Chapter 347. To authorize the Kingston Bridge and Terminal Railway Company to construct a bridge across the Clinch River at Kingston, Tennessee
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CHAP. 347.— An Act To authorize the Kingston Bridge and Terminal Railway Company to construct a bridge across the Clinch River at Kingston, Tennessee. February 8, 1901. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Kingston Bridge and Terminal Railway may bridge Clinch River at Kingston, Tenn. That the Kingston Bridge and Terminal Railway Company, in the State of Tennessee, in its corporate capacity. is hereby authorized and empowered to construct and maintain a bridge over and across the Clinch River, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, at or near the town of Kingston, so as to connect said town of Kingston with the opposite or north bank of said river.
Sec. 2. That said bridge shall be so constructed that a reasonablyUnobstructed navigation. free and unobstructed passageway may be secured to all water craft navigating said river at the point aforesaid: and if said bridge shall beDraw.765 constructed as a drawbridge, the draw shall be opened promptly, upon reasonable signal, for the passage of boats and vessels; and whateverLights. kind of bridge is constructed, the owners thereof shall maintain, at their own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals thereon as the Light-House Board shall prescribe.
Sec. 3. That said bridge shall not be built or commenced until theApproval of plans, etc. plans and location of the same shall have been approved by the Secretary of War: and no change shall be made in its construction, and no alteration of it shall be made after its construction, unless such change or alteration shall, in like manner, receive the approval of the Secretary of War. And any changes in said bridge which the Secretary of War may at any time order in the interest of navigation shall be promptly made by the said company at its own expense.
Sec. 4. That the Secretary of War. upon receiving the design,—notification, etc. drawings, and specifications of said bridge, and a map of the location, and such other information as he may call for, and upon being satisfied that the bridge when built according to such designs and drawings will be in accordance with the requirements of this Act and will not unreasonably obstruct the navigation of said river, be, and is hereby, authorized and directed to approve said design, drawings, and specifications, and to so notify said Kingston Bridge and Terminal Railway Company: and upon receiving such notification the said Kingston Bridge and Terminal Railway Company may proceed to construct said bridge, conforming strictly to the approved design, drawings, and specifications.
Sec. 5. That any bridge built under this Act and according to itsLawful structure and post route. limitations shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post route, upon which the mails, troops, and munitions of war of the. United States shall be transmitted free of charge, and the United States shall have the right of way fora postal telegraph acrossPostal telegraph. said bridge: *Provided*, That all railroad companies desiring the use of*Proviso*.Rights of railroads to use. said bridge shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains or cars over the same, and over the approaches thereto, upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in ease of any disagreement between the parties in regard to the terms of such use or the sums to be paid, all matters at issue shall be determined by the Secretary of War upon hearing the allegations and proofs submitted to him.
Sec. 6. That the right is hereby expressly reserved to alter, amend,Amendment. or repeal this Act. Sec. 7. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction ofCommencement and completion. the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date hereof. Approved, February 8, 1901.