Chapter 397. To authorize the construction of a bridge across the Clinch River, in the State of Tennessee, by the Knoxville, Lafollette and Jellico Railroad Company
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CHAP. 397.— An Act To authorize the construction of a bridge across the Clinch River, in the State of Tennessee, by the Knoxville, Lafollette and Jellico Railroad Company. February 3, 1903.[[Public, No. 52](/us/pl/57/52).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and Haute of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled*, Clinch River, Tenn.Knoxville, Lafollotte and Jellico Railroad may bridge at Dossett.That the Knoxville, Lafollotte and Jellico Railroad Company, a corporation created and organized under the laws of the State of Tennessee, be, and it is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge and approaches thereto over the Clinch River, in the State of Tennessee, at or near Dossett, Tennessee.
Sec. 2. That said bridge shall be constructed forLawful structure und post route. the passage of railway trains, and shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post route, upon which 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 per mile paid for the transportation over the railroads leading to the said bridge, and shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post-roads in the United 794Telegraph, etc., rights.States, 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 and telephone purposes.
Sec. 3. Secretary of War to approve plans, etc.That said bridge shall be built and located under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation of such river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the company building the said bridge shall submit to the Secretary of War, for is examination and approval, a design and drawing of the bridge and a map of the location thereof, and until the said plan and Changes.location are approved by the Secretary of War the said bridge shall not be commenced or built, and no changes shall be made in said bridge during the progress of construction, or after completion, unless approved by the Secretary of War; and the said company shall, at its own expense, make from time to time such changes in said bridge as the *Proviso.*Opening draw.Secretary of War may order in the interests of navigation: *Provided,* That if said bridge shall be built as a drawbridge the draw Lights, etc.shall be opened promptly upon reasonable signal for the passage of all watercraft; and upon whatever kind of bridge is constructed the said company shall maintain, at its own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals as the Light-House Hoard may prescribe.
Sec. 1. Use by other companies.Compensation.That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridge shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges in the passage of railroad trains over the same and the approaches thereto upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in case the owner or owners of said bridge and the several railroad companies or anyone of them desiring such use shall fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid and upon the rides and conditions to which each shall conform in the use of said bridge, all matters at issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War upon a hearing of the allegations and proof of the parties.
Sec. 5. Time of construction.That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction of the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within two years from the date of the approval of this Act. Sec. 6. Amendment.That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, February 3, 1903.