Chapter 206. To authorize the Saint Louis, Siloam and Southern Railroad Company, of Missouri and Arkansas, to construct a bridge across White River in the State of Arkansas
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CHAP. 206.— An Act To authorize the Saint Louis, Siloam and Southern Railroad Company, of Missouri and Arkansas, to construct a bridge across White River in the State of Arkansas. February 27, 1899. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * That the Saint Louis, SiloamSt. Louis, Siloam, and Southern Railroad m ay bridge White River, Arkansas. and Southern Railroad Company, of Missouri and Arkansas, a corporation created and existing by virtue of the law of the State of Arkansas, its successors and assigns, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge across White River in the State of Arkansas for the crossing of said river with its railroad line at such point as may be selected by the said railroad company and approved by the Secretary of War.
Said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the passageMay be railroad, etc., bridge. of railroad trains, and, at the option of said railroad company, may be used for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, for the transit of animals, and for foot passengers, for such reasonable rates of tollToll. as may be fixed by the said railroad company and approved by the Secretary of War. Sec. 2. That any bridge built under this Act and subject to its limitationsTo be lawful structure and post route. shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post route; and shall enjoy the same rights and privileges as other post roads in the United States; and equal privileges in the use of saidTelegraph, etc., companies. bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies; and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge and its approaches for postal telegraph purposes.
Sec. 3. That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridgeRights of railroads to use. 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, and upon the payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and—disagreement with owner of bridge. 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, and upon the 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. 4. That the bridge authorized to be constructed under this ActSecretary of War to make regulations. shall be built 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 said company or corporation shall submit to the Secretary of War for his examination and approval designs and drawings of the bridge, and a map of the location, giving all details necessary to enable the Secretary of War to judge whether the location selected is a proper one; and until the said plans and location are—to approve plans. approved by the Secretary of War the bridge shall not be commenced or built; and should any changes be made in the plans of said bridge—changes. during the progress of construction, such changes shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, and all changes in said bridge required by the Secretary of War at any time, or its entire removal, shall be at the expense of the corporation owning or operating said bridge.
Sec. 5. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is herebyAmendment. expressly reserved. Sec. 6. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction ofCommencement and completion. the bridge herein authorized is not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date hereof. Approved, February 27, 1899.