Chapter 374. To authorize the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company and the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad Company, or their successors, to construct and maintain a bridge across the Delaware River
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CHAP. 374.— An Act To authorize the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company and the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad Company, or their successors, to construct and maintain a bridge across the Delaware River. February 15, 1901. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company, etc., may bridge Delaware River at Trenton, N. J., etc. That the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company, a corporation existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey, and the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad Company, a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, or their successors, be, and they are hereby, authorized to792 construct, maintain, and operate a railroad bridge, with as many tracks as they shall deem necessary for railroad traffic, across the Delaware River between a point in or near the city of Trenton, in the State of New Jersey, and a point in or near the borough of Morrisville, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania.
Sec. 2. That the bridge authorized to be constructed under this ActSecretary of War to approve plans, etc. shall be located and built under and subject to such requirements for the security of navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe, and to secure that object the railroad company shall submit to the Secretary of War for his examination and approval a design and drawing of the bridge and a map of the location, giving for the space of one mile the depth and current of the river at all points and the location of any other bridge or bridges, together with all other information touching said bridge and river as may be deemed requisite by the Secretary of War to determine whether said bridge when built will conform to the provisions of this Act and cause no serious obstruction to the navigation of the river or injuriously affect the flow of water.
Sec. 3. That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized and directed,Notification of approval, etc. upon receiving said plan and map and upon being satisfied that a bridge built on such plan and at said locality will conform to the provisions of this Act and cause no serious obstruction to the navigation of the river or injuriously affect the flow of water, to notify the said company that he approves the same, and upon receiving such notification the said company may proceed to the erection of said bridge, conforming strictly to the approved plan and location ; but until the Secretary of War shall approve the plan and location of the said bridge and notify the said companies of the same in writing the bridge shall not be built or commenced; and should any change be made in the plan of the bridge during the progress of the work thereon or after completion such change shall be subject likewise to the approval of the Secretary of War.
Sec. 4. That any bridge constructed under this Act shall be a legalLawful structure and post route. structure and shall be known as a post road, over which no higher charge shall be made for the transportation of mails, troops, and munitions of war. or other property of the United States over the same than the rate per mile charged for their transportation over the railways of and public highways leading to said bridge. The UnitedPostal telegraph. States shall also have the right of way over said bridge for postal-telegraph purposes.
Sec. 5. That the said bridge shall be so kept, and managed at allNo obstruction to navigation. times as not to interfere with the passage of vessels, barges, or rafts both by day and by night, and there shall be displayed on said bridge by the owners thereof, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or otherLights. signals as the Light-House Board may prescribe. Sec. 6. That this Act shall be null and void unless the bridge hereinCommencement and Completion. authorized shall be commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date hereof.
Sec. 7. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is herebyAmendment. expressly reserved. Approved, February 15, 1901.