Chapter 283. to authorize the construction of bridges over the rivers Saint Marys, Satella, Little Satella and Crooked, in the States of Georgia and Florida
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CHAP. 283.— An Act to authorize the construction of bridges over the rivers Saint Marys, Satella, Little Satella and Crooked, in the States of Georgia and Florida.July 8, 1882. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Bridges over the rivers Saint Marvs, Satella, Little Satella, and Crooked, in States of Georgia and Florida. Sec. 1. That the Fernandina and Jacksonville Railroad Company, and the East Georgia and Florida Bailroad Company be, and are hereby, authorized, to construct a bridge over the river Saint Marys in the County of Camden and State of Georgia, and in the county’ of Nassau and State of Florida, at the point where said railroads cross said river.
Sec. 2. That the East Georgia and Florida Railroad Company be, and is hereby, authorized to construct a bridge over the river Satella, in the county of Camden, in the State of Georgia, at the point where said railroad crosses said river. Sec. 3. That said bridges shall be so constructed either by draw span, or otherwise, so that a free and unobstructed passage may be secured to all vessels and other water craft navigating said rivers. Sec. 4. That the said East Georgia and Florida Railroad Company be, and is hereby, authorized to construct, fixed bridges over the Little Satella river between the counties of Camden and Glynn, and over Crooked River in the county of Camden in said State of Georgia at the Free navigation preserved.points selected by said company where said railroad crosses said rivcis, with one span, and to make said bridges of such height as they may *Proviso.*see fit, *Provided* That the height be sufficient to permit the passage of timber-rafts and other vessels navigating said rivers under said bridges.
Sec. 5. Declared a lawful structure and a post-route. That any 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 the muuitions of war of the United States, or passengers or freight Charge for transmission of mails, etc.passing over said bridge, than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over the railroads or public highways leading to the said bridge; and it shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post-roads in the United States.
Sec. 6. drawbridge. That if any of the said bridges authorized to be constructed by this act shall be constructed as a draw bridge, the draw-shall be opened promptly upon reasonable signal for the passage of bouts, and said company or corporation shall maintain at its own expense from sunset Lights.till sunrise such lights or other signals on said bridge or bridges, as the Light-House Board shall prescribe. No bridge shall be erected or maintained under the authority of this act which shall at anytime Not to obstruct navigation.substantially or materially’ obstruct the free navigation of said river, and if any bridge erected under such authority, shall in the opinion of (he 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 al) such obstructions shall be removed, 157 FORTY SEVENTH CONGRESS.
SESS. I. CH. 283, 284. 1882. and alterations made, at the expense of the owner or owners of said bridge. *Provided,* That nothing in this act shall be so construed, as to*Proviso.* repeal or modify any of the provisions of law now existing in reference to the protection of the navigation of rivers, or to exempt this bridge erected under this act from the operation of the same. Sec. 7. That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridgeUse of by railroads. still have, and be 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 owner or owners of said bridge and the several railroad companies, or any one of them, desiring such use shall fail toTolls. 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.
Sec. 8. That any bridge authorized to be constructed under this act shall be built and located 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, said company or corporation shall submit, to the Secretary of War, a design and drawings of said bridge to be erected, for his examination and approval, and a map of its location,Approval of plans, and location. and shall furnish such other information as may be required tor a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject, and in all things shall be subject to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of War, and until said plan and location of said bridge or bridges are approved by the Secretary of War, said bridge or bridges shall not be built; and should any change be made in the plan of any bridge authorized to be constructed by this act during the progress of the work of construction, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War.
Sec. 9. That the right to alter, amend or repeal this act is herebyRight to alter. expressly reserved, and the right to require any changes in said structures or their entire removal at the expense of the owners thereof whenever Congress shall decide that the public intrest requires it, is also expressly reserved. Approved, July 8, 1882.