Chapter 173. To approve and ratify the construction of a bridge across the Sulphur River, in the State of Arkansas, by the Texarkana and Fort Smith Railway Company
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CHAP. 173.— An Act To approve and ratify the construction of a bridge across the Sulphur River, in the State of Arkansas, by the Texarkana and Fort Smith Railway Company. February 8, 1897. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the construction by the Texarkana and Fort Smith Railway Company may bridge Sulphur River, Arkansas.Texarkana and Fort Smith Railway Company, a corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of Arkansas, of the bridge over the Sulphur River, in said State of Arkansas, be, and the same hereby is, approved and ratified, subject to the stipulations and conditions hereinafter set forth.
Sec. 2. That said bridge, so long as maintained according to the Lawful structure and post route.limitations of this Act, shall be a lawful structure, and shall be known and recognized as a post route, and the same is hereby declared to be a post route, upon which no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, the troops, and the munitions of war of the United States, or for through passengers or freight passing over the same, than the rate per mile paid for their transportation over the railroads leading to said bridge; and the United States shall Postal telegraph.have the right of way across said bridge for a postal telegraph.
Sec. 3. That said bridge shall be under and subject to such regulations Secretary of War to prescribe regulations, etc.for the security of the navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe, and the present plan and structure of said bridge shall not be altered or changed except by consent of the Secretary of War, and with his approval of the proposed change or alteration: *Provided,* That any change or alteration in the said bridge which *Proviso.* Changes.the Secretary of War may deem necessary in the interest of navigation shall be made by the said railroad company at its own expense.
Sec. 4. That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridge Use by other companies.shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains over the same, and over the approaches thereto, upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and Compensation.in case the owner or owners of said bridge and the several railroad companies, or any one of them, desiring such use, shall fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid, and upon rules and conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge, all matters at issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War, upon a hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties.
Sec. 5. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal Amendment, etc.this Act at any time. Approved, February 8, 1897.