Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-04-22
BRIDGING THE MISSISSIPPI
Report OF a Committee Of the Sc. LOuis
Merchants Exchange

The following report and resolutions
have been adopted by the st. Loui:
/ Merchants Exchange:
I Your Committee respectfully beg leave
l to report that they have given theil
/ earnest attention to the matter referred
/ to them, and are of opinion that a gen
| eral law should be passed by Congress tC
| regulate the bridging of the Mississippi
| river. The magnitude Of the commerce
upon this great national highway in
/ times of peace, and the Importance of its
uninterrupted navigation to the country
/ in the event of war, alike demand that il
should be jeal0usly protected by the Gen.
| eral Government.
/ Your committee believe that a statute
/ so carefully matured that its provisions
I for the safety Of life and property upon
the river shall be complete, and yet i'm
( pose no unreasonable obstacle to the
cheap and rapid transit demanded by the
various transverse lines Of traffic, is en-
tireiy feasible, and that such a law
would produce the most salutary effect.
Tt would prevent much veXatiOus and
expensive litigation. 1t would harmon
ize the apparently conflicting steamboat
and railroad interests, and all parties
concerned would quickly and cheerfully
conform to its provisions.
Your committee have carefully exam
ined the subject with reference TO ascer-
tanning what restrictions are really de-
manded by the marine interests involved,
and what can be conceded by those in
terests to such an extent As to leave no
serious difficulties in the way of the re-
guirements of the land transportation in
crossing the river, and yet preserve a
comparatively uninterrupted navigation
on the Mississippi.
The views of your committee are EN-
bodied in the following resolutions, the
adoption Of which they respectfully re-
commend:
Rcsolred, That the delegation in Con-
gress from Missouri be requested to pro-
cure at an early day the passage Of law
70 regulate the construction Of bridges
over the Mississippi river, and that they
earnestly endeayor to Incorporate the fol-
lowing provision in the said law:
l. That all bridges crossing the Missis-
sippi river shall have a clear hight of fifty
feet over the main channel, between the
lowest part Of the bridge and high water
mark, measured in the center Of the
greatest span.
?. If below the mouth of the Missouri
they shall have one span Of six hundred
feet, or two spans of four hundred and
fifty feet each, in the clear Of abutments.
If above the mouth of the Missouri, they
shall have at least one span Of three
hundred feet, in the clear, between the
abutments, at low water mark. In all
cases, the greatest span shall be placed
over the main steamboat channel.
8. No span at low water mark shall be
less than two hundred feet, in the clear,
between abutments.
4. No draw-bridge with a pivot or
other form of draw shall be permitted.
). No suspension bridge shall be per-
mitted.
@. All piers placed in the river shall
have their greatest axis parallel with the
current of the stream.
RCS0lUed, That the same law should be
made applicable to the Missouri river,
and that inasmuch as its CHANNEL Is lisble
to great changes, at least two spans Of
three hundred feet each should be re-
quired in bridges over that stream, one
span to DO over the channel existing at
the time Of its construction, and the other
next 70 il.
RcsOlued, That a copy Of this report
and resolutions be sent to each member
Of the Senate and House of Representa-
tiVes from Missouri at Washington,