Chapter 563. To authorize the Pittsburg, Carnegie and Western Railroad Company to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Allegheny River
912 words·~4 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-32/chapter-563-3719316·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 563.— An Act To authorize the Pittsburg, Carnegie and Western Railroad Company to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Allegheny River. February 18, 1903.[[Public, No. 94](/us/pl/57/94).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the Pittsburg, CarnegieAllegheny River, Pit.Pittsburg, Carnegie and Western Railroad Company may bridge, at Pittsburg. and Western Kailroad Company, a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, its successors and assigns, be, and the same are hereby, authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a rail-road bridge across the Allegheny River from a point about seventyfive feet east of the southeast corner of Fourth street and Duquesne way, in the city of Pittsburg, in the State of Pennsylvania, to a point on the opposite bank of said river, at right angles with the current thereof, in the county of Allegheny in said State, the exact location, length of span, and height of said bridge to be determined and approved by the Secretary of War and Chief of Engineers.
The said bridge, when built in accordance with the provisions and requirements of this Act, shall be a legal and lawful structure, and may be used as a high-way for railway purposes. Sec. 2. That the bridge authorized to be constructed under this ActSecretary of War to approve plans, etc. shall be located and built 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 company shall submit to the said Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, a design and drawing of the bridge and piers, and a map of the location, giving for the space of one mile above and one mile below the proposed location the topography of the banks of the liver and the shore lines at high and low water, and giving for the space of one-half mile above and one-half mile below the proposed location an accurate representation of the bottom of the river, determined by actual soundings, and the location of any other bridge or bridges, and such other information as may be required for the full and satisfactory understanding of the subject by the Secretary of War; and the construction of said bridge shall not be commenced until said location and plans have been submitted to and approved by the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of War; and said plans, after having been approved by the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of War, shall not be deviated from either before or after completion of the structure unless the modification of said plans be previously submitted to and receive the approval of the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of War; and the said company shall, atChanges. its own expense, make from time to time such changes in said bridge as the Secretary of War may order in the interests of navigation.
Sec. 3. That any bridge constructed under this Act shall be a lawfulLawful structure and post route. structure, and shall be known as a post-road, upon which no higher charge shall be made for the transportation 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 railroads or public highways leading to said bridge; and said bridge shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post-roads in the United States, and the United States shall also have the right to construct a postal telegraph over said bridge without charge therefor.
Sec. 4. That said bridge herein authorized to be constructed shallUnobstructed navigation. be so kept and maintained as at all times to afford proper means and ways for the passage of vessels, barges, or rafts, both by day and by night; and there shall be displayed on said bridge by the owners 838thereof from sunset to sunrise such lights or other signals as the Light-House Board may prescribe. Sec. 5. Toll.That said bridge may be constructed to provide for the pas-sage of railway trains and street cars for such reasonable rates of toll as may be approved from time to time by the Secretary of War.
Sec. 6. Use by other roads.That all railway companies desiring the use of said bridge shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of ears over the same and the approaches thereto upon the Compensation.payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in case the owner or owners of said bridge and several companies, or any one of them, desiring such use shall fail 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 matters at issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War upon a hearing of the allegations and proofs Telegraph, etc., rights.of the parties, and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies.
Sec. 7. Time of construction.That the privileges hereby conferred and this Act shall become null and void if the construction of the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within two years and completed within four years after the, passage of this Act. Sec. 8. Amendment.That Congress hereby reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act. Approved, February 18, 1903.