Chapter 1255. To authorize the board of commissioners of Vigo County, Indiana, to construct and maintain a wagon, foot, and trolley-car bridge across the Wabash River at the foot of Wabash avenue, in the city of Terre Haute, in said county and State
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CHAP. 1255.— An Act To authorize the board of commissioners of Vigo County, Indiana, to construct and maintain a wagon, foot, and trolley-car bridge across the Wabash River at the foot of Wabash avenue, in the city of Terre Haute, in said county and State. April 13, 1904. [[H. R. 14044](/us/bill/58/hr/14044).] [[Public, No. 113](/us/pl/58/113).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Wabash River. Vigo County, Ind., may bridge, at Terre Haute.
Wagon, foot, and trolley-car bridge. That the board of commissioners of Vigo County, in the State of Indiana, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a wagon, foot, and trolley-car bridge across the Wabash River, said bridge to be located at the foot of Wabash avenue, in the city of Terre Haute, in said county and State. Sec. 2. Secretary of War to approve plans, etc. That said bridge shall be built under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation as the Secretary of War may prescribe; and to secure that object the said board of commissioners of Vigo County, Indiana, shall submit for his examination and approval a design and drawings of the bridge, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and until said plans are approved by him the bridge shall not be commenced or built; and should any change be made in said bridge before or after completion, such change shall be likewise subject to the approval of the Secretary of War.
Sec. 3. Unobstructed navigation. That said bridge shall be kept and managed so as to offer reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels through or Lights, etc. under the same; and for the safety of vessels passing at night there shall be displayed on said bridge by the owner thereof, at its own expense, such lights or other signals as the Light-House Board may Changes. prescribe. Any changes in said bridge which the Secretary of War may at any time order in the interest of navigation shall be made by the owner thereof at its expense.
Sec. 4. Lawful structure and post route. That the bridge constructed, maintained, and operated under this Act, and according to its limitations, shall be a lawful structure and shall be recognized as a post route, upon which no higher charge shall be made for the transportation over the same of the mails, troops, and munitions of war of the United States than the rate per 181 mile paid for transportation of said mails, troops, and munitions of war over public highways and electric railways thereon leading to said bridge, and the United States shall have the right of way for Telegraph, etc., rights. telegraph, postal, telephone, and other purposes over said bridge.
Sec. 5. That said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the Use by other roads. passage of wagons and vehicles and all kinds of street railway cars and motors, as well as foot passengers, and for all road travel, and all street railway companies desiring to use said bridge shall be entitled to equal rights and privileges in using the same and the approaches thereto at reasonable compensation by such street railway company or companies for the use of said bridge; and in case of any disagreement between the said board of commissioners and those desiring its use, in respect to charges to be paid and rules and conditions to be complied with 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 in interest.
Sec. 6. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction of Time of construction. said bridge be not commenced in one year and completed in three years from the date hereof. Sec. 7. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby Amendment. expressly reserved. Approved, April 13, 1904.