Chapter 818. To authorize the construction of a bridge across Pearl River at Monticello, Mississippi
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CHAP. 818.— An Act To authorize the construction of a bridge across Pearl River at Monticello, Mississippi. March 2, 1901. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Lawrence County. Miss., may bridge Pearl River at Monticello. That the board of supervisors of Lawrence County, in the State of Mississippi, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge, and approaches thereto, across the Pearl River at or near the town of Monticello, in said county Toll, etc.and State.
Said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, animals, foot passengers, and for all road travel, charging and receiving therefor, at the option of said board of supervisors, such reasonable rates of toll and under such reasonable rules and regulations as may be presented by said board of supervisors and approved from time to time by the Secretary of War. Sec. 2. Lawful structure and post route. That said bridge, built under this Act and subject to its limitations, shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known 959as a post route, upon which also no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, the troops, and munitions of war of the United States than the rate paid for the transmission over the public highways leading to the said bridge, and shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post roads in the United States, and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraphTelegraph, etc., companies. and telephone companies; and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge and its approaches for postal-telegraph purposes.
Said bridge shall contain a draw span giving a clear openingDraw. of a width to be determined by the Secretary of War, which draw span shall be maintained over the main channel of the river at an accessible and navigable point, and that said draw shall be opened promptly, upon reasonable signal, for the passage of boats and rafts; and saidLights. board of supervisors shall maintain at its own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals on said bridge as the Light-House Board shall prescribe.
Sec. 3. That no bridge shall be erected or maintained under theUnobstructed navigation. authority of this Act which shall at any time unreasonably obstruct the free navigation of said river; and if any bridge erected under such authority shall, in the opinion of the Secretary of War, unreasonably obstruct navigation he is hereby authorized to cause the entire removal thereof, or such changes or alterations of said bridge to be made as will obviate such obstruction; and all such alterations shall be made and all such obstructions shall be removed at the expense of the owner or owners of said bridge; and in case of any litigation arising from any—litigation. obstructions or alleged obstructions to the free navigation of said river, caused or alleged to be caused by said bridge, the case may be brought in the district court of the United States of the State of Mississippi in whose jurisdiction any portion of said obstruction or bridge may be located: *Provided*, That nothing in this Act shall be so construed as to*Proviso*.Existing law unaffected. repeal or modify any of the provisions of the law now existing in reference to the protection of the navigation of rivers or to exempt this bridge from the operation of same.
Sec. 4. That any bridge authorized to be constructed under thisSecretary of War to approve plans. Act shall be built and located under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation of the said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the said board of supervisors 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-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 currents at low and at high water, 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 shall 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 the bridge shall not be commenced or built; and should any change be made in the plans of said bridge during the progress of its construction, or after completion, such changes shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War.
Sec. 5. 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 hereof. Sec. 6. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is herebyAmendment. expressly reserved. Approved, March 2, 1901.