Chapter 332.
554 words·~3 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-24/chapter-332-128827·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 332.— An act to authorize the Red River Bridge Company of Texas to maintain a bridge across Red River.May 15, 1886. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Red River Bridge Company, of Texas, authorized to build a railway and wagon bridge across the Red River near Denison, Tex. That the Red River Bridge Company of Texas, composed of Frank Colbert, W. B. Munson, J. B. McDougal, J. R. Carr, Samuel Star, J.
T. Munson, Edward Perry, and L. L. Maughs, be and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a railway and wagon bridge across Red River between the State of Texas and the Chickasaw Nation of the Indian Territory, at any accessible point on said river near Denison, Texas,that may be selected by said company; and saidTolls. company shall be permitted to charge and take such rates of toll for crossing said bridge as may be reasonable, subject to the approvalHeight. of the Secretary of War; the said bridge to be of such height*Provisos*. as not to interfere with the navigation of said river: *Provided*, That any bridge constructed under this act and according to its limitations shall be a lawful structure, and shallTo be a lawful structure and post-route. 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 through passengers or freight passing over said bridge, than the rate per mile paid for their transportation over the railroads leading to the said Postal telegraph.bridge; and the United States shall have the right of way for a postal Plans subject to approval of Secretary of War.telegraph across said bridge: *And provided further*, That before this act shall take effect said company shall submit to the Secretary of War the plans of said bridge, showing the existing structure and any additions or changes that may be contemplated; and that it shall be decided by the said Secretary that the bridge does not and will not obstruct, impair, or injuriously modify the navigation of the said river, due regard being had to the character of the proposed navigation of said stream.
Sec. 2. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repealFree navigation to be preserved. this act at any time; and that if at any time navigation of the said river shall in any manner be obstructed or impaired by the said bridge, 29 the Secretary of War shall have authority, and it shall be his duty, to require the said company to alter and change the said bridge, at its own expense, in such manner as may be proper to secure free and complete navigation without impediment; and if upon reasonable notice to said company to make such change or improvements the said company fails to do so, the Secretary of War shall have authority to make the same at the expense of said company, and all the rights conferred by this act shall be forfeited; and Congress shall have power to do any and all things necessary to secure the free navigation of the river.
Approved, May 15, 1886.