Chapter 170. To authorize the Pittsburg, Monongahela and Wheeling railroad Company to construct a bridge over the Monongahela River
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CHAP. 170.— An Act To authorize the Pittsburg, Monongahela and Wheeling railroad Company to construct a bridge over the Monongahela River.March 2, 1895. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Pittsburg, Monongahela and Wheeling Railroad Company may bridge Monongahela River, Monongahela City, Pa. That it shall be lawful for the Pittsburg, Monongahela and Wheeling Railroad Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or its successors or assigns, to construct and maintain a bridge and approaches thereto across the Monongahela River at a point in the county of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, opposite, or as nearly opposite as may be, Monongahela City in said State; that said bridge may be Railway and wagon bridge.constructed for railway, wagon, and postal service, with single or double track tor railway traffic, and shall be constructed under the conditions and limitations hereinafter specified.
Sec. 2. That said bridge shall not interfere with the free navigationFree navigation. of said river beyond what may be necessary to carry into effect the Litigation.rights and privileges herein granted, and in case of any litigation arising under the provisions of this Act such litigation may be tried and determined by the circuit court of the United States within whose jurisdiction said bridge is located. Sec. 3. That the bridge hereby authorized to be constructed must beHigh bridge. constructed as a through bridge, with unbroken and continuous spans, the channel span over the waterway to have a clear channel of not less than five hundred feet and a clear head room of not less than fifty-three feet above the level of the water at pool full in said river, the remaining spans to be as may be approved by the Secretary of War.
Sec. 4. That any bridge constructed under this Act shall be a lawfulLawful structure and post route. structure and shall be known as a post-road, over which no higher charge shall be made for the transportation of mails, troops, and munitions of war or other property of the Government of the United States, or for passengers or freight passing over the same, than the rate per mile charged for their transportation over the railways or public Postal telegraph.highways leading to said bridge.
The United States shall also have the right of way over said bridge tor postal telegraph purposes. Sec. 5. That all railway, telephone, and telegraph companies desiringUse by other companies. to use said bridge shall be entitled to equal rights and privileges in using the same, including machinery and fixtures thereto belonging, Terms.and also the approaches thereto, upon suck terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Pittsburg, Monongahela, and Wheeling Railroad Company and the companies desiring to use the said bridge and approaches thereto, or, in case of a disagreement, upon such terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of War upon hearing the allegations and proofs of the parties in interest.
Sec. 6. That the said railroad company, before entering upon theSecretary of War to approve plans, etc. construction of said bridge, shall submit to the Secretary of War plans and drawings of said structure, together with a map of the location thereof for one mile above and one-half a mile below said location, giving the topography of the banks of the river, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the current of said river at high and low water, showing also the bed of the river and the channel, with such other and further information as the Secretary of War 739 may require; which said drawings and information aforesaid shall be examined by him, and if he shall approve the same he shall so notify the said railroad company of such approval, and thereupon said Company may proceed to the erection oi said bridge.
The Secretary of War may direct such alterations in such plans as he may deem necessaryChanges. to the better protection of navigation, and such alterations shall be adopted by said railroad company. The said railroad company may at any time make any alterations deemed advisable to be made in said bridge, but must first submit such proposed alterations to the Secretary of War, and his approval shall be first had before they shall be authorized or made. Sec. 7. That said bridge herein authorized to lie constructed shall beAids to navigation. so kept and managed at all times us to afford proper ways and means for the passage of vessels, barges, or rafts under it, both by day and by night.
There shall be displayed on said bridge from sunset to sunrise such lights and signals as may be directed by the Light-House Board,Lights, etc. and such changes may be made from time to time in the structure of said bridge as the Secretary of War may direct, at the expense of said railroad company in order the more effectually to preserve the free navigation of said river, or the said structure shall be altogether removed, if in the judgment of the Secretary of War the public good may require such removal, and without expense or charge to the United States.
Sec. 8. 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 date of the approval of this Act. Sec. 9. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is herebyAmendment, etc. specially reserved. Approved, March 2, 1895.