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Show 557 a public improvement "which shall bind the government to pay a larger sum of money than the amount in the treasury appropriated for the specific purpose."337 Nor may a federal agency expend in any one fiscal year "any sum in excess of appropriations made by Congress for that fiscal year, or involve the government in any contract or other obligation for future payment of money in excess of such appropriations unless such contract or obligation is authorized by law."338 In the third place, with an exception not pertinent here, no contract may be made "unless the same is authorized by law or is under an appropriation adequate to its fulfillment."339 Therefore, either appropriations or express authority to con- tract beyond appropriated amounts must be provided to enable an agency to initiate construction, or to continue construction of a project otherwise authorized. In large measure, the rate of construction is thus determined by the authorizing legisla- tion or the amount of appropriation. Authorized navigation and flood-control projects "may be prosecuted by direct appropriations, by continuing contracts," or both.340 Moreover, appropriations for navigation and flood- control improvements usually specify that the funds shall be "immediately available" and "remain available until ex- pended." 841 It should also be noted that an authorization of a navigation or flood-control work "in accordance with the plans" in a designated report, "at an estimated" specified cost, imposes no limitation on appropriations.3*2 On the other hand, a limitation does arise from a project authorization "at a cost not to exceed" a specified amount.343 In cases where a comprehensive plan is authorized, the act may place varying 337 R. S. § 3733, from Act of July 25,1868, § 3,15 Stat. 171,177, 41 U. S. 0.12. 338 R. S. § 3679, from Act of July 12,1870, § 7,16 Stat. 230, 251, as amended, 31 U. S. 0. 665. "" R. S. § 3732, from Act of March 2, 1861, § 10, 12 Stat. 214, 220, as amended, 41U. S. 0.11. 840 Act of September 22,1922, § 10, 42 Stat. 1038, 1043, 33 U. S. C. 621. 341 See, e. g., Act of June 25,1948, 62 Stat. 1019,1020. 842 See, e. g., Act of December 22,1944, § 10, 58 Stat. 887, 891. 848 See, e. g., Act of June 28, 1938, 52 Stat. 1215, 1220, project for Oolfax, Grant Parish, La. |