Time of construction. Amendment. its construction, with such maps as shall be necessary for a full understanding of the regimen of the river for a distance of one mile above and one-half mile below the proposed site of said bridge, shall have been submitted to and approved by the Secretary of War, and any subse quent change in the plans, construction, or location of said bridge shall be subject to like approval. SEC. 5. That this Act shall be null and void unless the bridge herein authorized be commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date hereof. SEC. 6. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, February 18, 1903. February 18, 1903. Vol. 32, p. 834. River, Ark. ana Railway bridge. Location. CHAP. 561.-An Act Authorizing the Memphis, Helena and Louisiana Railway Company to construct and maintain a bridg across Saint Francis River, in the State of Arkansas. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives Saint Francis of the United States of America in Congress assembled, Tha Memphis, Hel- the Memphis, Helena and Louisiana Railway Company ena and Louisi- a corporation created and existing under and by virtu Company may of the laws of the State of Arkansas, be, and it is hereby authorized to construct and maintain a bridge across the Saint Francis River, in the State of Arkansas, a such point in section twenty-five, township three north range four east, in Lee County, in said State, suitable to the interests of navigation, as may hereafter be selected by said railway company for crossing said river with its Railway, wag railway line. Said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the passage of railway trains, and, at the option of said railway company, may be used for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, for the transit of ani mals, and for foot passengers, for such reasonable rates of toll as may be fixed by said railway company and approved by the Secretary of War. on, and foot bridge. Toll. Lawful structure and post route. SEC. 2. That said bridge built under this Act and subject to its limitations shall be a lawful structure and shall be recognized and known as a post route, upon which also no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, the troops, and munitions of war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over the railroad or public highways leading to the said bridge, and shall enjoy the rights and priviTelegraph, leges of other post roads in the United States; and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies, and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge and its apUnobstructed proaches for postal-telegraph purposes: Provided, That the bridge herein authorized to be constructed shall be so kept and managed by the company owning or operating it as to afford proper ways and means for the passage through or under it of vessels, barges, or rafts at all times, both by etc., rights. Proviso. navigation. day and by night; and there shall be displayed on said Lights, etc. bridge, from sunset to sunrise, such lights and signals as the Light-House Board shall prescribe. Proviso. SEC. 3. That if said bridge, erected and maintained Changes. under the authority of this Act, shall at any time substantially or materially obstruct the free navigation of said river, or shall, in the opinion of the Secretary of War, obstruct such navigation, he is hereby authorized to cause such change or alteration of said bridge to be made as will effectually obviate such obstruction, and such alteration shall be made and all such obstructions be removed at the expense of the owner or owners of said bridge; and in case of any litigation arising from any obstruction or alleged Litigation. obstruction to the free navigation of said river the case may be brought in the district court of the United States in the State of Arkansas for the district in which any portion of said obstruction or bridge may be located: Pro- Existing laws vided, That nothing in this Act shall be so construed as to not affected. repeal or modify any of the provisions of law now existing in reference to the protection of the navigation of rivers, or to exempt said bridge from the operation of the same. Use by other SEC. 4. That all railroad companies desiring the use of companies. the bridge constructed under this Act shall have and be Compensation. entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains or cars over the same and over the approaches thereto upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in case the parties interested shall fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid and upon the rules and conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge, all matters of issue between them shall, upon the application of either party, be determined by the district court of the United States in and for any district in which any portion of said bridge may be. Secretary of SEC. 5. That the bridge authorized to be constructed War to approve under this Act shall be built and located under and subject plans, etc. to such regulations for the security of navigation of said river as the Secretary of 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 a design and drawings of said bridge and a map of the location giving for the space of one mile above and one mile below the proposed location of the bridge the topography of the banks of the river, with shore lines at high and low water, 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 location of the bridge are approved by the Secretary of War the bridge shall not be built; and should any change be made in the plans of the said bridge during the process of construction or after completion, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, and said structure shall be changed the cost and expense of the owners thereof from tim as to as the Secretary of War may direct, so riv struction. Time of con- SEC. 6. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction of the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date hereof. Amendment. SEC. 7. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, February 18, 1903. February 18, 1903. Connecticut River. CHAP. 562.-An Act To authorize the board of commissioners for the Connecticut bridge and highway district to construct a bridge Vol. 32, p. 836. across the Connecticut River at Hartford, in the State of Connecticut. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the board of commissioners for the Connecticut bridge and Bridge at highway district, a body politic and corporate, created authorized. 