Chapter 174. authorizing the construction of a free bridge across the Arkansas River, connecting Little Rock and Argenta
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CHAP. 174.— An Act authorizing the construction of a free bridge across the Arkansas River, connecting Little Rock and Argenta.February 28, 1893. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Pulaski County may bridge Arkansas River at Little Rock, Ark. That it shall be lawful for the county of Pulaski, State of Arkansas, to build a tree wagon, foot, and street-railway bridge across the Arkansas River at the city of Little 495 Rock, in Arkansas; and in case of any litigation arising from anyLitigation. obstruction or alleged obstruction to the free navigation of said river by reason of the construction of said bridge, the cause may be tried before the district court of the United States having jurisdiction over that portion of the State of Arkansas where said bridge shall be located.
Sec. 2. That if any bridge, built under the provisions of this act shallDrawbridge. be constructed as a drawbridge, the same shall be constructed as a pivot drawbridge, with a draw over the main channel of the river, at an accessible, and navigable point, and with the spans of not less than one hundred and sixty feet in length in the clear on each side of the pivot or central pier of the draw; and the next adjoining spans to the draw shall not be less thanSpans, etc. two hundred and fifty feet, and said span shall not be less than twenty feet above high-water mark, measuring to the bottom chord of the bridge: *And provided also*, That said draw*Proviso*.Opening of draw. shall be opened promptly upon reasonable signal for the passage of boats whose construction shall not be such as to admit of their passage under said bridge; and whatever kind of bridge be constructed the bridge, piers shall be parallel with the current of the river.
If saidPiers. bridge shall have no draw, the span over the navigable channel shallSpan over navigable channel. be of such height above high water and such length between the piers as shall have been approved by the Secretary of War before construction of the same is commenced. Sec. 3. That any bridge constructed under this act and according toLawful structure and post route. its limitations shall be a lawful structure and shall be recognized as 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.
Sec. 4. That the United States shall have the right of way for telegraphPostal telegraph.Use by telegraph, etc., companies. purposes on said bridge; and all telegraph and telephone companies shall have equal rights and privileges as to constructing their lines over said bridge. Sec. 5. That the said county of Pulaski shall submit to the SecretarySecretary of War to approve plans, etc. of War, for his approval, a plan, with the necessary drawings of said bridge, conforming to the above requirements; and until the Secretary of War approve the plan and location of said bridge, and notify the county court of the said county in writing, the bridge shall not be built or commenced; and should any change be made in the plan of said bridge during the progress of the work thereon, such change shall be likewise subject to the approval of the Secretary of War.
Sec. 6. That such lights or other signals as the Light-House BoardLights, etc. may prescribe shall be maintained upon said bridge, between sunset and sunrise, by and at the expense of the owner or owners thereof. Sec. 7. That this act shall be null and void if actual construction ofCommencement and completion. the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the approval of this act. Sec. 8. That Congress shall have power at any time to alter, amend,Amendment, etc. or repeal this act, or any part thereof, if, in its judgment, the public interests so require, and any change in the construction of such bridgeChanges. hereby authorized, made necessary by the action of Congress, or the entire removal of the bridge, if required, shall be at the expense of the owners of said bridge or of the parties controlling or using the same.
Approved, February 28, 1893.