Chapter 170. authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Red River of the North
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CHAP. 170.— An Act authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Red River of the North.April 28, 1890. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Crookston, Fort Stevenson and Montana Railroad Company may bridge Red River of the North at Polk County. Minn. That the assent of Congress is hereby given to the Crookston, Fort Stevenson and Montana Railroad Company, a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota, and to its successors and assigns, to construct and maintain a pivot drawbridge, and approaches thereto, across the Red River of the North, between the State of Minnesota and the State of North Dakota, at such point on said river, on the boundary 76FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 170. 1890. line between Polk County, in the State of Minnesota, and the State of North Dakota, as may accommodate the lines of railroad which Railway, wagon, anti foot bridge.said corporation may build to said point. Said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the passage of railway trains, and, at the option of the said corporation, may be used for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, for the transit of animals, and for foot Tolls.passengers, for such reasonable rates of tolls as may he fixed by the Secretary of War; and the Secretary of War shall have the right, from time to time, to revise such rates.
Sec. 2. Construction. That the said bridge shall be constructed as a pivot drawbridge, and shall be so constructed that a free and unobstructed passage may be secured to all watercraft, rafts, or logs navigating *Proviso*.Opening of draw.said river at the point aforesaid: *Provided*, That the draw of said bridge shall be opened promptly upon reasonable signals for the passage of boats or vessels; and said corporation shall maintain, at Lights, etc.its own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals on said bridge as the Secretary of War shall prescribe.
The said Secretary of War to approve plans, etc.bridge shall be located and built under and subject to such regulations for the security of the navigation of said river and such requirements as to location and direction of piers and spans clear headway at high water and clear spans at low water, as the Secretary of War shall prescribe: and to secure that object the said company shall submit to the Secretary of War. for his examination and Location, etc.approval, drawings of said bridge and piers, 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 and channel of the stream, and shall furnish such other information as shall be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject: and until the said location and plan of the bridge hereby Approval toprecede construction.authorized to be constructed are approved by the Secretary of War the said bridge shall not be built: and should any change be made in the plan of such bridge during the progress of construction thereof, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War.
Sec. 3. Changes.Use by other companies. That all railroad companies desiring the use of the bridge constructed under this act shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains, ears, and locomotives over the same, and over the approaches thereto, upon the payment of a reasonable compensation for such use, to be fixed Secretary of War to prescribe terms, etc.by the Secretary of War. in case the owner or owners of the said bridge and the several railroad companies, or any of them desiring such use, shall fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid; and the Se retary of War shall prescribe the miles and conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge, and all matters of difference between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War upon a hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties.
Sec. 4. Lawful structure and post-route. That the bridge authorized to be constructed under this act shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post-route, and the same is hereby declared to be a post-route, upon which also no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, troops, and munitions of war of the United States, or for through railways passengers or freight passing over said bridge, than the rate per mile for their transmission over Postal telegraph.the railroads leading to said bridge: and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge and its approaches for Use by telegraph and telephone companies.postal-telegraph purposes and all telegraph or telephone companies shall have equal rights and privileges in constructing and maintaining their lines across said bridge.
Sec. 5. Amendment, etc. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this act, so as to prevent or remove all material and substantial obstructions to the navigation of said river by the construction of the said bridge, is FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Sess. I. Chs. 170-172. 1890.77 hereby expressly reserved; and any alterations or changes that mayExpense of changes. be required by Congress in the bridge constructed under this act shall be made by the corporation owning or controlling the same, at its own expense.
Sec. 6. That the time within which the construction of said bridgeCommencement and completion. shall be commenced shall be one year and it shall be completed within three years from and after the passage of this act. Approved, April 28, 1890.