Chapter 522.
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CHAP. 522.— An act giving the consent of the United States to the erection of Marcha, 1891, a bridge across Portage Lake, Houghton County, Michigan, between the villages of Houghton and Hancock.March 3, 1891. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Houghton County, Mich., may bridge Portage Lake between Houghton and Hancock. That the consent, of Houghton county, the United States is hereby given to the county of Houghton, within the State or Michigan, the same being a body corporate existing under and by virtue of the constitution and laws of said State, to erect or cause to be erected, and maintain the same, a free bridge, with oneFree bridge.
Free bridge, or more roadways, footways, and draws, over and across Portage 834FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 522. 1891. Lake, in said county of Houghton, between the villages of Houghton *Provisos*.and Hancock: *Provided*, That said bridge shall be so constructed and Unobstructed navigation.built by draw, span, or otherwise, as not to obstruct, impair, or injuriously modify the navigation of said Portage Lake; and in order to secure a compliance with these conditions said county of Houghton, previous to commencing the construction of said bridge, shall Secretary of War to approve plans, etc.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 above and one mile below the proposed location, the topography of the banks of the lake, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the current, and the soundings accurately showing the bed of the lake, and the location of any other bridge or bridges, such map to be sufficiently in detail to enable the Secretary of War to judge of the proper location of said bridge, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and should any change be made in the plan of said bridge during the progress of construction or after completion, such change shall be subject to the Draw.approval of the Secretary of War; *Provided also*, That if the bridge herein authorized be constructed as a drawbridge, said draw shall be opened promptly upon reasonable signal for the passage of boats, and whatever kind of bridge is built the said County of Houghton Lights, etc.shall maintain at its own expense from sunset to sunrise such lights or other signals on said bridge as the Light-House Board shall prescribe.
Sec. 2. That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized and directedNotification of approval. upon receiving said plan and map and other information, and upon being satisfied that a bridge built upon such plan and at said locality will conform to the prescribed conditions of this act, not to obstruct, impair, or injuriously modify the navigation of Portage Lake, to notify the said county of Houghton, through the chairman or clerk of the board of supervisors of said county, that he approves the same; and upon receiving such notification the said county of Houghton may proceed to the erection of said bridge, conforming Construction to await approval.strictly to the approved plan and location.
But until the Secretary of War approve the plan and location of said bridge and notify the said county of Houghton of the same, the said bridge shall not be built or commenced. Sec. 3. That the aforesaid county of Houghton is hereby authorizedRules and regulations. and empowered, so far as Congress has the power to grant the same, to make such rules and regulations for the care of said bridge as its board of supervisors may deem necessary. Sec. 4. 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, and it shall enjoy the rights and privileges of Use by telegraph and telephone companies.other post-roads in the United States; and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies; and the United States shall have the right of way across Postal telegraph.said bridge, and approaches, for postal telegraph purposes.
Sec. 5, That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this act is herebyAmendment, etc. expressly reserved, and the right to require any changes in said structure, or its entire removal, at the expense of the owners thereof, whenever the Secretary of War shall decide that the public interests require it, is also expressly reserved. Sec. 6. 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 two years from the date hereof.
Approved, March 3, 1891.