Chapter 779. To authorize the United States and West Indies Railroad and Steamship Company, of the State of Florida, to construct a bridge across the Manatee River in the State of Florida
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CHAP. 779.— An Act To authorize the United States and West Indies Railroad and Steamship Company, of the State of Florida, to construct a bridge across the Manatee River in the State of Florida. May 7, 1902. [[Public, No. 105](/us/pl/57/105_).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* Manatee River, Fla. United States and West Indies Railroad and Steamship Company may bridge. That the United States and West Indies Railroad and Steamship Company of Florida, a corporation created and existing by virtue of the law of the State of Florida, its successors and assigns, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge across Manatee River in the State of Florida for the crossing of said river with its railroad line at such point as may be selected by the said railroad and steamship company and approved by the Secretary of War.
Said bridge shall be constructedRailway, wagon,and foot bridge. to provide for the passage of railroad trains, and. at the option of said railroad company, may be used for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, for the transit of animals, and for foot passengers, for such reasonable rates of toll as may be fixed by the said railroad andToll. steamship company and approved by the Secretary of War. Sec. 2. That any bridge built under this Act and subject to its limitationsLawful structure and post route. shall he a lawful structure, and shall he recognized and known ns a post route, upon which also no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails and troops and munitions of war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over the railroads or public highways leading to the said bridge; and it shall enjoy the same rights and privileges as other post roads in the United States; and the United States shall have, the rightTelegraph, etc., rights. of way across said bridge and its approaches for postal telegraph and telephone purposes, and all telegraph and telephone companies shall have equal rights and privileges in crossing said bridge with their lines.
Sec. 3. That the bridge authorized to be constructed under this ActSecretary of War to approve plans, etc. shall be built under and subject to such regulations for the security of the navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe, and to secure that object the said company or corporation shall submit to the Secretary of War for his examination and approval designs and drawings of the bridge and a map of the location, giving all details191 necessary to enable the Secretary of War to judge whether the location selected is a proper one; and until the said plans and location are approved by the Secretary of War the bridge shall not be commenced or built: and should any changes be made in the plans of said bridgeChanges. during the progress of construction or after completion such changes shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, and all changes in said bridge required by the Secretary of War at any time, or its entire removal, shall be at the expense of the corporation owning or operating said bridge.
Sec. 4. That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridgeUse by other companies. shall be entitled to equal rights and privileges in the passage of railroad trains over the same, and the approaches thereto, upon the paymentCompensation. of a reasonable compensation therefor, and in ease the owner or owners of said bridge and the several rail load 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 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 proofs of the parties.
Sec. 5. That if the bridge built under authority of this Act shall beOpening draw. built as a drawbridge, the draw shall be opened promptly upon reasonable signal for the passage of boats, and whatever kind of bridge is constructed, the owner or owners thereof shall maintain thereon,Lights, etc. at their own expense, from sunset, to sunrise, such lights or other signals as the Light-House Board shall prescribe. Sec. 6. That this Act shall be null and void if actual constructionTime of construction. of the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date hereof.
Sec. 7. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is herebyAmendment. expressly reserved. Approved, May 7, 1902.