Chapter 250. to authorize the building of a railroad bridge at Little Rock, Arkansas
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CHAP. 250.— An Act to authorize the building of a railroad bridge at Little Rock, Arkansas.May 14, 1888. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Little Rock Bridge and Terminal Railroad Company may bridge Arkansas River at Little Rock, Ark. That it shall be lawful for the Little Rock Bridge and Terminal Railroad Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Arkansas, to construct and maintain a bridge, and approaches thereto, over the Arkansas River, at a point on said river at or near the city of Little Rock, in the State of Arkansas, and to lay on and over said bridge a railroad track or tracks for the more perfect connection of any railroad or railroads that are or shall hereafter be constructed to the said river, on eitherRailway, wagon, and foot bridge. or both sides thereof, at or opposite said point, under the limitations and conditions hereinafter provided: said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the passage of railway trains, and at the option of the builders and owners thereof, may be used for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, for the transit of animals of all kinds, and for foot-passengers for such reasonable rates of toll as may be approved,Tolls. from time to time, by the Secretary of War as to railway trains; and as to wagons, vehicles, animals, and foot-passengers, such rates as may be provided by the laws of Arkansas.
Sec. 2. That any bridge built under this act is subject to its limitations,To be a lawful structure and post-route. shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post-route, upon which also no higher charge shall be 146FIFTIETH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 250. 1888. made for the transmission over the same of the mails, troops, and the munitions of war. or other property of the United States, than the rate per mile paid for the transportation of the same over the railroads or public highways leading to the said bridge, and it shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post-roads in the UnitedPrivileges to telegraph companies.
States. Equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph companies: and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge and its approaches for postal telegraph purposes. Sec. 3. That the said bridge shall be constructed with a draw orDraw. pivot span which shall be over the main channel of the river at an accessible navigable point, and the openings on each side of the pivot pier shall not be less than one hundred and sixty feet in the clear, and. as nearly as practicable, both of said openings shall be accessible at all stages of water; that the spans be not less than ten feet above extreme high-water mark, as understood at the point of location. to the lowest point of the superstructure of said bridge; that the piers and draw rests of said bridge shall be built parallel with the current at that stage of the river which is most important for navigation, and the bridge itself at right angles thereto; and that no riprap or other outside protection for imperfect foundations be permitted to approach nearer than four feet to the surface of the water at its extreme low stage, or otherwise to encroach upon the *Proviso*.Owning draw.channel-ways provided for in this act: *Provided*, That said draw shall be opened by the company or persons owning said bridge upon reasonable signal for the passage of boats; and there shall be maintained, at the expense of the owners thereof, from Lights, etc.sunset till sunrise, such lights or other signals on said bridge as the Light-House Board shall prescribe.
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 over the same, and over the approaches to the same, 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 of them, desiring such use. shall fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid, and upon rules Compensation decided by Secretary of War.and condition which each shall perform in using said bridge, all matters at issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War upon hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties.
Sec. 5. That any bridge authorized to be constructed under thisSecretary of War to approve plans, etc. act shall be built and located under and subject to the regulations for the security of said river, as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the owner or owners thereof 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 shoreline at high or low water, the direction and strength of the current at all stages, and the soundings, actually 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 the full and satisfactory understanding of the subject, and until such plan and location of the bridge are approved by the Secretary of War, the bridge shall not be commenced or 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 of War.
Sec. 6. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this act is herebyAmendment, etc. expressly reserved, and the right to require any changes in said structure, or its entire removal at the expense of the owners thereof, whenever the Congress shall decide that the public interest requires it, is also expressly reserved. FIFTIETH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Chs. 250, 251. 1888.147 Sec. 7. That this act shall be null and void if actual constructionCommencement and completion. of the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date thereof.
Approved, May 14, 1888.