Chapter 608. To authorize the Carolina Northern Railroad Company to construct and maintain a bridge across the Lumber River in or near the town of Lumberton, Robeson County, North Carolina
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CHAP. 608.— An Act To authorize the Carolina Northern Railroad Company to construct and maintain a bridge across the Lumber River in or near the town of Lumberton, Robeson County, North Carolina. February 26, 1901. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Carolina Northern Railroad may bridge Lumber Riverat Lumberton, N. C. That the Carolina Northern Railroad Company, a corporation created and existing under an act of the general assembly of North Carolina, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a railroad bridge for the passage of railway engines and cars across the Lumber River at such point as may be selected by such company and approved by the Secretary of War within the boundary lines of Robeson County, North Carolina, in or near the town of Lumberton: *Provided*, That said bridge shall not be*Provisos*.Draw, etc. constructed within one mile of any other bridge across said stream; said bridge to be so constructed as not to obstruct the navigation of said river and to be provided with a suitable draw: *Provided further*, That any bridge constructed under this Act and according to its limitationsLawful structure and post route. 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 than the rate per mile paid for transportation over railroads or public highways leading to the said bridge, and the UnitedPostal telegraph.
States shall have the right of way for a postal telegraph across said bridge. Sec. 2. That the bridge authorized to be constructed under this ActSecretary of War to approve plans. shall be located and built under and subject to such regulations for the security of the navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and the said company or corporation shall submit to the Secretary of War. for his examination and approval, a design and drawing of the proposed bridge and a map of the location, giving, for the space of one-fourth of a mile above and one-fourth of a mile below the proposed location, the topography of the banks of the river, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the currents, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed of the stream, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and until the said plan and location of the bridge are approved by the Secretary of War no work upon the bridge shall be commenced; and should anyChanges change be made in the plan of said bridge during the progress of construction such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War: *Provided,* That nothing in this Act shall be construed as to*Proviso*.Existing law unimpaired. repeal or modify any of the provisions of law now existing in reference to the protection of the navigation of rivers, or to exempt this bridge from the operations of the same.
Sec. 3. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repealAmendment. this Act at any time; and that if at any time navigation of said riverAlterations.812 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 bridge company to alter and change the said bridge, at its own expense, in such manner as may be proper to secure free and complete navigation without impediment.
Sec. 4. That the draw provided for the bridge herein authorized toDraw. be constructed shall be opened promptly, upon reasonable signal, for the passing of boats, and said corporation shall maintain at its own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals on saidLights. bridge as the Light-House Board shall prescribe: and if actual constructionCommencement and completion. of the bridge herein authorized shall not be commenced within one year from the passage of this Act and be completed within three years from same date the rights and privileges hereby granted shall cease and be determined.
Approved, February 26, 1901.