Chapter 744. authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Ocmulgee River, in the State of Georgia, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 744.— An Act authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Ocmulgee River, in the State of Georgia, and for other purposes.August 6, 1888. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Americus, Preston and Lumpkin Railroad Company may bridge Ocmulgee River, Georgia. That the assent of Congress is Hereby given to the Americus Preston and Lumpkin Railroad Company, an organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Georgia, its successors or assigns, to construct and maintain a bridge over the Ocmulgee River, in the State of Georgia.
Sec. 2. That said bridge shall be constructed as a draw-bridge,Draw. and shall consist of one span of seventy-five feet and a draw-span of one hundred and eighty-four feet. The spans shall not be less than twenty-eight feet above low water mark: *Provided*, That if*Proviso*. said bridge shall, in the opinion of the Secretary of War, obstruct the navigation of said stream, he is hereby authorized to cause such change or alteration of said bridge to be made as will effectually obviateAlterations. such obstruction; and all such obstructions shall be removed and alterations made at the expense of the owner or owners of said bridge.
Sec. 3. That any bridge built under this act and subject to its limitationsLawful 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 made for the transmission over the same of the mails, the troops, and the munitions of war of the United States, or passengers or freight passing over said bridges, than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over the railroads or public highways leading to said bridges; and they shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post-routes of the United States.
And 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 approachesPostal telegraph. for said postal-telegraph purposes. Sec. 4. That said bridge shall be built and located under and subjectSecretary of War to approve plans, etc. to such regulations for the security of navigation of said rivers as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object said company or corporation shall submit to the Secretary of War a design and drawings of said bridge, for his examination and approval, and a map of its location, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject, and in all things shall be subject to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of War; and until said plan and location of said bridge are approved by the Secretary of War the building of said bridge shall not be commenced: and should any change be made in the plan of said bridge, during the progress of the work of construction, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War.
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 thereof. Sec. 6. 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 removal, at the expense of the owners thereof, whenever Secretary of War shall decide that the public interest requires it, is also expressly reserved.
Approved, August 6, 1888.