Chapter 110. to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River at or near Keithsburg in the State of Illinois and to establish it as a post-roadApr. 26, 1882. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Mercer County Bridge
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CHAP. 110.— An Act to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River at or near Keithsburg in the State of Illinois and to establish it as a post-roadApr. 26, 1882. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Mercer County Bridge Company, or Keithsburg Bridge Company, or both, authorized to construct bridge across Mississippi River. That it shall be lawful for the Mercer County Bridge Company, a corporation duly created and organized under the laws of the State of Illinois, or the Keithsburg Bridge Company, a corporation duly created and organized under the laws of the State of Iowa, or both of them, or either or both of their successors or assigns, to build a bridge across the Mississippi Biver at such point on said river at or near Keithsburg, in the State of Illinois, as may accommodate the Chicago, Burlington and Pacific Railroad Company, or the Central Iowa Railway Company, and their connections, on the west side of said river, and the Peoria and Farmington Railroad Company, on the. east side of said river, and to lay on or over said bridge a railroad track or tracks for the more perfect connection of any railroad or railroads that are or shall be constructed to the said river, on either or both sides thereof, at or opposite said point, under the limitations and conditions hereinafter provided; that said bridge shall not inter- 51fere with the free navigation of said river beyond what is necessary inFree navigation preserved. order to carry into effect the rights and privileges hereby granted; and in case of any litigation arising from any obstruction 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 portion of said obstruction or bridge touches.
Sec. 2. That any bridge built under the provisions of this act may,Draw. at the option of the company building the same, be built as a drawbridge, with a pivot or other form of draw, or with unbroken or continuous spans: Provided, That if the said bridge shall be made with unbroken*Provisos*. and continuous spans, it shall not be of less elevation in any case than fifty feet above extreme high-water mark, as understood at the point of location, to the bottom chord of the bridge, nor shall the spans of said bridge be less than two hundred and titty feet in length, and the piers of said bridge shall be parallel with the current of said river, and the main span shall be over the main channel of the river and not less than three hundred feet in length:
And provided also, That if any bridge built under this act shall be constructed as a drawbridge, the same shall be constructed as a pivot draw-bridge, with a draw over the main channel of the river at an accessible ami 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 and fifty feet, 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 where said bridge may be erected:
And provided also, That said draw shall be opened promptly upon reasonable signal for the passage of boats. Sec. 3. That any bridge constructed under this act and according toPost-route, and a lawful structure. its limitations shall be a lawful structure, and shall be known and recognized as a post-route, and the same is hereby declared to be a post route, upon which also 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 passengers or freight passing over said bridge, than the rate per mile paid for their transportation over the railroads and public highways leading to the said bridge; and the United States shallPostal telegraph.All railway companies accorded equal rights. have the right of way for postal-telegraph purposes across said bridge.
Sec. 4. That all railway companies desiring to use 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 terms 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. 5. That the structure herein authorized shall be built and locatedDesign and drawings to be approved by Secretary of War. 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 or corporation shall submit to the Secretary of War for his examination and approval a design and drawings of the bridge, 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, the shorelines at high and low-water, the direction and strength of the currents at all stages, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed of the stream, 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 plan and location of the bridge are approved by the Secretary ofPlan and location to be approved by Secretary of War.
War the bridge shall not be built; and should any change be made in the plan of said bridge during the progress of construction, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War; and the said structure shall be at all times so kept and managed as to offer reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels through or under said 52 structure; and for the safety of vessels passing at night there shall be Lights.displayed on said bridge, from the hours of sunset to sunrise, such lights as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of War; and the said structure shall be changed or removed, at the cost and expense of the owners thereof, from time to time, as Congress may direct, so as to preserve the free and convenient navigation of said river; and the authority to erect and continue said bridge shall be subject to revocation and modification by law whenever the public good shall, in the judgment of Congress, so require, without any expense or charge to the United States.
Sec. 6. Right to alter, amend, etc., expressly reserved. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this act is hereby expressly reserved. Sec. 7. That this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved, April 26, 1882.