Chapter 1143. To authorize W
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CHAP. 1143.— An Act To authorize W. Denny and Company to bridge Dog River, in the State of Mississippi. April 11, 1904. [[H. R. 12386](/us/bill/58/hr/12386).] [[Public, No. 102](/us/pl/58/102).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That W. Denny and Company, Dog River, Miss. W. Denny and Company may bridge. a corporation duly incorporated and organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, its successors or assigns, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a railroad bridge, with single or double track and approaches thereto, over and across the Dog River, Location. in Jackson County, Mississippi, at or near a point on said river one thousand five hundred feet west of the line dividing sections nineteen and twenty in township seven south, range five west, there being a straight stretch or continuance of said river for one-half mile or more above and below said point without curve or turn, subject to the conditions and limitations hereinafter specified. 170 Sec. 2.
Unobstructed, navigation. That said bridge shall not interfere with the free navigation of said river beyond what may be necessary to carry into effect the Litigation. rights and privileges herein granted; and in case of any litigation arising under the provisions of this Act from any obstruction or alleged obstruction to the navigation of said stream, such litigation may be tried and determined by the proper circuit or district court of the *Proviso*. Existing laws not affected.
United States within whose jurisdiction said bridge is located: *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. 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 *Proviso*. Use by other roads. postal, telegraph, and telephone purposes: *Provided*, 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 the approaches thereto upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use, or, in ease of disagreement, upon such terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of War upon hearing the allegations and proofs of the parties in interest.
Sec. 4. Drawbridge. That any bridge authorized to be constructed under this Act shall be built as a drawbridge under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation of said Dog River as the Secretary of Secretary of War to approve plans, etc. War shall prescribe, and to secure that object the said company shall submit to the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of War, for their examination and approval, a design and drawing of the bridge, and a map of location, giving for the space of one-half mile above and one-half mile below the proposed location the topography of the banks of the river, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of currents at all stages, and soundings, accurately showing the bed of the stream and the location of any other bridge or bridges, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for a full Changes. and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and until said plan and location of the bridge are approved by the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of War said bridge shall not be built, or commenced, and no changes shall be made in said bridge during the progress of construction or after completion unless approved by the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of War; and the said company shall, at its own expense, make from time to time such changes in said bridge as *Proviso*.
Opening draw. Lights, etc. the Secretary of War may order in the interest of navigation: *Provided*, That the draw of said bridge shall be promptly opened, upon reasonable signal, for the passage of boats, and there shall be maintained on said bridge by the owners thereof, from sunset to sunrise, such lights and other signals as the Light-House Board may prescribe. Sec. 5. Amendment. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Sec. 6. Time of construction. *Post*, p. 708.
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 three years from the date of approval hereof. Approved, April 11, 1904.