Chapter 963. To authorize the commissioners’ court of Baldwin County, Alabama, to construct a bridge across Perdido River at Waters Ferry
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CHAP. 963.— An Act To authorize the commissioners’ court of Baldwin County, Alabama, to construct a bridge across Perdido River at Waters Ferry. March 19, 1906. [[H. R. 13548](/us/bill/34/hr/13548).] [[Public, No. 59](/us/pl/34/59).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the commisioners’Perdido River.Baldwin County, Ala., may bridge, at Waters Ferry. court of Baldwin County, in the State of Alabama, be, and they are hereby, authorized and empowered to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge over and across Perdido River at or near a point called Waters Ferry, in the State of Alabama.
Sec. 2. That any bridge constructed under the authority of this ActSecretary of War to approve plan. 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 such object said commissioners shall submit to the Secretary of War for his examination and approval a design and drawing of the bridge and piers and a map of the location; and until the said plan and location are approved by the Secretary of War the bridge shall not be commenced or built; and should any change beChanges. made in the plan of said bridge during construction or after completion. such change shall be likewise subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, and any changes in said bridge required by the Secretary of War at any time shall be made promptly by the said commissioners’ court of Baldwin County: *Provided,* That if the bridge*Proviso*.Opening draw. herein authorized be built as a drawbridge, the draw shall be opened promptly upon reasonable signals for the passage of boats, and whatever kind of bridge is built the owners thereof shall maintain thereon, from sunset to sunrise, such lights and other signals as the Light-HouseLights, etc.
Board shall prescribe. Sec. 3. That all railroad companies desiring the use of the bridgeUse by other roads. authorized by this Act shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains or cars over the same and over the approaches thereto upon the payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in case the owners of said bridge andCompensation. the several railroad companies, or any one 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 at issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War upon a hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties; and equalTelegraph, etc., rights. privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies.
Sec. 4. That the bridge constructed, maintained, and operated underLawful structure and post route. this Act and according to its limitations shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post route, upon which also 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 the 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 for postal telegraph and telephone purposes over said bridge.
Sec. 5. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction ofTime of construction. the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date of approval thereof. Sec. 6. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is herebyAmendment. expressly reserved. Approved, March 19, 1906.