Chapter 805. authorizing the city of Salem to construct a bridge across the Willamet te River, in the State of Oregon
951 words·~4 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-24/chapter-805-709376·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 805.— An Act authorizing the city of Salem to construct a bridge across the Willamet te River, in the State of Oregon.July 29, 1886. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Salem, Oregon, authorized to build wagon and foot bridge across Willamette River. That the city of Salem, in the county of Marion and State of Oregon, be authorized and permitted to build a wagon and foot bridge across the Willamette River at such point as it may select opposite said city and between the counties of Marion and Polk, in the State of Oregon.
Such bridge may also, at the option of said city, be so constructed as to be available as a railroad bridge. Sec. 2. That such bridge built under the provisions of this act may,Construction. at the option of said city of Salem, be built as a drawbridge or with unbroken and continuous spans: *Provided*, That if such bridge shall be*Provisos*.Spans. made with unbroken and continuous spans, the main span shall be over the main channel of such navigable river, and shall be of such width, and the lowest part of the superstructure shall be of such height above extreme high-water mark, as the Secretary of War may prescribe; and such bridge shall be at right angles to and its piers parallel with the current or channel of the said river.
And if such bridge built under this act shall be constructed as a drawbridge, the same shall be constructedDraw. with an opening over the center of the channel of the river, and shall be of such width, character, and construction as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and the piers of said bridge shall be parallel with the current, and the draws of said bridge shall be over the main or deep channel of the river, as may be fixed and determined by the Secretary of War: *Provided also*, That said draws shall be openedOpening draw. promptly upon reasonable signal for the passage of boats, and in no case shall unnecessary delay occur; and said city of Salem shall maintain, at its own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or otherLights, etc. signals on said bridge as the lighthouse Board shall prescribe: *Provided also*, That said bridge at the option of the said city of Salem, by which it may be built, may be used for the passage of wagons or vehicles of all kinds, for the transit of animals, and for foot-passengers, for such reasonable rate of toll as may be approved from time to time by theTolls.May be free bridge.To be a lawful structure and post-route.
Secretary of War, or the same shall, at the option of said city of Salem, be a free bridge. Sec. 3. That the bridge authorized to be constructed under this act 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, upon which also no higher charge shall be made for 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 for their transportation over any railroad leading to the said bridge; and the United States shall have the right of way for a postal telegraph across saidPostal telegraph. bridge.
Said bridge shall be built and located under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation of navigable rivers as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the saidSecretary of War to approve plans, etc. city of Salem shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, a design and drawing of such 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 shoreline at high and low water, the direction and strength of the current at all stages, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed and channel 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 plans 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 such bridge during the progress of construction thereof, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War. 164 FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Chs. 805, 806. 1886. Sec. 4. Changes. That, such alterations or changes as may be required by the Secretary of War or Congress in the bridge constructed under the provisions of this act shall be made by the said city of Salem, at its own expense; and at any time after the completion of such bridge the said May be transferred to Marion and Polk Counties.city of Salem may, at its optiou, surrender and transfer to the counties of Marion and Polk, in the State of Oregon, the said bridge, and the entire control and management thereof, in which event, and in case of the acceptance thereof by said counties of Marion and Polk, they shall thenceforth be subject to all the obligations and conditions imposed on Right to amend, etc., reserved.the city of Salem by the provisions of this act.
And it is hereby expressly provided that Congress reserves the right at any time to alter, amend, or repeal this act. Approved, July 29, 1886.