Chapter 421. To authorize the county of Saint Louis, in the State of Minnesota, to build or authorize the building of a foot and wagon bridge across the Saint Louis River between Minnesota and Wisconsin, at a point near Fond du Lac, in said State of Minnesota
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CHAP. 421.— An Act To authorize the county of Saint Louis, in the State of Minnesota, to build or authorize the building of a foot and wagon bridge across the Saint Louis River between Minnesota and Wisconsin, at a point near Fond du Lac, in said State of Minnesota. June 11, 1896. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Staten of America in Congress assembled,* That the county of Saint Louis, Saint Louis County may bridge Saint Louis River, Fond du Lac, Minn.in the State of Minnesota, is hereby authorized and empowered to erect, establish, and maintain, or authorize the erection, establishment, and maintenance of a foot and wagon bridge across the Saint Louis River, in section numbered seven, in township numbered forty-eight north of range numbered fifteen west, said section being partly in the county of Saint Louis and partly in the county of Douglas and State of Wisconsin, at a point described as follows:
Commencing at or near the intersection Location.of Cherokee street and One hundred and thirty-fifth avenue west, in the city of Duluth, Minnesota, at the suburban village known as Fond du Lac, thence crossing the Saint Louis River in a line at right angles to the channel of said river to a point on the Wisconsin shore about one hundred feet westerly from the mouth of Dubray Creek. That said bridge shall net interfere with the free navigation of said Free navigation.river beyond what is necessary in order to carry into effect the rights and privileges hereby granted.
Sec. 2. That the bridge under this Act shall consist of a timber Construction.approach on the Minnesota side with pile-bent foundation having openings of at least twenty feet; a two-hundred-and-fifty-foot drawspan across the Minnesota channel, beginning at about the shore line and having a pivot pier at center and giving clear openings of one hundred and ten feet each; a fixed span of one hundred feet; a two-hundred-and-fifty-foot drawspan across the Wisconsin channel similar to the one on the Minnesota side, and a timber approach on the Wisconsin side similar to that on the Minnesota side.
The drawspan shall have a clear height of not less than fifteen feet and the fixed span not less than ten feet above low-water datum. Sec. 3. That any bridge constructed under this Act, and according Lawful structure and post route.to these provisions and conditions, shall be a lawful structure, over which may be transmitted the mails, troops, and munitions of war of the United States free of charge: and the United States shall have the right of way for postal telegraph purposes across said bridge.
Sec. 4. That the structure herein authorized shall be built and Secretary of War to approve plans, etc.located under and subject to such regulations for the security of the navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe, and to secure that object the corporation named shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, a design and drawing of the bridge and a map of the location, giving, for the space of one mile above and one mile below the proposed location, the topography of the banks of the river and the shore line at high water and low water, the direction and strength of the current, and the soundings, correctly showing the bed of the stream; and shall furnish such other information as shall be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject.
And until the said plans and location of the bridge are decided by the Secretary of War to be such as will not materially affect the interest of navigation, the bridge shall not be commenced or built; and should any change be made in the plan of such bridge during Changes.the progress of construction, or after construction, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War; and the said structure shall at all times be so kept and managed as to afford reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels under such structure, so 456FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Chs. 421, 422. 1896.as to preserve the free and convenient navigation of said river; the draws of such bridge shall be opened promptly upon reasonable signal Lights, etc.for the passage of boats; and such lights or other signals shall be maintained on said bridge, by the owners thereof, from sunset to sunrise, as the Light House Board shall prescribe; and the authority to erect and continue said bridge shall be subject to revocation and modification bylaw when the public good shall, in the Judgment of Congress, so require, without any expense or charge to the United States.
Amendment, etc. Sec. 5. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. 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. Approved, June 11, 1896.