Chapter 619. Authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Red River of the North
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CHAP. 619.— An Act Authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Red River of the North. June 4, 1900. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Cooper Pontoon Bridge Company may bridge Red River of the North. That the Cooper Pontoon Bridge Company, of Walsh County, State of North Dakota, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of North Dakota, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a pontoon bridge and approaches thereto across the Red River of the North between the State Location.of Minnesota and the State of North Dakota, extending from a point on said river where the section line running east and west between sections eight and seventeen, township one hundred and fifty-seven north, of range fifty west, in Marshall County, State of Minnesota, intersects said river, to a point opposite in the State of North Dakota.
Said bridge shall be constructed so as to provide for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, animals, and foot passengers, and for Toll.road travel, for such reasonable rates of toll and under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by said corporation and approved from time to time by the Secretary of War. Sec. 2. To be lawful structure and post route.That any bridge built under this Act and subject to its limitations shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post route, upon which also no higher charge shall be made for the 263transmission over the same of the mails, the troops, and the 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 it shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post roads in the United States, and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge and its approaches for postal-telegraph purposes.
And equalTelegraph, etc., companies. rights as to constructing and maintaining their lines over said bridge shall be granted to all telephone and telegraph companies desiring to use the same. Sec. 3. That said bridge shall be constructed as a pontoon drawspanDraw. bridge, and shall contain a pontoon drawspan of such dimensions as the Secretary of War shall prescribe, which said drawspan shall be maintained on the main channel of the river at an accessible and navigable point; and the piers shall be parallel with, and the bridge itself at right angles to, the current of the river: *Provided*, That said draw*Proviso.*—opening of. shall be opened promptly, upon reasonable signal, for the passage of boats and rafts; and said corporation shall maintain at its own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals on said bridge asLights. the Light-House Board shall prescribe.
No bridge shall be constructed or maintained under the authority of this Act which shall at any time substantially or materially obstruct the free navigation of said river;Bridge not to obstruct navigation. and if any bridge erected under said authority shall, in the opinion of the Secretary of War, obstruct such navigation, he is hereby authorized to cause such change or alteration of said bridge to be made as will effectually obviate such obstruction, and all such alterations shall be made and all such obstructions be removed at the expense of the said corporation: and in case of any litigation arising from anyLitigation. obstruction or alleged obstruction to the free navigation of said river, caused or alleged to be caused by said bridge, suit may be brought in any circuit court of the United States for the circuit in which said bridge or any part thereof is located to remove or remedy the same: *Provided further*, That nothing in this Act shall be construed as toExisting law unaffected. 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. 4. That any bridge authorized to be constructed under this ActSecretary of War to approve plans, etc. 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 corporation shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, a design and drawings of the said bridge and a map of the location, giving, for the space of one-half mile above and one-half mile below the proposed location, the high and low water lines upon the banks of the river, the direction and strength of the current at all stages, with the soundings, accurately showing the bed of the stream, and the location of any other bridge or bridges, such map to be sufficiently in detail to enable the Secretary of War to judge of the proper location of said bridge, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and until such plan and location of the bridge are approved by the Secretary of War the bridge shall not be built: and should any change be made in the plan of said—changes. bridge, during the progress of construction or after completion, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War.
Sec. 5. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is herebyAmendment. expressly reserved. Sec. 6. 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 of the approval of this Act. Approved, June 4, 1900.