Chapter 547. To authorize the White and Black River Valley Railway Company to build a bridge across the Black River in Arkansas
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Chap. 547: To authorize the White and Black River Valley Railway Company to build a bridge across the Black River in Arkansas. Chapter 547 30 Stat. 650 1898-07-01 United States Government Publishing Office text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Digitization Vendor 2025-11-03 55 2 public chap. 547.— An Act To authorize the White and Black River Valley Railway Company to build a bridge across the Black River in Arkansas.July 1, 1898. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* That the White and Black White and Black River Valley Railway may bridge Black River, Arkansas. —location.
River Valley Railway Company, a corporation created and existing under the laws of the State of Arkansas, be, and is hereby, authorized to erect and maintain a bridge across the Black River, in township twelve north, range three west, or at such point near said township as shall be selected by said railway company for crossing said river with their railway line, the said bridge to have a drawspan so as not to interfere —drawspan. *Proviso.* Lawful structure and post route. with the navigation of said river: *Provided,* That any bridge constructed under this Act and according to its limitations shall be a lawful structure and shall be known and recognized as a post route; and the same is hereby declared to be a post route, upon which also no higher charge shall be made for the transportation over the same of the mails, the troops, and munitions of war of the United States or for through passengers or freight passing over said bridge than the rate per mile paid for their transportation over the railroads leading to the said bridge; and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted Telegraph, etc., companies. 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. 2. That the plan and location of said bridge, with a detailed Secretary of War to approve plans. map of the river at the proposed site of the bridge and near thereto, exhibiting the depths and currents, shall be submitted to the Secretary of War for his approval, and until he approves the plans and location of said bridge it shall not be built; but upon the approval of said plan by the Secretary of War the said company or corporation may proceed to the erection of said bridge in conformity with said approved plan, and should any change be made in the plan of said bridge during the —changes.
Lights. progress of the work thereon, such change shall be subject likewise to the approval of the Secretary of War. And there shall be displayed on said bridge from sunset to sunrise such lights or other signals as may be prescribed by the Light-House Board. Sec. 3. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal Amendment. Free navigation. this Act at any time; and if at any time navigation of said river shall in any manner be obstructed or impaired by the said bridge the Secretary of War shall have authority, and it shall be his duty, to require the said railway company to alter and change the said bridge, at its own expense, and in such manner as may be proper to secure free and complete navigation without impediment; and if upon reasonable notice to the said railway company to make such changes or improvements the said company fails to do so all the rights conferred by this Act shall be forfeited.
Sec. 4. That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridge Railroads. —equal rights to use, etc. shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railroad trains or cars over the same, and over the approaches to the same, upon the payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in case the owner or owners of said bridge and the several —disagreement with owner of bridge. railroad companies, or any one 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 651FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
Sess. II. Chs. 547, 548, 563. 1898. issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War upon a hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties. Sec. 5. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction of Commencement and completion. the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date hereof. Approved, July 1, 1898.
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Chapter 547
To authorize the White and Black River Valley Railway Company to build a bridge across the Black River in Arkansas
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