Chapter 1096.
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CHAP. 1096.— An act to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Missouri River at some accessible point within one mile north and one mile south and east of the mouth of the Kansas River.October 12, 1888. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Missouri River and Land Improvement and Construction Company may bridge Missouri River at Kansas City, Mo. That the Missouri River and Land Improvement and Construction Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Kansas, or its assigns, is hereby authorized to construct and maintain a bridge across the Missouri River at such point as may be hereafter selected by said corporation, or its assigns, in Jackson County, Missouri, within one mile north and one mile south and east of the mouth of Kansas River, Kansas; and also to construct accessary works to secure the best practicable channel-way for navigation and confine the flow of the water to a permanent channel at such point; and also to lay on and over said bridge a railway track or tracks for the more perfect connection of any railroads that are or shall be constructed to said Missouri River at or opposite said point; and said corporation may construct and maintain ways for wagons, carriages, horses, or other animals, andRailway, wagon, and foot bridge. for foot passengers, charging and receiving such reasonable toll therefor as may be approved from time to time by the Secretary of War.
Sec. 2. That said bridge shall be constructed and built without interference with the security and convenience of navigation of said Missouri River beyond what is necessary to carry into effect the rights and privileges hereby granted; and in order to secure that object the said company or corporation shall submit to the SecretarySecretary of War to approve plans, etc. 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 Missouri River, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the current 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: *Provided*, If said bridge be built above the mouth of the Kansas*Provisos*.If above mouth of Kansas River.Spans.
River, it shall be built as a high bridge with unbroken and continuous spans, having at least one channel span of not less than four hundred feet clear channel-way, all other spans over the waterway to have a clear channel-way of not less than three hundred feet; and all said spans shall have a clear head room of not less than fifty feet above high-water mark; and if it shall be built below the mouthIf below mouth of Kansas River. of the Kansas River, it shall be built as a high bridge with unbroken and continuous spans, all spans over the water way to have a clearSpans. channel way of not less than four hundred feet and a clear head room of not less than fifty-five feet above high water mark: and the piers of said bridge shall be parallel with the current of said river, at the stage of water which is most important to navigation, and the bridge itself shall be built as nearly as may be at right angles thereto; and said company or corporation shall maintain, at its own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals onLights, etc. said bridge as the Light House Board shall prescribe: *Provided also*, That all railway companies desiring to use said bridge shall haveUse by other companies. 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 conditionsTerms. 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. 3. That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized and directed,Notification of approval. upon receiving such plan and map and other information, and 556FIFTIETH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Chs. 1096, 1097. 1888. upon being satisfied that a bridge built on such plan, and with such accessory works, and at such locality, will conform to the prescribed conditions of this act, to notify the company that he approve the same; and upon receiving such notification the said company may proceed to an erection of said bridge, conforming strictly to the approved plan and location; and should any change be made in the plan of the bridge or said accessory works, during the progress of work thereon, such change shall be subject likewise to the approval of the Secretary of War, and be made at the expense of the company making the same;
Litigationand in case of any litigation arising from any obstruction or alleged obstruction to the free navigation of said Missouri River, caused or alleged to be caused by said bridge, the case may be brought in the circuit court of the United States for the district of Kansas or for the district of Missouri in which any portion of said obstruction or bridge may be located. Sec. 4. Lawful structure and post-route.That the said bridge and accessory works, when built and constructed under this act and according to the terms and limitations thereof, shall be lawful structures; and said bridge 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 munitions of war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over the railroad or public highways leading to said bridge; and said bridge shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post-routes in the United States’; and Congress reserves the right at any time to regulate by appropriate legislation the charges of freight and passengers over said bridge.
Sec. 5. Postal telegraph.That the United States shall have the right of way for such postal-telegraph lines across said bridge as the Government may construct or control, and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies. Sec. 6. Amendment.That Congress shall have power at any time to alter, amend, or repeal this act so as to prevent or remove all obstructions to the navigation of said river by the construction of said bridge and its accessory works; and the expense of altering said bridge or removing such obstructions shall be at the expense of the owners of or persons controlling such bridge.
Sec. 7. Commencement and completionThat this act shall be null and void if actual construction of the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date thereof. Approved, October 12, 1888. Chapter 1097: prescribing the times for sales and for notice of sales of property in the District of Columbia for overdue taxes. Chapter 1097 25 Stat. 556 1888-10-12 United States Government Publishing Office text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
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