The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-14
An Act for the Protection of Navigation OF
20 the Mississippi River and its Tributar-
les.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives. Of TIE United States Of
.fnaerica IN Connress assembled

BE 1t enacted by the Senate and House Of
REPRESENTATIVES Of the United States of
4imerica in Congress assembled:
Section l. That after the passage of this act
no bridge or bridges shall be built over the
Mississippi or any Of its tributaries, in COM
pliance with the several sections of this act :;
and in case of any litigation arising from any
obstruction, alleged obstruction, 10 the free
navigation of said waters, the cause may be tried
before tie District Court Of the United States Of a,,y
tSais in which sny portion OF said obstruc-
ton or bridge touches.
Section ? Bridges must be well and substan-
TALLY built, and of sufficient height above high
water mark shall cross the river at rlght angles
v it'll the current, and the head OF the main pler
which the draw or swing rests, and OF the
two piers nearest adjoining, must be on paral-
lei line with the line of the bridge, and the line
of the said piers well as Of all other piers must
be on line with the current.
Section 8. A clear span Of at least two hun
bred feet between the draw swing pier and
one of the piers next adjoining must exist span
ming as near az possible the main channel of the
river.
Section 4. II shall be the duty of bridge own
ers TO keep sufficient force of mes at the draw
or swing day and night, to work the same, that
no vessel &c delayed, and to keep and maintain
such signals the board Of Underwriters may
deem necessary.
hundred thousand dollars, and total forfeiture of
stock building and materials for the public use,
shall hereafter be commenced until licensed by
| the District Court or Courts Of the United States
within whose jurisdiction such bridge may lay
and no license shall be given the sworn
and joint approval ofUte Chief Engineer or Sar-
teyor of tie State States IN artich said bridge
man be located together agM tie Engineer appointed
6y tie Chamber Of Commerce Of the nearest FIRST
class city on said waters whose approval of plan,
location and material shall be indispensably
necessary.
Section 6. No bridge shall be permitted in any
location save where the current, at all seasons OF
the year. is uniform with the of the river
and should the erection of any bridge cause an
obstruction to free navigation, said obstruction
must be promptly removed by the owners of
such bridge, or forfeit to the public use a penal
ty of not less than one hundred thousand dollars
| in addition to damages which may be awarded
citizens who may sue and recover az tie District
Courts of tie United States for damages done
them and their business.
Section T. On and over the small tributaries
only the engineers specified in section may
modify and reduce the clear span of two hundred
| feet at the draw or swing, provided an ample
width is preserved for all purposes of free naviga
ton.
The portion in Italics to be modified or alter
| ed in Washington by the proper departments,
| legal phraseology corrected, &c. and say, sub
stituting Lighthouse Board" for "Board OF
| Underwriters,' the Typographical Bureau toi
Estate Engineers" &C.. naming the free to bs
paid By applicants for their services.