Chapter CLXX. *to authorize the Construction of certain Bridges across the Mississippi River, and to establish the same as Post-roads.*May 17, 1872
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CHAP. CLXX.— An Act *to authorize the Construction of certain Bridges across the Mississippi River, and to establish the same as Post-roads.*May 17, 1872. See 1872, ch. 281. *Post*, p. 215. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Western Illinois Bridge Company may build a bridge across the Mississippi river at Quincy, Ill., and for what purposes.That it shall be lawful for the Western Illinois Bridge Company, a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Missouri, to build a bridge across the Mississippi river, at the city of Quincy, Illinois, for the purpose of crossing persons and property, such as are usually crossed on wagon-bridges; and also to lay on and over said bridge railway-tracks for the more perfect connection of any Railway tracks.railroads that are or shall be constructed to the said river at or opposite said point, and that, when constructed, all persons and property as aforesaid, and also all trains of all roads terminating at said river, at or opposite said point, shall be allowed to cross said bridge for reasonable compensation, to be made to the owners of said bridge, under the limitations and If there is litigation, case to be tried where.conditions hereinafter provided; and in case of any litigation or alleged obstruction to the free navigation of said river, the cause may be tried before the district court of the United States of any State in which any All railway companies to have equal rights.portion of said obstruction orbridge touches; and that all railway companies desiring to use the said bridge shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges in the passage of the same, and in the use of the machinery and fixtures thereof, and of all the approaches thereto, under and upon such terras and conditions as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of War, upon hearing the allegations and proofs of the parties, in case they shall not agree.
Sec. 2. Bridge to be a drawbridge, or built with unbroken spans.That said bridge may, at the option of the company building the same, be built either as a pivot drawbridge, or with unbroken or continuons spans : *Provided*, That if the said bridge shall be made with unbroken or continuous spans, it shall not be of less elevation, in any case, than fifty feet above high-water mark, as understood at the point of location, Spans and piers.to the bottom chord of the bridge; nor shall the spans of said bridge be less than two hundred and fifty feet in length, and the piers of said bridge shall be parallel with the current of the river, and the main span shall be over the main channel of the river, and not less than three hundred Draw, spans and piers.feet in length: *And provided also*, That if said bridge shall be constructed as a pivot drawbridge, the same shall be constructed with a draw over the main channel of the river at an accessible and navigable point, and with spans of not less than one hundred and sixty feet in length, in the clear, on each side of the central or pivot pier of the draw; and the next adjoining spans to the draw shall not be less than two hundred andFORTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
Sess. II. Ch. 170, 171. 1872.121fifty feet, if the proper location of the draw over the channel will admit spans of this width between it and the shore, and said spans shall not be less than thirty feet above low-water mark, and not less than ten feet above extreme high-water mark, measuring to the bottom chord of the bridge, and the piers of said bridge shall be parallel with the current of the river: *And provided also*, That said draw shall be opened promptly, upon reasonableDraw to be opened promptly. signal, for the passage of the boats whose construction shall not be such as to admit of their passage under the permanent spans of said bridge, except when trains are passing over the same; but in no case shall unnecessary delay occur in opening the said draw during or after the passage of trains.
Sec. 3. That any bridge constructed under this act, and according toBridge to be a lawful structure, and post-route, &c. 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 their transportation over the railroads or public highways leading to said bridge, and theRight of way for postal telegraph.
United States shall have the right of way for postal telegraph purposes across said bridge. Sec. 4. That said company may execute a mortgage upon said bridge,Mortgage and bonds. and issue bonds, payable, principal and interest, in gold or United States currency. Sec. 5. That the right to alter or amend this act, so as to prevent orAct may be altered, &c., to prevent obstructions to navigation, &c. remove all material obstructions to the navigation of said river by the coustsuction of said bridge, is hereby expressly reserved; and the said bridge shall be built under and subject to such regulations for the security of the navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and the said bridge shall be, at all times, so kept and managed as to offer reasonable and propper means for the passage of vessels.
Sec. 6. That the plan and specifications, with the necessary drawingsPlans, &c., of bridge to be approved by Secretary of War. of said bridge, shall be submitted to the Secretary of War, for his approval, and until be approve the plan and location of said bridge it shall not be built or commenced; and should any change be made in the plan of saidChanges in plan, how to be made and at whose coat. bridge during the progress of the work thereon such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War; and all changes in the construction or any alteration of said bridge, that may be directed at any time by Congress, shall be made at the cost and expense of the owners thereof.
Sec. 7. That the Warsaw and Alexandria Bridge Company, theirWarsaw and Alexandria Bridge Co. may build a bridge over the Mississippi between Warsaw and Alexandria. successors and assigns, a corporation existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Missouri, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge over the Mississippi river at and between the city of Warsaw, in Hancock county, and State of Illinois, and the city of Alexandria, in Clark county, and State of Missouri; and the bridge authorized to be built by this section is hereby declared to be a post-route,Bridge to be a post-route and wheu to be built. and shall have all the privileges and be subject to all the terms, restrictions, and requirements contained in the foregoing sections of this act : *Provided*, That the construction of the bridge mentioned in this section shall be commenced within eighteen months bom the passage of this act.
Approved, May 17, 1872.