Chapter 701. authorize the building of a bridge across the Mississippi River at Wabasha, Minnesota
596 words·~3 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-25/chapter-701-1384596·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 701.— An Act authorize the building of a bridge across the Mississippi River at Wabasha, Minnesota.July 24, 1888. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Wabasha, Minn., may bridge Mississippi River. That the city of Wabasha, in the State of Minnesota, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge for the passage of vehicles of all kinds, animals, and foot-passengers, across that part of the Mississippi River east of the main channel of said river, at a point opposite or nearly opposite the said city of Wabasha, Tolls.and to charge for such use such reasonable rates of toll as may lie approved from time to time by the Secretary of War.
Sec. 2. That any bridge constructed under this act and accordingLawful structure and post-route. to its limitations shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post-route, upon which also no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same for the mails, the troops, and the munitions of war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for their transportation over railroads or public highways leading to said bridge; and the United States and all companies and individuals shallPostal telegraph. have the right of way for telegraph, postal-telegraph, and telephone purposes across said bridge.
Sec. 3. 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 such regulations for the security of navigation of said river as the Secretary of War FIFTIETH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Chs. 701, 702. 1888.345 shall prescribe; and to secure that object the said company or corporation 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 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 construction of said bridge shall not be commenced; and should any change be made in the plan of said bridge during the progress of construction, such change snail be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War; and in caseLitigation. 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 case may be brought in the circuit court of the United States within whose jurisdiction said bridge or any portion thereof may be located.
Sec. 4. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this act is herebyAmendment. 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 Secretary of War shall decide that the public interest requires it, is also expressly reserved. Sec. 5. 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 hereof.
Approved, July 24, 1888.