Chapter 174. To authorize the construction by the Kansas City, Shreveport and Gulf Railroad Company of a bridge across the Sabine River between the States of Louisiana and Texas
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CHAP. 174.— An Act To authorize the construction by the Kansas City, Shreveport and Gulf Railroad Company of a bridge across the Sabine River between the States of Louisiana and Texas. February 8, 1897. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the Kansas City, Shreveport Kansas City, Shreveport and Gulf Railroad Company may bridge Sabine River, Orange, Tex.and Gulf Railroad Company, a corporation duly created and existing under the laws of the State of Louisiana, its successors or assigns, be, and it is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge and approaches thereto across the Sabine River at or about twenty miles above the town of Orange, in the State of Texas.
Said bridge shall be Railway, etc., bridge.constructed to provide for the passage of railway trains, and, at the option of said corporation, may be so constructed as to provide for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, animals, and foot passengers for such reasonable rates of toll as may be approved by the Secretary Toll.of War. Sec. 2. That the bridge herein authorized shall be built and located Secretary of War to approve plans, etc.under and in accordance with such regulations for the security of navigation as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the said company shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination 514and approval, drawings showing the plan and location of said bridge, said drawings to give, for the space of one-half mile above and one- half mile below the proposed location, the topography of the banks of the river, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the current at all stages, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed of the stream, and such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and until the plan and location of the bridge are approved by the Secretary Changes.of War the bridge shall not be commenced or built; and any change in the plans of said bridge, either before or after construction, shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War; and any change in said bridge during or after construction which the Secretary of War may require in the interest of navigation shall be made by the said company at its own expense.
Unobstructed navigation. Sec. 3. That the said bridge shall at all times be so kept and managed as to oiler reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels Draw.and other crafts through or under said structure; and if said bridge be built as a drawbridge the draw shall be opened promptly upon reasonable Lights, etc.signal for the passage of boats or other crafts; and whatever kind of bridge is constructed, the said company shall maintain at its own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals on said bridge as the Light-House Board shall prescribe.
Lawful structure and post route. Sec. 4. That any bridge built under this Act and subject to its limitations 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 the munitions of war of the United States, or passengers or freight over said bridge than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over the railroads or public highways leading to said bridge; and it shall enjoy the same rights and privileges as other post roads of the United .States; and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph Postal telegraph.and telephone companies, and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge and its approaches for postal-telegraph purposes.
Use by other companies. Sec. 5. That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridge and its approaches shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges Compensation.relative to the passage of trains over the same upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in case the owner or owners of said bridge and the several railroad companies, or any of them, desiring such use shall fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid, or upon rules and conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge and approaches, 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.
Commencement 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, etc. Sec. 7. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, February 8, 1897.