Chapter 99. Authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Columbia River, in the State of Washington
919 words·~4 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-29/chapter-99-2290580·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 99.— An Act Authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Columbia River, in the State of Washington. January 27, 1897. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the assent of Congress is Columbia and Red Mountain Railway Company may bridge Columbia River, Stevens County, Wash.hereby given to the Columbia and Red Mountain Railway Company, a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Washington, to construct, maintain, and operate a railway within that State, and to its successors and assigns, to construct and maintain a bridge and approaches thereto across the Columbia River, in the State of Washington, at such point on said river in the county of Stevens as may accommodate the line of railway which said corporation may build to said point.
Said bridge Railway, etc., 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 of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, and for the transit of animals and for foot passengers, for such reasonable rates of toll as may be fixed by the Toll.Secretary of War; and the Secretary of War shall have the right from time to time to revise such rates. Sec. 2. That the said bridge shall be so constructed that a free and Unobstructed navigation.unobstructed passage may be secured to all water craft, rafts, or logs navigating said river at the point aforesaid.
The said bridge shall be located, built, and operated under and subject to such regulations for the securing of the navigation of said river, and such requirements as to location and direction of piers and spans, clear heading in high water, and clear spans at low water, as the Secretary shall prescribe; and to Secretary of War to approve plans, etc.secure that object the said company shall submit, to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, drawings of said bridge and piers, and a map of the location, giving, for the space of 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 direction and strength of the current at ordinary high and low stages, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed and channel of the stream, and shall furnish such information as shall be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and, until the said location and plan of the bridge hereby authorized to be constructed are approved by the Secretary of War, the said bridge shall not be commenced or built; and should any change be made in the plan of such bridge during the progress of construction or after completion thereof, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War: *Provided,* That the *Proviso.* Lights, etc.persons or corporation owning said bridge shall maintain, at their own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals on said bridge as the Light-House Board shall prescribe.
Sec. 3. That the bridge authorized to be constructed under this Act 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, troops, and munitions of war of the United States, or for through railway passengers or freight passing over said bridge, than the rate per mile paid for their transmission over the railroads leading to said bridge; and the United States shall have 502Postal telegraph, etc.the right of way across said bridge and its approaches for postal-telegraph purposes, and all telegraph or telephone companies shall have equal rights.
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 to the owners of said bridge, and should the several railroad companies, or any one of them, desiring such use, 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;
Telephone and telegraph companies.and all telephone and telegraph companies shall have equal rights and privileges in constructing and operating their lines across said bridge. Commencement and completion. Sec. 5. 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. Changes. Sec. 6. That such alterations or changes as may be required by the Secretary of War or Congress in the bridge constructed under the pro visions of this Act shall be made by the said railroad company at its own expense, and at any time after the completion of the bridge; and Amendment etc.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, January 27, 1897.