Chapter 900.
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CHAP. 900.— An act for improving the mouth of the Brazos River, Texas.August 21, 1888. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Brazos River Channel and Dock Company. That the Brazos River Channel and Dock Company, a corporation organized under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Texas, be, and are hereby authorized, on the conditions hereinafter mentioned, to construct, own, and operate such permanent and sufficient jetties and such auxiliary works as are necessary to create and permanently maintain, as hereinafter set forth, a navigable channel at the mouth of May create channel at mouth of Brazos River, Tex.the Brazos River, Texas, between said river and the Gulf of Mexico, and so far into the mainland and between the banks of the said Brazos River as may be necessary to reach a place that will afford security from storms, swells, cyclones, and tidal waves, for the purposes of furnishing the vessels and boats adapted to the purpose facilities for navigation in and along the entire length of said Tolls.channel, charging and collecting such toll therefor as may be FIFTIETH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 900. 1888.445 prescribed by the regulations that may be made by the Secretary of the treasury of the United States in conformity with the laws of the United States: and for that purpose they may construct, in the river, and likewise in the Gulf of Mexico, such walls, jetties,Jetties, etc. dikes, levees, and other structures, and employ such boats, rafts, and appliances as they may, in the prosecution of said work, deem necessary: *Provided*, That no such structures or means employed shall*Provisos*.Free navigation to be maintained. hinder, delay, or materially interfere with the free navigation in said river or between said river and the Gulf of Mexico; and, to protect their said works, they may build and maintain such levees or embankments as may be necessary to secure their permanency along the banks of said Brazos River: and said Brazos River Channel and Dock Company shall hold the United States harmless from any damagesDamages. that may accrue to any person or persons by overflow or otherwise caused by the construction of said walls, jetties, dikes, levees, and other works constructed by said company: *Provided further*, That unless the construction of the proposed work shall be substantially commenced within one year from date of the approval of thisCommencement. act, and prosecuted with due diligence, the provisions contained herein in relation to the said improvement shall be null and void; and unless the said Brazos River Channel and Dock Company shall secure a navigable depth of twelve feet of water from a point in the river so far as may be necessary to reach a place that will afford security from storms, swells, cyclones, and tidal waves, above its mouth and extending from said point to a depth of twelve feet inTwelve feet to be secured in three years. the Gulf of Mexico, outside of the present bar, within three years after the date of the approval of this act.
Congress may revoke the privileges herein granted in relation to said improvement. And Congress may revoke the provisions herein granted in relation to said improvement, unless the said Brazos River Channel and Dock Company shall, after securing twelve feet of water, secure an additionalFurther depth depth of not less than two feet during each succeeding year thereafter; until eighteen feet shall have been secured: and in case said Brazos River Channel and Dock Company shall fail to comply with the foregoing conditions as to depth of water, and time, for any period of twelve months in excess of the time fixed, as aforesaid, then the privileges herein granted, in relation to said improvements shall absolutely become null and void without action by Congress.
Sec. 2. That the works of improvement in the said Brazos River,Construction. from the mouth of said river to the point described in section one of this act, shall consist of the construction of dikes, wing-dams, levees, embankments, and dredging or other means which may be considered by said Brazos River Channel and Dock Company necessary for obtaining a depth of eighteen feet of water between the mouth of said river and said point described in section one of this act: and that the said Brazos River Channel and Dock Company may, if they shall decide it best for the interests of navigation, change the course of said river at the sharp bend in said river between the mouth of said river and the said point described in section one of this act, but in making such change the channel shall be made of sufficient depth and width to receive the volume of said river without disturbance of its regimen.
Sec. 3. That if at any time during the construction of said jettiesRight of Government to purchase. and auxiliary works, or after said jetties and auxiliary works shall have been completed, and said channel of eighteen feet in depth has been obtained, the United States shall have the right to pay the said Brazos River Channel and Dock Company the value of their jetties and other works constructed under and by the authority granted to said company by the State of Texas as well as by the authority of this act, and on such payment being made by the United States all right to said franchises and works on the part of said Brazos River Channel and Dock Company shall cease. 446FIFTIETH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 900. 912. 1888. Sec. 4. Amendment.That Congress may at any time alter, amend or repeal this act. Received by the President August 9, 1888. [Note by the Department of State.—The foregoing act having been presented to the President of the United States for his approval, and not having been returned by him to the house of Congress in which it originated within the time prescribed by the Constitution of the United States, has become a law without his approval.] Chapter 912: to incorporate the Georgetown and Tennallytown Railway Company of the District of Columbia.
Chapter 912 25 Stat. 446 1888-08-22 United States Government Publishing Office text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Digitization Vendor 2026-02-23 50 1 public
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