and afterward for maintenance and operating costs; and

WHEREAS, restoration plans are being drawn for the construction of replicas of the original type log house and outbuildings, for the restoration of a section of the Old Trading Path, the public highway which from Colonial times passed in front of the Polk home, and for the restoration of fences and other appurtenances of the Polk Birthplace, but no funds have been made available for these purposes and none for research and for technical supervision of the restoration work; and

WHEREAS, with the appropriation of the funds listed below the Polk Birthplace can be completely developed during the 1963-1964 fiscal year and in the year following operated as a regular State Historic Site: Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

 

Section 1.  An appropriation of sixty-seven thousand dollars ($67,000.00) from the General Fund is hereby made to the State Department of Archives and History for the following capital improvements:

Supplement to the $23,000 now in hand for construction of a Visitor Center-Museum          $25,000

Exhibits and equipment                                                                        4,000

Restoration of the Polk residence, outbuildings, fences,

and other features                                                                       30,000

Furnishing of the Polk Birthplace and outbuildings                                8,000

Total Capital Improvements                                                            $67,000

Sec. 2.  An appropriation from the General Fund is made to the Department of Archives and History for the maintenance and operation of the President James K. Polk Birthplace State Historic Site as follows:

1963-64           1964-65

Salaries and Wages                                                                              $5,628               $5,628

Salaries and Wages — Temporary                                                                                   3,600

Supplies and Materials                                                                                                        500

Postage, Telephone, Telegraph, Express                                                                             200

Travel Expense                                                                                         600                    300

Motor Vehicle Operation                                                                          600                    500

Repairs and Alterations                                                                                                       800

Equipment                                                                                                                          800

Motor Vehicle Purchase                                                                       ______               1,700

$6,828             $14,028

Sec. 3.  The use of the above funds is to be in accordance with the terms of Chapter 210, Session Laws of 1963.

Sec. 4.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 5.  This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 1963.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 24th day of June, 1963.