Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-08-19
rPupLlo-No, 1888 I


Be il enacted By The Senate and House of Repre-
seatatiUes ofhe United States of America in Con-
gress assembled, That the bridge partly con-
structed across the Ohio river at Steubenville,
in the State of Ohio, abuting on the Virginia
shore of said river, is hereby declared to be a
lawful structure: Provided, That when completed,
if constructed without draw, it shall leave an
unobstrueted headway in the channel of the river
of not less than ninety feet above low-water
mark, and such channel or waterway shall have
an unobstruoted width of not less than three
hundred feet between the piers next to said chan
mel or water way and one Of the spans next
adjoining thereto shall not be less than two hun
dred and twenty feet in length; or said bridge,
if constructed with draw, the same to be con.
structed under the limitations and conditions
provided in the fourth section Of this act.
Sec. .. And be il further enacted That the
said bridge and Holidays Cove railroad are here
by declared public highway, aud established
post road for the purpose of transmission OF
mails of the United States and that the ST. e lu-
benville and Indiana Railroad Company, charter
ed by the legislature of the State Of Ohio, and
the Holidays Cove Railroad Company, chartered
by the State OF Virginia, or either of them, are
authorized to complete maintain, and operate
said. rord and bridge when completed, as Get
forth in the proceeding section, any thing in
any law or laws of the above-named State to the
contrary notwithstanding.
Sec. 8. And be it, further enacted, That it shall
be lawful for any other railroad company or
companies, whose line or lines Of road may now
or shall hereafter be built to the Ohio river,
above the mouth of the Big Sunday river, in
accordance with the terms of the charter or
charters of said company or companies, to build
a bridge across said river for the more perfect
conuexion of any such roads and for the passage
Of trains thereof, under the limitations and con-
ditons hereafter provided.
Sec. 4. And be further enacted, That any
bridge erected under the privileges of this
net may, at the option Of the company or
companies building the same, be built either
as drawbridge, with pivot or other form Of
draw, or with unbroken and continuous spans:
Provided, That if the said bridge shall be made
with unbroken and continuous spans it shall
not be Of less elevation than ninety feet above
low water mark over tho channel OF the said
river nor in any case less than forty feet above
extreme high water, as understood at the point
of location, measuring for such elevation to the
bottom chord Of the bridge; nor shall the span
of such bridge, covering the main channel OF the
river, be less than three hundred feet in length,
with also one of the next adjoining spans OF not
less than two hundred and twenty feet in length,
and the piers of said bridge shall be parallel with
the current of the river US near as practicable
And propided also, That if any bridge built under
this act shall be constructed as draw bridge
the same shall be constructed with span over
the main channel Of the river as understood at
the time of the erection Of the bridge OF not less
than three hundred feet in length and said span
shall not be less than seventy feet above low
water mark, measuring to the bottom chord Of
the bridge, ami one of the next adjoining spans
shall not be less than two hundred and twenty
feet in length and also that there shall be pivot
draw constructed in every such bridge, at an
access BILE and navigable point, with spans OF not
less than one hundred feet in length, on each
side of the central or pivot pier of the draw; And
provided also, That said draw shall always be
opened promptly, upon reasonable signal, Tor
the passage If boats whose construction may not
at the time admit of their passing under the per-
manent spans of said bridge, excrpt that said
draw shall not be required to be opened when
engines or trains are passing over said bridge,
or when passenger trains are due, but in no case
shall unnecessary delay occur in the opening Of
said draw after the passage of such engines or
trains.
Sec. 5. And be ii further enacted, That any
bridge OF bridges erected under the provisions
of this act shall be lawful structures aud shall be
recognized and known as post routes, upon which
also no higher charge shall be made for the
transm ssson over the same Of the mails, the
troops, and munitions OF war of the United States
than the rate per mile which the company or
oompanies erecting such bridge may from time
to time receive on the balance OF their line OF
lines for such services, and the officers and crews
Of ali vessels boats, or RATS navigating the salu
Ohio river are required to regulate the use OF the
said vessels and Of any pipes ohimneys belong
isg thereto 90 as not 10 interfere with the eleva-
zion construction or use OF any Of the bridges
orected or legalized under the provisions OF this
- Arproyed, July IA, 1867.