War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the said company or corporation shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, designs and drawings of said bridges and maps of the locations, giving, for the space of one mile above and one mile below the proposed locations, the topography of the banks of the rivers, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the currents at all stages, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed of the streams, the location of any other bridge or bridges, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and until the said plans and locations of the bridges are approved by the Secretary of War the bridges shall not be commenced or built, and should any change be made in the plan of said bridges during the process of construction or after completion, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War; and the said conAids to navi- structions shall be at all times so managed and kept as to gation. offer reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels through or under said structures; and to secure the safe passage of vessels at night there shall be displayed on said bridges, from the hour of sunset to that of sunrise, such lights as may be prescribed by the Light-House Board, and the said structures shall be changed, at the cost and expense of the owners thereof, from time to time, as the Secretary of War may direct, so as to preserve the free and convenient navigation of said rivers. Lights, etc. SEC. 6. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction of the bridges herein authorized be not commenced within three years from the date hereof, and completed within five years. SEC. 7. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, January 30, 1897. January 30, 1897. Time extended bridge over. Vol. 24, p. 469. CHAP. 113.-An Act Extending the time for the completion of the bridge across the East River, between the city of New York and Long Island, now in course of construction, as authorized by the Act of Congress approved March third, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives East River, of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That New York. the time for the completion of the bridge of the New York for completing and Long Island Bridge Company across the East River, between the city of New York and Long Island, authorized by the Act of Congress entitled "An Act authorizing the construction of a bridge across the East River, between the city of New York and Long Island," approved March third, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, and the various Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, is hereby extended to and including the first day of January in the year nineteen hundred. Approved, January 30, 1897. CHAP. 121.-An Act To provide for an examination and survey of February 1, 1897. a water route from the mouth of the jetties at the city of Galveston, Texas, through the ship channel and up Buffalo Bayou to the city of Houston, Texas. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Water route, the Secretary of War be, and he hereby is, authorized and Galveston to Houston, Tex. directed to make an examination and survey, with an esti- Survey, etc., mate of the necessary cost, for a water channel not less directed. than twenty-five feet deep and one hundred feet wide, extending from the mouth of the jetties at the city of Galveston, Texas, through the existing ship channel and up Buffalo Bayou to the city of Houston, Texas, and for a harbor at or near Houston of a depth of not less than twenty-five feet and of a width of five hundred feet, and to make a report of such examination, survey, and estimate, with its commercial importance, to Congress. SEC. 2. That the cost of said examination, survey, and estimate be paid out of funds already appropriated for work on the improvement of the ship channel and Buffalo Bayou. Approved, February 1, 1897. Expense. Vol. 29, pp. 209, 222. CHAP. 122.—An Act To authorize the construction or acquisition February 1, 1897. of a bridge across the Rio Grande River at El Paso, in the State of Texas. Company may Grande, El Paso, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Sierra Madre Construction Company, a corporation Sierra Madre duly incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jer- Construction sey, and its successors and assigns, be, and the same is bridge Rio hereby, authorized to erect, construct, maintain, and oper- Tex. ate a bridge over the Rio Grande River at the city of El Paso, in the State of Texas, at such point on said river in the county of El Paso as may accommodate the line of railway which said corporation may build to said point. Said bridge shall be constructed so as to provide for the passage of railway trains and shall be used for the passage of Railway, etc., wagons and vehicles of all kinds, and for the transit of animals and for foot passengers, and for the transit of freight, goods, wares, and merchandise, for such reasonable rates of toll as may be fixed by the Secretary of War; and the Secretary of War shall have the right from time to time to Toll. revise such rates. bridge. SEC. 2. That said bridge may be built with unbroken and continuous spans and of the following dimensions, to wit: Construction. Six hundred feet in length, twenty feet in width, ten feet in height above high-water level, and with twenty-eight spans, twelve of which to be thirty feet in length and sixteen of which to be fifteen feet in length, completed in the manner herein specified, shall be deemed and taken to be a legal structure. Unobstructed navigation. Use by railroad SEC. 3. That said bridge shall not interfere with the free navigation of said river, and in case of any litigation aris ing from an obstruction or an alleged obstruction to the free navigation thereof, caused or alleged to be caused by said bridge, the case may be tried before the circuit or district court of the United States for the State in which any portion of said bridge may be situated. SEC. 4. That all railroad companies desiring the use of companies. said bridge shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains over the Compensation. Same, and over the approaches thereto, upon payment of a reasonable compensation to the owners of said bridge, and should the several railroad companies, or any one of them, desiring such use, fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid, and upon rules and conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge, all matters at issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War upon a hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties; and all telephone and telegraph companies shall have equal rights and privileges in constructing and operating their lines across said bridge. Consent of tics. SEC. 5. That the consent of the State of Chihuahua, Mexican authori- United States of Mexico, and of the proper authorities of the Republic of Mexico shall have been obtained before said bridge shall be built or commenced. Commencement and completion. Reservation of authority. Amendment, etc. Purchase of existing bridge. Vol. 22, 15. 