Chapter 1823. To authorize the Paragould and Memphis Railroad Company to construct a bridge across Saint Francis River
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CHAP. 1823.— An Act To authorize the Paragould and Memphis Railroad Company to construct a bridge across Saint Francis River. April 28, 1904.[[H. R. 12533](/us/bill/33/hr/12533).][[Public, No. 255](/us/pl/33/255).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Saint Francis River, Ark. and Mo.Paragould and Memphis Railroad Company may bridge. That the Paragould and Memphis Railroad Company be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge across Saint Francis River at a point about one mile north of the State line between the States of Arkansas and Missouri.
Sec. 2. Secretary of War to approve plana, etc.That any bridge constructed under this Act shall be built and located 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 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, 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 said bridge during the progress of construction or after its completion such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War.
Sec. 3. Lawful structure and post route.That the bridge constructed under this Act 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 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 highways leading to said bridge; and the United States shall have the right of way fora postal telegraph across said bridge; and said structure shall be so kept and managed at all times as to afford reasonable and proper means for Lights, etc.the passage of vessels through or under said bridge, and for the safety of vessels passing at night there shall Redisplayed on said bridge, from sunset to sunrise, at the expense of the owners thereof, such lights and Changes.other 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. 573 Sec. 4.
That all railroad companies desiring the use of the bridgeUse by other roads. construed under this Act shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains or ears over the same and over the approaches thereto upon payment of a reason-able compensation for such use; and in case the parties interested shallCompensation. fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid and upon the rides and conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge, all matters at issue between them shall, upon the application of either party, be determined by the district court of the United States in and for any district in which any portion of said bridge may be; and equal privilegesTelegraph, etc., privileges. in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies.
Sec. 5. 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 approval of this Act. Sec. 6. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is herebyAmendment. expressly reserved. Approved, April 28, 1904.