Chapter 751. to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Oostanaula River, at or near Rome, Georgia
772 words·~4 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-25/chapter-751-1516910·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 751.— An Act to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Oostanaula River, at or near Rome, Georgia.August 6, 1888. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Chattanooga. Rome and Columbus Railroad Company may bridge Oostanaula River at Rome, Ga. That the Chattanooga. Rome and Columbus Railroad Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Georgia, lie. and the same is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge across the Oostanaula River, and approaches to said bridge, at or near Rome, in the county of Floyd, and State of Georgia, for the passage of railway trains.
Sec. 2. 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 poste-route, and it shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post-roads in the United States, upon which no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mail, troops and munitions of war of the United States, or for through railway passengers or freight passing over said bridge, than the rate per mile for their transmission over the railroad leading to said bridge: and equal 375 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 for postal-telegraph purposes: that the said bridge shallPostal telegraph. be constructed, either by draw, span, or otherwise, that a free and unobstructed passageway may be secured to all watercraft navigating said river at the point aforesaid: *Provided*, That if said bridge*Proviso*. authorized to be constructed under this act shall be constructed as a draw-bridge, the draw shall be opened promptly upon the reasonableDraw. signals for the passage of boats or vessels; and said corporation shall maintain, at its own expense, from sunset to sunrise, suchLights, etc. lights or other signals on said bridge as the Light House Board shall prescribe.
Sec. 3. That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridgeUse by other companies. shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains over the same, and over the approaches thereto, upon the payment of a reasonable compensation for such use:Terms. and in ease 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 conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge, all matters at issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War upon the hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties.
Sec. 4. That any bridge authorized to be constructed under this act Secretary of War to approve plans, etc.shall be built and located under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation of said river as the Secretary of War 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 below and one mile above 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 shall be subject to the Secretary of War.
Sec. 5. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this act, is herebyAmendment. expressly reserved; and any alterations or changes that may be required by the Secretary of War in the bridge constructed under this act, or its entire removal shall be made by the corporation owning or controlling the same, at its own expense, Furthermore, if the constructionCommencement and completion. of said bridge shall not be commenced within two and completed within four years after the passage of this act, all privileges conferred hereby, and this act, shall become null and void.
Approved, August 6, 1888.