Chapter 548. Authorizing the Kensington and Eastern Railroad Company to construct a bridge across the Calumet River
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CHAP. 548.— An Act Authorizing the Kensington and Eastern Railroad Company to construct a bridge across the Calumet River. February 7, 1905. [[H. R. 17749](/us/bill/58/hr/17749).] [[Public, No. 50](/us/pl/58/50).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the Kensington and Calumet River, Ill. Kensington and Eastern Railroad Company may bridge. Eastern Railroad Company, a railroad company organized under the laws of the State of Illinois, its successors and assigns, are hereby authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a drawbridge across Drawbridge. the Calumet River in the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section thirty-six, township thirty-seven north, range fourteen east of the third principal meridian, in Cook County, Illinois, at a point Location. about three hundred and fifty feet south of the north line of the said section, the said point being about eight-tenths of a mile upstream 704 from the bridge of the New York, Chicago and Saint Louis Railroad Company and about two miles below the bridge of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway Company, located near Hegewisch, *Proviso*.
Protection to navigation. in the State of Illinois: *Provided*, That such site is suitable, in the judgment of the Secretary of War, to the interests of navigation. Sec. 2. Opening draw. Lights, etc. That the draw provided for the bridge herein authorized shall be opened promptly, upon reasonable signals, for the passage of boats, and said corporation shall maintain, at its own expense, from Secretary of War to approve plans, etc. sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals on said bridge as the Eight-House Board shall prescribe.
The said company shall submit to the Secretary of War for his approval, designs and drawings of the said bridge and a map of the location thereof, giving sufficient information to enable him to fully and satisfactorily understand the subject, and until the said plans and location are approved by the Secretary Changes. of War the bridge shall not be commenced or built. Any change made in the plan of the said bridge during the progress of its construction or after its completion shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, and said company shall, at its own expense, make such changes in the said bridge as the Secretary of War may at any time direct in the interest of navigation.
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; and it shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post-roads in the United Telegraph, etc., rights.
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. 4. Use by other companies. That all railroad companies desiring the use of the 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 the payment of reasonable compensation for such use;
Compensation. and in case the owner or owners of said bridge and the several railroad companies, or anyone of them, desiring such use shall fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid and upon rules and conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge, all matters in issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War upon the hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties. Sec. 5. Amendment. Time of construction. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is expressly reserved; and 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 approval of this Act.
Approved, February 7, 1905.