Chapter 246. to authorize the construction of the Ohio Connecting Railway Company Bridge
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CHAP. 246.— An Act to authorize the construction of the Ohio Connecting Railway Company Bridge.May 14, 1888. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Ohio Connecting Railway Company may bridge Ohio River. That the Ohio Connecting Railway Company be, and the same is hereby, authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge over the Ohio River from the south shore to the north shore thereof, at a point about one-half mile south of the mouth of Cork’s Run in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Said bridge is hereby declared to be a lawful structure,To be a lawful structure. and the same may be used for railroad and highway purposes. Said bridge to be constructed as follows: The main-channel span of saidConstruction. bridge shall be a continuous through span of five hundred and seven feet clear of masonry. The back-channel span shall be one through span of four hundred feet clear of masonry; said space in each case to be measured on the low-water line. The remaining spans of said bridge shall be deck-spans.
Said main-channel spain and said backchannel shall be at a height of not less than eighty feet above low-water mark at Market street in Pittsburgh and not less than eighty-two and one-half feet above local low-water mark at the bridge site, measured to the bottom chord of the bridge. Sec. 2. The location of the piers of said bridge with reference Location of piers. the current of the river shall be according to such plans and specifications as may be approved by the War Department: *Provided*, That no advertisement as required by the general law be again made, unless thought advisable and necessary by the Secretary of War, advertisement having already been made.
Sec. 3. That equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall beTelegraph, etc., privileges. granted to all telegraph and telephone companies. Sec. 4. That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridgeOther companies may use. shall 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 to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid and upon rules and upon conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge, 140FIFTIETH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Chs. 246– 248. 1888. all matters at issue between them shall be decided by the SecretarySecretary of War to adjust disputes. of War. upon a hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties. Sec. 5. That said bridge shall be constructed to provide for theRailway, wagon, and footbridge. passage of railway trains and. at the option of the corporation by which it may be built, may be used for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, for the transit of animals, and for foot-passengers, for such reasonable rates of toll as may be approved, from time to time, by the Secretary of War.
Sec. 6. That the said bridge shall be built under the provisions ofExisting laws.Vol. 17, p. 398. the act of seventeenth December, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, and authorizing the construction of bridges across the Ohio River and the amendatory act of fourteenth February, eighteen hundred Vol. 22. p. 414.*Proviso*.Commencement and completion.and seventy-three, except in so far as the provisions of said acts may be modified or changed by the provisions of this act: *Provided*, That if the construction of said bridge shall not be commenced within one year, and completed within four years after the passage of this act, all privileges conferred hereby, and this act, shall become null and void.
Sec. 7. That Congress shall have power at any time to alter, amendAmendment. or repeal this act. Approved, May 14, 1888.