Chapter 918.
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CHAP. 918.— An act to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River at Winona, Minnesota.September 25, 1890. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Winona, Minn., may bridge Mississippi River at Winona, Minn. That the city of Winona, in the State of Minnesota, is hereby authorized and empowered to erect, establish, and maintain, or authorize the erection, Foot and carriage bridge.establishment, and maintenance of a foot and carriage bridge across the Mississippi River at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, from the city of Winona, State of Minnesota, so as to connect with the opposite shore of said river in the State of Wisconsin; that said Free navigation.bridge shall not interfere with the free navigation of said river beyond what is necessary in order to carry into effect the rights and Litigation.privileges hereby granted; and in case of any litigation arising from any obstruction or alleged obstruction to the free navigation of said river, 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.
Said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, for the transit Tolls.of animals, and for foot passengers, for such reasonable rates of toll as may be fixed from time to time by the Secretary of War. Sec. 2. That any bridge built under the provisions of this act may,Construction option. at the option of the city of Winona building the same, be built as a FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 918. 1890. 471 drawbridge or with unbroken and continuous spans: *Provided*,*Provisos*.
That if the said bridge shall be built with unbroken and continuous spans it shall have one or more channel-spans, each giving a clearSpans. headroom of not less than fifty-five feet above high-water mark, as understood at the point of location, and a clear width of waterway of not less than three hundred and fifty feet, and the clear head room under other than channel-spans may be reduced to ten feet above high-water mark, as understood at the point of location, if the interests of navigation be not affected thereby and the piers ofPiers. said bridge shall be parallel with the current of said river: *And provided further*, That if any bridge built under the provisions of this act shall be constructed as a drawbridge the same shall be constructed as a pivot drawbridge, with a draw over the main channelPivot draw, etc. of the river at an accessible and navigable point, and with spans giving a clear width of waterway of not less than two hundred feet on each side of the center or pivot pier of the draw, and the next adjoining span or spans to the draw shall give a clear width of waterway of not less than three hundred feet, and the said spans shall give a clear head room of not less than ten feet above extreme high-water mark, and the piers of said bridge shall be parallel with the Piers.current of said river where said bridge may be erected: *And provided, also*, That said draw shall be opened promptly, by steam orOpening of draw. other reliable mechanical power, upon reasonable signal for the passage of boats, vessels, or other watercraft: *And provided, also*, That if any bridge built under this act be located in the immediate vicinityModified spans, if built near existing railroad bridge. of the existing railroad bridge, the length of spans required by this act may be so modified as to make clear channel-ways correspond in length and location with the clear channel-ways of said existing bridge: *Provided, however*, That no bridge shall be built under theAids to navigation. provisions of this act, except there also be built at the time of the erection of the piers proper sheer-booms or other proper protection to safely guide boats, vessels, and other watercraft through said spans, at the expense of the city of Winona, or of the persons or corporation constructing, owning, or operating the bridge.
Sec. 3. That any bridge constructed under this act and accordingLawful structure, etc. to its provisions and conditions shall be a lawful structure, over which may be transmitted the mails, troops, and the munitions of war of the United States free of charge; and the United States shall have the right of way for postal telegraph purposes across saidPostal telegraph. bridge. Sec. 4. That the structure herein authorized shall be built and located under and subject to such regulations for the security of theSecurity of navigation. navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe, and to secure that object the said company or corporation shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, a designSecretary of War to approve plans, etc. and drawing 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 river, the shorelines of high and low water, the direction and strength of the current at all stages, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed of the stream, the location of any other bridge or bridges, and shall furnish such other information as shall be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and until the said plans 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 change be made in the plan of said bridge during the progress of construction, such change shallChange in plan. be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War; and the said structure shall at all times be so kept and managed as to offer reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels through or 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 472 FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Chs. 918–930. 1890. sunrise, such lights as maybe prescribed by the Light-House Board;Lights, etc.Structural changes, etc. and the said structure shall be changed or removed, at the cost and expense of the owners thereof, from time to time as Congress may direct, so as to preserve the free and convenient navigation of said Authorization revocable, etc.river; and the authority 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. 5. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this act is herebyAmendment, etc. expressly reserved. Sec. 6. That this act shall be null and void if actual construction Commencement and completion.of the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date hereof. Approved, September 25, 1890. Chapter 919: to authorize the Haines’ Brackett, Fort Clark and Rio Grande Railroad Company to construct and operate a railway through the Fort Clark military reservation in Texas, and for other purposes.
Chapter 919 26 Stat. 472 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. Digitization Vendor 2026-02-21 51 1 public
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