Chapter 347. To authorize the New Orleans and Northwestern Railway Company, its successors and assigns, to build and maintain a bridge across Bayou Bartholomew in the State of Louisiana
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CHAP. 347.— An Act To authorize the New Orleans and Northwestern Railway Company, its successors and assigns, to build and maintain a bridge across Bayou Bartholomew in the State of Louisiana. May 4, 1900. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the New Orleans and New Orleans and Northwestern Railway may bridge Bayou Bartholomew, La. Northwestern Railway Company, a corporation created, organized, and existing under the laws of the States of Louisiana and Mississippi be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a railway bridge, and approaches thereto, over Bayou Bartholomew, in the State of Louisiana, at a point suitable, in the judgment of the Secretary of War, to the interests of navigation, near the north line of section twenty-five, township twenty-two north, range five east; said bridge Transit. shall be constructed for the passage of railway trains, and, at the option of the corporation by which it is built, may be used for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, for the transit of animals, and for foot passengers, for reasonable rates of toll, to be fixed by the Toll. said company and approved by the Secretary of War.
Sec. 2. That the said bridge, to be constructed under this Act, and To be lawful structure and post route. subject to its limitations, shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post road, and shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post roads in the United States; that no higher charges shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mail, 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 for their transmission over the roads leading to said bridge; and Telegraph companies. equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph companies, and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge for postal telegraph services; that the said bridge Draw. shall be constructed either as a drawbridge, or otherwise, so that a free and unobstructed passage may be secured to all water crafts navigating said river at the point aforesaid: *Provided*, That if the *Proviso*. —opening of. said bridge authorized to be constructed under this Act shall be con-168structed as a drawbridge, the draws shall be opened promptly upon Lights. reasonable signals for the passage of boats or vessels, and whatever kind of bridge is constructed the said corporation shall maintain thereon at its own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals as the Light-House Board shall prescribe.
Sec. 3. Secretary of War to approve plans. That the bridge authorized to be constructed under this Act shall be built and located under and subject to such regulations for the security of 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 said bridge, and a map of the location of same, giving the topography of the banks of the river or bayou, the shore line at high and low water, and the direction and strength of the current at different stages, the location of any other bridge or bridges within one mile thereof, and such further information as may be required for a satisfactory understanding of the subject; and said bridge shall not be constructed until the plan and location is approved Litigation. by the Secretary of War.
All litigation which shall be had in regard to the said bridge shall be in the circuit court of the United States in whose jurisdiction the said bridge is located. Sec. 4. Amendment. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby Changes. reserved; and any alterations or changes that may be required by the Secretary of War in the bridge constructed under this Act shall be made by the corporation owning or controlling the same at its own Commencement and completion. expense.
Furthermore, if the construction of the said bridge shall not be commenced within one year and completed within three years after the passage of this Act all the privileges conferred hereby, and this Act, shall become null and void. Approved, May 4, 1900.