Chapter 13. Authorizing the Kansas City, Watkins and Gulf Railway Company to construct and maintain a bridge across the Black River, in Louisiana
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CHAP. 13.— An Act Authorizing the Kansas City, Watkins and Gulf Railway Company to construct and maintain a bridge across the Black River, in Louisiana. January 13, 1897. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* That the Kansas City, Watkins Kansas City, Watkins and Gulf Railway Company may bridge Black River, Louisiana.and Gulf Railway Company, a corporation created and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Louisiana, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge across Black River, in the State of Louisiana, at such point suitable to the interests of navigation us may hereafter be selected by said railway company for crossing said river with its railroad line.
Said bridge shall be constructed Railway, wagon, and foot bridge.to provide for the passage of railway trains, and at the option of said railway company, may be used for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, for the transit of animals, and for foot passengers, for such reasonable rates of toll as may be fixed by said railway company Toll.and approved by the Secretary of War. Sec. 2. That said bridge built under this Act and subject to its limitations Lawful structure and post route.shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post route, upon which also no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, the troops, and munitions of 486FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Sess. II. Ch. 13. 1897.war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over the railroad or public highways leading to the said bridge, and shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post roads in the United States; and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be Postal telegraph.granted to all telegraph and telephone companies, and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge and its approaches *Proviso.* Aids to navigation.for postal telegraph purposes: *Provided,* That the bridge herein authorized to be constructed shall be so kept and managed by the company owning or operating it as to afford proper ways and means for the passage through or under it of vessels, barges, or rafts at all times, both by day and by night; and there shall be displayed on said bridge, Lights, etc.from sunset to sunrise, such lights and signals as the Light-House Board shall prescribe.
Changes, etc. Sec. 3. That if said bridge, erected and maintained under the authority of this Act, shall at any time substantially or materially obstruct the free navigation of said river or shall, in the opinion of the Secretary of War, obstruct such navigation, he is hereby authorized to cause such change or alteration of said bridge to be made as will effectually obviate such obstruction, and such alteration shall be made and all such obstructions be removed at the expense of the owner or owners Litigation.of said bridge; and in case of any litigation arising from any obstruction or alleged obstruction to the free navigation of said river, the case may be brought in the district court of the United States in the State of Louisiana in which any portion of said obstruction or bridge may be *Proviso.* Existing laws not affected.located: *Provided,* That nothing in this Act shall be so construed as to repeal or modify any of the provisions of law now existing in reference to the protection of the navigation of rivers or to exempt said bridge from the operation of the same.
Use by other companies. Sec. 4. That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridge shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains over the same, and over the approaches Compensation.thereto, upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; or, in case of disagreement, upon such terms and conditions as may be pre scribed by the Secretary of War upon hearing the allegations and proofs of the parties in interest.
Secretary of War to approve plans, etc. Sec. 5. That the bridge authorized to be constructed under this Act shall be built and located under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall pre scribe, and to secure that object the said company or corporation shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, a design and drawings of .said bridge and a map of the location, prepared with reference to a known datum plane, upon prescribed scale, furnished by the Engineer officer having supervision of said river, and giving for the space of two miles above and two miles below the proposed location of the bridge the topography of the banks of the river, with shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the currents 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 may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and until the said plans and location of the bridge are approved by the Secretary of War the bridge shall not be built, and Changes.should any change be made in the plan of the said bridge during the process of construction, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, and said structure shall be changed at the cost and expense of the owners thereof from time to time as the Secretary of War may direct, so as to preserve the free and convenient navigation of said river.
Commencement and completion. Sec. 6. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction of the. bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date hereof. Amendment. Sec. 7. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, January 13, 1897.