Chapter 916.
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CHAP. 916.— An act to construct a wagon bridge across the Mississippi River at Hastings, Minnesota.September 25, 1890. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Hastings, Minn., may bridge Mississippi River at Sibley street, Hastings, Minn. That the city of Hastings, a municipal corporation existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain, at a point suitable to the interest of navigation, a wagonWagon, or wagon and foot bridge. or a combined wagon and foot bridge across the Mississippi River from a point at or near the foot of Sibley street, in the said city of Hastings, Minnesota, on the west bank to a point at or near the graded road nearly opposite on the east bank: *Provided*, That said*Proviso*.Free navigation. bridge shall not interfere with the free navigation of said river beyond what is necessary to carry into effect the rights and privileges hereby granted; and in case of any litigation arising from any obstruction,Litigation. or alleged obstruction, to the free navigation of said river, or damage resulting from the same, the cause may be tried before the circuit court of the United States in and for any district in which any portion of said bridge or obstruction touches.
Sec. 2. That any bridge built under this act shall be constructed as a high bridge with a channel-span giving a clear width of waterwayHigh bridge. of not less than three hundred and eighty feet and a clear head room of not less than fifty-five feet above high water mark. Sec. 3. That any bridge constructed under this act, according to its limitations, shall be a lawful structure, and shall be known as aLawful structure and post-route. post-route, and the same is hereby declared to be a post-route, upon which no charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, the troops, and the munitions of war of the United States; and the United States shall have the right of way for postal telegraphPostal telegraph. purposes across said bridge.
For the passage of all kinds of vehicles, for the transit of all kinds of animals, and for the passage ofFree transit. foot-passengers the said bridge shall be free to the public. Sec. 4. That the structure herein authorized shall be built andSecurity of navigation. 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 city shall submit to the Secretary ofSecretary of War to approve plans, etc.
War for examination and approval a design and drawing of the bridge and a map of the location, giving the topography of the banks of the river, the shorelines at high and low water, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed 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 plan and location of the bridge are decided by the Secretary of War to be such as will not materially affect the interests of navigation the bridge shall not be commenced or built.
And should any changeChange in plan. be made in the plan of said bridge during the progress of construction such changes shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War. And the said bridge shall be constructed with such aids to theAids to navigation. passage of said bridge, in the form of booms, dikes, piers, or other suitable and proper structures for confining the flow of water to a permanent and easily navigated channel, and for the guiding of rafts, steamboats, and other water craft safely under said bridge, as the Secretary of War shall prescribe and at any time order to be constructed and maintained at the expense of the city of Hastings; and the said structure shall be at all times so kept and managed as to offer reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels and other watercraft under said structure; and for the safety of vessels passing at night there shall be displayed on said bridge, from the hours of sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals as may be prescribedLights, etc. by the Light House Board.
And the aid structure shall be changed or removed at the cost and expense of the said city of Hastings,Removal, etc. from time to time, as Congress may direct, so as to preserve 470 FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Sess. I. Chs. 916–918. 1890. the free and convenient navigation of said river; and the authorityAuthorization revocable, etc. to erect and continue said bridge shall be subject to revocation and modification by law when the public good shall, in the judgment of Congress, so require, without any expense or charge to the United States.
Sec. 6. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this act is herebyAmendment, etc. expressly reserved. Sec. 7. 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 three years from the date thereof. Approved, September 25, 1890. Chapter 917: to create a port of entry at Eagle Pass, Texas, in lieu of Indianola, Texas. Chapter 917 26 Stat. 470 1890-09-25 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.
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