Chapter 126.
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CHAP. 126.— An act to promote the construction of a safe deep-water harbor on the coast of Texas.February 9, 1891. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Corpus Christi and Padre Island Harbor Company may construct harbor and bridges at Padre Island, Tex. That the Corpus Christi and Padre Island Harbor Company, created and existing under and by virtue of articles of incorporation drawn in accordance with and by authority of the general incorporation act of the State of Texas, and dated December tenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, or its successors or assignees, be, and is hereby, authorized and empowered to construct, at their exclusive cost, as in their charter provided, a seawall, breakwaters, and viaduct off the shore of Padre Island, on the coast of Texas, within the jurisdiction of the United States, subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth.
FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 126. 1891.741 Sec. 2. That said company shall, within two years after the passageCommencement. of this act, locate and commence the construction of said harbor at a point to be selected by them off Padre Island, coast of Texas.Location. Commencing at the water’s edge and running at an angle to the shore they shall construct a viaduct of the most approved modernViaduct. plan, extending seaward until a depth of, say. twenty-seven feet ofDepth of water. water is reached; thence continuing in the same direction they shall construct a seawall until thirty feet or more of water is reached;Sea-walls. thence turning southward at an angle or curve which shall throw the seawall parallel, or nearly so, with the shoreline of Padre Island, they shall construct a seawall three thousand feet in length, said seawallLength.
Base and wall. to be placed upon a base of riprap or other suitable foundation, upon which shall be constructed a wall of concrete of such form of structure as the engineer officer of said company may hereafter adopt, twenty-two feet thick, more or less, and twenty-nine feet high,Height, etc. reaching eleven feet above mean low water. They shall also construct breakwaters of sufficient length and so placed as to protect,Breakwaters. the shore end of the viaduct, and another of sufficient length and so placed as to protect the entrance to the embayed space, thus formingDimensions, etc., of outer harbor. an outer harbor sufficient in extent, to afford dockage for, and accommodation at its wharves for, thirty of the largest ocean steamers afloat and two hundred or more smaller vessels or coasters at one time, and shall complete said work within four years fromCompletion. the commencement of the same.
When completed, the embayed space or harbor shall be, and is hereby, declared to be a harbor ofA free harbor of refuge for vessels. refuge for the vessels of all nations and such vessels as may touch for orders, free of charge, except such vessels as may land at theExceptions. wharves. Sec. 3. That in consideration of the free use of the embayed spacePort charges and wharfage. or harbor as a harbor of refuge for the vessels of all nations except vessels which land at and use the wharves, and in further consideration of the vast benefit to the general commerce of the whole country and in lieu of any money appropriations for the improvement of the said coast, the said company shall be allowed to charge and collect such reasonable port charges and wharfage as may be prescribed by regulations that, may be made by the Secretary of theSecretary of the Treasury to regulate.
Treasury of the United States, in conformity with the laws of the United States. Sec. 4. That no wharfage or port charges shall be charged untilCharges, etc. Inspection by Army engineers, etc. after the said improvement shall have been inspected by a board of three engineers of the United States Army, appointed by the Secretary of War for the purpose, and found to nave been fully completed in accordance with the terms of this act and until such report shall have been approved by the Secretary of War.
Sec. 5. That the United States Government specially reserves theOptional right of Government to take possession, etc. right at its option to take said works upon payment to the owners thereof the actual value of the same at the time of taking, which value shall be determined by a board of engineers of the UnitedDetermination of value. States Army, to be appointed by the Secretary of War for the purpose. Sec. 6. The rights herein granted to the “Corpus Christi andNo discrimination in use of harbor, etc.
Padre Island Harbor Company” are upon the condition that there shall be no discrimination made in favor of or against any individual or corporation in regard to the use of said harbor or its approaches by land or water. Sec. 7. That the said Corpus Christi and Padre Island HarborMay bridge Laguna Madre. Company be, and hereby is, authorized and empowered to construct bridges across Laguna Madre from the main land to Padre Island,Location of bridges. Secretary of War to approve plans. in accordance with such plans and specifications as the Secretary of War may approve.
Approved, February 9, 1891.