Chapter 357. To authorize the construction and maintenance of a bridge across the Saint Lawrence River
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CHAP. 357.— An Act To authorize the construction and maintenance of a bridge across the Saint Lawrence River. March 2, 1897. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Northern New York Railroad Company may bridge Saint Lawrence River, Hogansburg, N. Y. That the Northern New York Railroad Company, a corporation organized and created under and by virtue of the laws of the State of New York, or such railway or bridge company now or hereafter incorporated under the laws of said State or of the Dominion of Canada as the said Northern New York Railroad Company or its assigns may unite with, be, and it hereby is, authorized and empowered to construct, own, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Saint Lawrence River, from a point on the right or southerly bank thereof at or near the village of Hogansburg, in the county of Franklin, in the State of New York, to a point on the Island of Cornwall near the town of Cornwall, in the county of Cornwall and Stormont, Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, at such point as may be most convenient to said corporation604FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Sess. II. Chs. 357, 358. 1897. to unite and connect the railroad built or to be built by it in the said State of New York with any railroad or bridge that may be constructed Railway, etc., bridge.by any person or corporation in the said Dominion of Canada. Said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the passage of railway trains and, at the option of the said corporation, may be used for the passage Toll.of vehicles, animals, and foot passengers upon such reasonable rates of toll as may be fixed and from time to time revised by the Secretary of War of the United States.
Said bridge when completed shall be Lawful structure and post route.*Proviso*.Consent of Canada.deemed and taken to be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post route for the United States mails: *Provided*, That before the construction of the said bridge shall be begun all proper and requisite authority therefor shall be obtained from the government of the Dominion of Canada. Sec. 2. Secretary of War to approve plans, etc.That the bridge herein provided for shall be subject in its location, plan, and construction to the supervision of the Secretary of War of the United States, to whom the plans and specifications relative thereto shall be submitted for approval; and until the said location and plan of construction of said bridge hereby authorized to be constructed are approved by the Secretary of War, the said bridge shall not be commenced or built; and no change shall be made in the plan of such bridge during the progress of construction or after completion thereof unless by the consent and with the approval of the Secretary of War Unobstructed navigation.first obtained.
The said bridge shall be so located and constructed as not to obstruct the navigation of the main channel of the river. The said company shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, drawings of the said bridge and piers, together with a map of the location, showing for the space of at least one mile below and one mile above the proposed location the topography of the banks of the river, the shore lines at high and low water, the location of the channel, together with the direction and strength of the current at ordinary high and low stages, and the soundings of the river bed, and shall furnish such further information as maybe required by the Secretary Lights.of War for a full understanding of the subject.
The corporation owning or operating the said bridge shall maintain at its own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals thereupon as the United States Light-House Board may require. Sec. 3. Use by other companies.That all railway companies desiring to use the said bridge shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges in the passage of the same and in the use of the machinery and fixtures thereof, and Terms.of the approaches thereto, under and upon such terms as may be from time to time agreed upon between such railway companies and the persons or corporation owning or operating the said bridge, and in ease they shall not agree upon the same, then upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the district court of the United States for the northern district of New York, after hearing the allegations and proofs of the parties in due form presented.
Sec. 4. Commencement and completion.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 of approval hereof. Sec. 5. Amendment, etc.Removal.That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved; and the right to require the entire removal of the bridge constructed under the provisions of this Act, at the expense of the owners thereof, whenever Congress shall decide that the public interests require it, is also expressly reserved.
Approved, March 2, 1897.