179, Vol. 25, p. 457. Reconstruc tion, etc. Consent of ities. SEC. 6. That unless the construction of said bridge be commenced within one year and finished within three years from the date of the passage of this Act the provisions of this Act shall be null and void. SEC. 7. That Congress reserves the right to withdraw the authority and power conferred by this Act in case the free navigation of said river shall at any time be substantially or materially obstructed by said bridge, or for any other reason, and to direct the removal or necessary modifications thereof at the cost and expense of the owners of said bridge; and Congress may at any time alter, repeal, or amend this Act. SEC. S. That said company, instead of erecting such bridge, may acquire by purchase or otherwise the property and franchises of any street-railway bridge heretofore authorized by Congress to be built and now built and in operation across said river at said point. SEC. 9. That said company may in such case remodel and strengthen such bridge so acquired so as to conform in all particulars to the requirements for a new bridge, as hereinbefore set out, and may maintain and operate such bridge under the conditions of its original franchises, subject to all the provisions of this Act in respect to a new bridge. SEC. 10. That the consent of the State of Chihuahua, Mexican author. United States of Mexico, and of the proper authorities of the Republic of Mexico shall have been obtained before such property and franchises are acquired. Approved, February 1, 1897. CHAP. 146.—An Act To authorize officers who served during the February 4, 1897. war of the rebellion in the Regular Army to bear the title and, on occasions of ceremony, wear the uniform of their highest rank. form of highest officers for serv ice during the Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Army. the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all Title and uniofficers who have served during the rebellion as officers of rank allowed exthe Regular Army of the United States, and have been honorably discharged or resigned from the service, shall be rebellion. entitled to bear the official title and, upon occasions of ceremony, to wear the uniform of the highest grade they have held, by brevet or other commission, as is now authorized for officers of volunteers by section twelve hundred and R. S., sec. 1226, twenty-six, Revised Statutes. Approved, February 4, 1897. p. 212. CHAP. 173.-An Act To approve and ratify the construction of a February 8, 1897. bridge across the Sulphur River, in the State of Arkansas, by the Texarkana and Fort Smith Railway Company. Fort Smith Rail Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Texarkana and the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the way Company construction by the Texarkana and Fort Smith Railway may bridge Sulphur River, ArCompany, a corporation duly organized under the laws kansas. of the State of Arkansas, of the bridge over the Sulphur River, in said State of Arkansas, be, and the same hereby is, approved and ratified, subject to the stipulations and conditions hereinafter set forth. ture and post SEC. 2. That said bridge, so long as maintained accord- Lawful strucing to the limitations of this Act, shall be a lawful structure, route. and shall be known and recognized as a post route, and the same is hereby declared to be a post route, upon which no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, the troops, and the munitions of war of the United States, or for through passengers or freight passing over the same, than the rate per mile paid for their transportation over the railroads leading to said bridge; and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge for a postal telegraph. Postal tele graph. Secretary of regulations, etc. War to prescribe SEC. 3. That said bridge shall be under and subject to such regulations for the security of the navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe, and the present plan and structure of said bridge shall not be altered or changed except by consent of the Secretary of War, and with his approval of the proposed change or alteration: Provided, That any change or alteration in the Proviso. said bridge which the Secretary of War may deem necessary in the interest of navigation shall be made by the said railroad company at its own expense. Changes. SEC. 4. That all railroad companies desiring the use of Use by other said bridge shall have and be entitled to equal rights and companies. privileges relative to the passage of railway trains over the same, and over the approaches thereto, upon payment of a Compensation. reasonable compensation for such use; and in case the owner or owners of said bridge and the several railroad companies, or any one of them, desiring such use, shall fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid, and upon rules and conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge, all matters at issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War, upon a hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties. Amendment, etc. SEC. 5. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act at any time. Approved, February 8, 1897. February 8, 1897. CHAP. 174.-An Act To authorize the construction by the Kansas City, Shreveport and Gulf Railroad Company of a bridge across the Sabine River between the States of Louisiana and Texas. Kansas City, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of bridge Sabine Tex. bridge. the State of Louisiana, its successors or assigns, be, and it is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge and approaches thereto across the Sabine River at or about twenty miles above the town of Orange, in the State of Railway, etc., Texas. Said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the passage of railway trains, and, at the option of said corporation, may be so constructed as to provide for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, animals, and foot passengers for such reasonable rates of toll as may be approved by the Secretary of War. Toll. SEC. 2. That the bridge herein authorized shall be built and located under and in accordance with such regulations for the security of navigation as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the said company shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, drawings showing the plan and location of said bridge, said drawings to give, for the space of one-half mile above and one-half mile below the proposed location, the topography of the banks of the river, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the current at all stages, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed of the stream, and such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and until the plan and location of the bridge are approved by the Secretary of War the bridge shall not be commenced or built; and any change in the plans of said bridge, either before or after construction, shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War; and any change. in said bridge during or after construction which the Secretary of War may require in the interest of navigation shall be made by the said company at its own expense. SEC. 3. That the said bridge shall at all times be so kept and managed as to offer reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels and other crafts through or under |