Chapter 1864. To authorize the construction of two bridges across the Cumberland River at or near Nashville, Tennessee
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CHAP. 1864.— An Act To authorize the construction of two bridges across the Cumberland River at or near Nashville, Tennessee. April 24, 1906. [[H. R. 14592](/us/bill/34/hr/14592).] [[Public, No. 125](/us/pl/34/125).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the county of Davidson,Cumberland River.Davidson County may bridge, at Nashville, Tenn. in the State of Tennessee, be, and it is hereby, authorized and empowered to build and maintain two highway bridges across the Cumberland River, in or near the city of Nashville, State of Tennessee, for the use of the public as highways, free of any tolls, andFree bridges. they are hereby declared post routes, upon which no charge shall be made for the transportation over the same of the mails, troops, and munitions of war of the United States; and said bridges shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of other post routes in the United States; and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridgesTelegraph, etc., rights. and their approaches for postal, telegraph, and telephone purposes: and equal privileges in the use of said bridges shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies: *Provided,* That nothing in this*Proviso*.Existing laws not affected.
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 bridges from the operation of the same. Sec. 2. That said bridges shall be built with unbroken and continuousContinuous spans. spans, in no case less than ninety feet above low water pool level in the Cumberland River, nor shall any of the spans in the waterway be less than three hundred feet in the clear between the piers, or the piers and the abutments, and the piers of said bridges shall be parallel with the current of said river.
Sec. 3. That said bridges shall be constructed and maintained withoutUnobstructed navigation. any unreasonable interference with the security and convenience of navigation of said river; and to secure that object the said countySecretary of War to approve plans, etc. shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, designs and drawings of the proposed bridges, and a map of the proposed location of each bridge, giving for the space of one mile above and one mile below the proposed sites the topography of the banks of said river, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the current at high and low water stages, with the soundings accurately showing the bed of the stream, the location of any other bridge or bridges, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for the full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and until the said plans and locations of said bridges are approved by the Secretary of War said bridges shall not be commenced or built; and no changes shall be made in said bridges, beforeChanges. or after completion, unless approved by the Secretary of War; and any changes which the Secretary of War may at any time deem necessary and order, in the interest of navigation, shall be made by the owners of the bridges at their own expense; and there shall be displayedLights, etc. on said bridges by the owners thereof, at their own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals as the Light-House Board may prescribe.
Sec. 4. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction ofTime of construction. the bridges herein authorized is not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the passage of this Act. Sec. 5. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is herebyAmendment. expressly reserved. Approved, April 24, 1906.