'by the laws of the State of Connecticut, be, and hereby is, Drawbridge. authorized to construct and maintain a drawbridge across the Connecticut River at Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, between the city of Hartford and the town of East Hartford. Hartford, Conn., Secretary of War to approve plans, etc. Unobstructed navigation. Lights, etc. Changes. Lawful structure and post route. SEC. 2. That said bridge shall be built and located under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation as the Secretary of War may prescribe; and to secure that object the said board of commissioners shall submit for his examination and approval designs and drawings of the bridge, and maps of the location, giving, 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 currents, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed of the river, 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 are approved by him the bridge shall not be commenced or built; and should any change be made in said bridge before or after completion, such change shall be likewise subjected to the approval of the Secretary of War. SEC. 3. That said bridge shall be kept and managed so as to offer reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels through or under the same, and for the safety of vessels passing at night there shall be displayed on said bridge from sunset to sunrise such lights or other signals as the Light-House Board shall prescribe. And any changes in said bridge which the Secretary of War may at any time deem necessary to be made and shall order in the interest of navigation shall be made by said board of commissioners at their own expense. SEC. 4. That the bridge constructed, maintained, and operated under this Act and according to its limitations shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post route, upon which no higher charge shall be made for the transportation over the same of the mails, troops, and munitions of war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for transportation of said mails, troops, and munitions of war over public highways leading to said bridge; and the United States shall have the right of way for telegraph, postal, and telephone pur- Telegraph, etc., rights. poses over said bridge, and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies. struction. SEC. 5. That this Act shall be null and void if actual Time of con construction of the said bridge be not commenced in two years and completed in six years from the date hereof. SEC. 6. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Amendment. Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, February 18, 1903. 1903. CHAP. 563.-An Act To authorize the Pittsburg, Carnegie and, February 18, Western Railroad Company to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Allegheny River. Vol. 32, p. 837. River, Pa. ern Railroad Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Allegheny the Pittsburg, Carnegie and Western Railroad Company, Pittsburg, Cara corporation existing under the laws of the State of Penn-negie and Westsylvania, its successors and assigns, be, and the same are Company may hereby, authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a burg. bridge, at Pittsrailroad bridge across the Allegheny River from a point about seventy-five feet east of the southeast corner of Fourth street and Duquesne way, in the city of Pittsburg, in the State of Pennsylvania, to a point on the opposite bank of said river, at right angles with the current thereof, in the county of Allegheny in said State, the exact location, length of span, and height of said bridge to be determined and approved by the Secretary of War and Chief of Engineers. The said bridge, when built in accordance with the provisions and requirements of this Act, shall be a legal and lawful structure, and may be used as a highway for railway purposes. War to approve plans, etc. SEC. 2. That the bridge authorized to be constructed Secretary of under this Act shall be located and built under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the said company shall submit to the said Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, a design and drawing of the bridge and piers, and a map of the location, giving for the space of one mile above and one mile below the proposed location the topography of the banks of the river and the shore lines at high and low water, and giving for the space of one-half mile above and one-half mile below the proposed location an accurate representation of the bottom of the river, determined by actual soundings, and the location of any other bridge or bridges, and such other information as may be required for the full and satisfactory understanding of the subject by the Secretary of War; and the construction of said Changes. Lawful structure and post route. Unobstructed navigation. Toll. Use by other roads. bridge shall not be commenced until said location and plans have been submitted to and approved by the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of War; and said plans, after having been approved by the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of War, shall not be deviated from either before or after completion of the structure unless the modification of said plans be previously submitted to and receive the approval of the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of War; and the said company shall, at its own expense, make from time to time such changes in said bridge as the Secretary of War may order in the interests of navigation. SEC. 3. That any bridge constructed under this Act shall be a lawful structure and shall be known as a post-road, upon which no higher charge shall be made for the transportation over the same of the mails, the troops, and munitions of war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over railroads or public highways leading to said bridge; and said bridge shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post-roads in the United States, and the United States shall also have the right to construct a postal telegraph over said bridge without charge therefor. SEC. 4. That said bridge herein authorized to be constructed shall be so kept and maintained as at all times to afford proper means and ways for the passage of vessels, barges, or rafts, both by day and by night; and there shall be displayed on said bridge by the owners thereof from sunset to sunrise such lights or other signals as the LightHouse Board may prescribe. SEC. 5. That said bridge may be constructed to provide for the passage of railway trains and street cars for such reasonable rates of toll as may be approved from time to time by the Secretary of War. SEC. 6. That all railway companies desiring the use of said bridge shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of cars over the same and the approaches thereto upon the payment of a reasonable Compensation. Compensation for such use; and in case the owner or owners of said bridge and several companies, or any one of them, desiring such use shall fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid and upon the 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, Telegraph, and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be etc., rights. granted to all telegraph and telephone companies. Time of conLtruction. Amendment. SEC. 7. That the privileges hereby conferred and this Act shall become null and void if the construction of the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within two years and completed within four years after the passage of this Act. SEC. 8. That Congress hereby reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act. Approved, February 18, 1903. |