Chapter 1139. Permitting the building of a railway bridge across the Red Lake River at the city of Thief River Falls, in the county of Red Lake and State of Minnesota
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CHAP. 1139.— An Act Permitting the building of a railway bridge across the Red Lake River at the city of Thief River Falls, in the county of Red Lake and State of Minnesota. April 11, 1904. [[S. 4402](/us/bill/58/s/4402).] [[Public, No. 98](/us/pl/58/98).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the consent of Congress Red Lake River, Minn. Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Sault Sainte Marie Railway Company may bridge, at Thief River Falls. is hereby granted to the Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Sault Sainte Marie Railway Company, a railway corporation organized under the laws of the States of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota, its successors or assigns, to build a railway bridge across the Red Lake River at the city of Thief River Falls, in the county of Red Lake and State of Minnesota: *Provided*, That the plans for the *Provisos*.
Secretary of War to approve plans, etc. construction of said bridge and appurtenant works shall be submitted to and approved by the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of War before the commencement of the construction of such bridge: *And provided further*, That said Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Sault Sainte Changes. Marie Railway Company, its successors or assigns, shall not deviate from such plans after such approval, either before or after the completion of the said bridge, unless the modification of said plans shall 168 have previously been submitted to and received the approval of the Chief of Engineers and of the Secretary of War, and any changes in said bridge which the Secretary of War may at any time order in the interest of navigation shall be promptly made by said company at its own expense.
Sec. 2. Litigation That in case any litigation arises from the building of said bridge or from the obstruction of said river by said bridge, cases may be tried in the proper courts, as now provided for that purpose in the *Proviso*. Existing laws not affected. State of Minnesota, and in the courts of the United States: *Provided*, That nothing in this Act shall be so construed as to repeal or modify any of the provisions of law now existing in reference to the protection of the navigation of rivers, or to exempt said bridge from the operation of same.
Sec. 3. Use by other roads. That all railroad companies desiring the use of said bridge shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains over the same and over the approaches thereto upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in case of disagreement between the parties in regard to the compensation to be paid or the conditions to be observed all matters at issue shall be determined by the Secretary of War. Sec. 4.
Lawful structure and post route. That any bridge built under this Act and subject to its limitations 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 of mails and the troops and munitions of war of the United States over the same than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over the railroad or approaches leading to the said bridge; Telegraph, etc., rights. and it shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post-roads in the United 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. 5. Time of construction. That this Act shall be null and void unless the bridge herein authorized be commenced within one year and completed within two years from the date of approval of this Act. Sec. 6. Amendment. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, April 11, 1904.