Chapter 781. To authorize the construction of a bridge across the Chattahoochee River between Columbus, Georgia, and Eufaula, Alabama, or in the city of Columbus, Georgia
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CHAP. 781.— An Act To authorize the construction of a bridge across the Chattahoochee River between Columbus, Georgia, and Eufaula, Alabama, or in the city of Columbus, Georgia. May 7, 1902. [[Public, No. 107](/us/pl/57/107).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * Chattahoochee River, Ga. and Ala. Columbus, Eufaula and Gulf Railroad Company may bridge. Location. That the Columbus, Eufaula and Gulf Railroad Company, a corporation duly created and existing under the laws of the State of Georgia, is hereby authorized to build and maintain a railroad bridge across the Chattahoochee River, at such point as may be selected by the said company and approved by the Secretary of War, between Columbus, Georgia, and Eufaula, Alabama, or in the city of Columbus, Georgia, the said bridge to Ite so constructed as not to interefere with the navigation of said river.
Sec. 2. That any bridge constructed under this Act shall be builtSecretary of War to approve plans, etc. and located under and subject to such regulations for the security of the navigation of said river ns the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the said company shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, a design and drawing of the proposed bridge and a map of the location, giving, for the space of at least one-half mile above and one-half mile below the pro-posed location, the topography of the banks of the river, the shore lines at high and low water, and the direction and strength of the current, and the soundings accurately showing the bed of the stream, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and until said plan and location of the bridge are approved by the Secretary of War the bridge shall not be built; and should any change be made in the plan of saidChanges. bridge during the progress of construction or after its completion such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary ot War.
Sec. 3. That the bridge constructed under this Act shall be a lawfulLawful structure and post route. structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post route, upon which no higher charge snail be made for the transportation over the same of the mails, the troops, and the munitions of war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for transportation of said mails, troops, and munitions over the railroads and public high-ways leading to said bridge. Equal privileges in the use of saidTelegraph, etc., rights. bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies, and the United States shall have the right of way for a postal telegraph across said bridge; and said structure shall he so kept, and managed at all times as to afford reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels through or under said bridge, and for the safety of vessels passing at night there shall be displayed on said bridge, from sunset to sunrise, at the expense of the owners thereof, such lights and otherLights, etc. signals as may be prescribed by the Light-House Board; and the said bridge shall be changed or altered at the cost and expense of the owners thereof from time to time, as the Secretary of War may direct, so as to preserve the free and convenient navigation of said river: *Provided,* That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridge*Proviso*.Use by other roads. 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 thereto upon the payment of a reasonable compensation for such use;Compensation. 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 b0 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 of the parties.
Sec. 4. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction ofTime of construction. the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the approval of this Act. 193 Sec. 5. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is herebyAmendment. expressly reserved. Approved, May 7, 1902.