Chapter 336. to give the at went of Congress to the construction of a free bridge by the comity of Davidson, Tennessee, over the Cumberland River,Mar. 3, 1887. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Davidson County, Tennessee, may bridge C
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CHAP. 336.— An Act to give the at went of Congress to the construction of a free bridge by the comity of Davidson, Tennessee, over the Cumberland River,Mar. 3, 1887. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Davidson County, Tennessee, may bridge Cumberland River, at Nashville. That the county of Davidson, in the State of Tennessee, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge, and approaches thereto, over the Cumberland River near the city of Nashville and between the Hydes Ferry and Buena Vista Ferry Turnpikes, in the county of Davidson, Tennessee.
Said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the free passage ofWagon and foot bridge. wagons and vehicles of all kinds, for the transit of animals, and for foot-passengers. Sec. 2. That any bridge built under this act and subject to its limitationsTo be a lawful structure and post-route. shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post-route, and it shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post roads in the United States: *Provided*, That the United States mayPostal telegraph. construct a postal telegraph over said bridge without charge therefor.
Sec. 3. That if said bridge shall be made with unbroken and continuousConstruction.Spans. spans, the spans thereof shall not be less than one hundred and sixty-four feet in length in the clear, and the main span shall be over the main channel of the river. The lowest part of the superstructure of said bridge shall be at least thirty-four feet above extreme high-water mark, as understood at the point of location, and t he bridge shall be at right angles to and its piers parallel with the current of the river: *Provided*,*Proviso*.Draw.
That if the same shall be constructed as a drawbridge, the draw or pivot shall be over the main channel at an accessible point, and the spans shall not be less than one hundred and sixty feet in the clear, and the piers of said bridge shall be parallel with and the bridge itself at right angles to the current of the river, and the spans shall not be less than ten feet above extreme high-water mark, as understood at the point of location, to the lowest part of the superstructure of said bridge: *Provided also*, That the said draw shall be opened promptly by said county uponOpening draw. reasonable signal for the passage of boats; and said county shall maintain, at its own expense, from sunset till sunrise, such lights or otherLights, etc. signals on said bridge as the Light-House Board shall prescribe.
No bridge shall be erected or maintained under the authority of this act 472 which shall at any time substantially or materially obstruct the freeFree navigation to be maintained. navigation of said river, and if any bridge erected under such authority 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 all such alterations shall be made and all such obstructions lie removed at the Litigation.expense of said county of Davidson; and in case of any litigation arising from any obstruction or alleged obstruction to the free navigation of said river caused or alleged to be caused by said bridge, the ease may be brought in the circuit court of (he United States of the middle Existing laws not affected.district of Tennessee: *Provided further*, That nothing in this act shall be so construed as to 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 from the operations of the same.
Sec. 4. That any bridge authorized to be constructed under this actSecretary of War to approve plans, etc. 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 the said county 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 of 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 *Proviso*.To be completed in three years.of War: *And provided further*, That unless the construction of said bridge shall be commenced within one year from the date of the passage of this act and completed within three years from the same date, all rights and privileges granted by this act shall be forfeited and cease.
Sec. 5. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this act is herebyRight to amend, etc., reserved. expressly reserved, and the right to require any changes in said structure or its entire removal, at the expense of the owners thereof, whenever Congress shall decide that the public interest requires it, is also expressly reserved. Approved, March 3, 1887.