Chapter 223. To authorize the Dothan, Hartford and Florida Railway Company to construct a bridge across East Saint Andrews Bay, navigable water, at a point about one mile east of Farmdale, in the State of Florida
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CHAP. 223.— An Act To authorize the Dothan, Hartford and Florida Railway Company to construct a bridge across East Saint Andrews Bay, navigable water, at a point about one mile east of Farmdale, in the State of Florida. March 18, 1902.[[Public, No. 46](/us/pl/57/46).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* That the Dothan, Hartford East Saint Andrews Bay. Dothan, Hartford and Florida Railway Company may bridge, near Farmdale, Fla.and Florida Railway Company be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain and operate a bridge across East Saint Andrews Bay, navigable water, in the State of Florida; said bridge to be located about one mile east of Farmdale, in said State.
Secretary of War to approve plans, etc. Sec. 2. That said bridge shall be built and located under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation as the Secretary of War may prescribe; and to secure that object the said Dothan, Hartford and Florida Railway Company shall submit for his examination designs and drawings of the bridge, and maps of the location, giving for the space of one-half mile above and one-half mile below the proposed location the topography of the banks of the bay, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the 73currents, and the soundings, actually showing the bed of the bay, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject, and until the said plans and location are approved by him the bridge shall not be commenced or built; and should any change be made in said bridge before or after completion such change shall be likewise subject to the approval of the Secretary of War.
Sec. 3. That said bridge shall be kept and managed so as to offer Unobstructed navigation.reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels through or under the same; and for the safety of vessels passing at night there Lights, etc.shall he displayed on said bridge from sunset to sunrise, at the expense of the owners thereof, such lights or other signals as the Light-House Board may prescribe. And any changes in said bridge which the Changes.Secretary of War may at any time deem necessary and order in the interests of navigation shall he made by the owners thereof at their own expense.
Sec. 4. That all railroad companies desiring the use of the bridge Use by other companies. Compensation.authorized by this Act shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of rail way trains or ears over the same and over the approaches thereto upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such rise; and in case the owner or owners of said bridge and the several railroad companies, or any one of them, desiring such use shall fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid, and upon rules and conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge, all matters at issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War upon a hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties; and Telegraph, etc., rights.equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies.
Sec. 5. That the bridge constructed, maintained, and operated under Lawful structure and post route.this Act and according 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 transportation over the same of the mails, troops, and munitions of war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for transportation of said mails, troops, and munitions of war over the railroads and public highways leading to said bridge, and the United States shall have the light of way for telegraph, postal, and telephone purposes over said bridge.
Sec. 6. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction of Time of construction.the said bridge be not commenced in one year and completed in three years from the date hereof. Sec. 7. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby Amendment.expressly reserved. Approved, March 18, 1902.