Chapter 16. To authorize the Southern Missouri and Arkansas Railroad Company to build a bridge across the Current River in Arkansas
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CHAP. 16.— An Act To authorize the Southern Missouri and Arkansas Railroad Company to build a bridge across the Current River in Arkansas. February 11, 1902.[[Public, No. 8](/us/pl/57/8).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* That the Southern Missouri and Current River. Southern Missouri and Arkansas Railroad Company may bridge, in Randolph County, Ark.Arkansas Railroad Company, created and existing under the laws of the States of Missouri and Arkansas, is hereby authorized to erect and maintain a bridge across Current River in township nineteen north, range two east, of the fifth principal meridian, in the county of Randolph, in the State of Arkansas, or at any point near said township selected by said railroad company for crossing said river with their railroad line and approved by the Secretary of War.
Unobstructed navigation. Sec. 2. That the said bridge shall be so constructed that a reason-ably free and unobstructed passageway may be secured to all water Opening draw.craft navigating said river at the point aforesaid; and if said bridge shall be constructed as a drawbridge the draw shall be opened promptly, Lights, etc.upon reasonable signal, for the passage of boats and vessels; and whatever kind of bridge is constructed the owners thereof shall maintain, at their own expense, from sunset, to sunrise, such lights or other signals thereon as the Light-House Board shall prescribe.
Post route. Sec. 3. That any bridge constructed under this Act shall be known and recognized as a post route, and the same is hereby declared to be a post route, upon which no higher charge shall he made for the transportation over the same of the mails, the troops, and munitions of war of the United States, or for through passengers or freight passing over said bridge, than the rate, per mile paid for their transportation Telegraph, etc., companies.over the railroads leading to said bridge; and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies; and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge and its approaches for postal-telegraph purposes.
Secretary of War to approve plans, etc. Sec. 4. That the plan and location of said bridge, with a detailed map of the river at the proposed site of the bridge, and near thereto, exhibiting the depth and currents, shall lie submitted to the Secretary of War for his approval, and until lie approves the plans and location of said bridge it shall not be built; but upon approval by the Secretary of War the said corporation may proceed to the erection of said bridge in conformity with said approved plan, and should any change be made in the plans of said bridge during the progress of construction or after completion such change shall be subject likewise to the approval of the Secretary of War, and any changes in said bridge which the Secretary of War may at any time order in the interest of navigation shall be made by said company at its own expense.
Use by other companies. Compensation. Sec. 5. That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridge shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railroad trains or cars over the same, and over the approaches to the same, upon the payment of reasonable compensation for such use; and in case the owner or owners of said bridge and the several railroad companies, or any of them desiring such use, shall fall to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid and upon the rules and conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge, all mutters at issue 5between them shall be derided by the Secretary of War upon a hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties.
Sec. 6. That this Act shall be void if the actual construction of the Time of construction.bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within two years. Sec. 7. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby Amendment.expressly reserved. Approved, February 11, 1902.