New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-07

The following is report Of the Committee of
Fifteen, to whom was referred the memorial to
Congress for the passage of a law to protect the
navigation Of the Mississippi river;
st Louis Union Merchants Exchange
Your committee respectfully beg leave to re.
port that they have given their earnest attention
to the matter referred to them and are Of opinion
that general law should be passed by Congress
to regulate the bridging of the Mississippi river.
The magnitude of the commerce upon this great
national highway in times of peace, and the i'm.
portance Of it's uninterrupted navigation to the
country in the event Of war alike demand that it
should be Jealousy protected by the general gov
eminent.
Your committee believe that statute so care
fully matured that its provisions for the safety Of
life and property upon the river shall be complete,
and yet impose no unreasonable obstacle to the
cheap and rapid transit demanded by the various
traverse lines Of traffic, is entirely feasible, and
that such law would produce the most salutary
effect. i would prevent much vexatious and ex-
penslye litigation. II would harmonize the appa-
rently conflicting steamboat and railroad interests,
and all parties concerned would quickly and cheer
fully conform to its provisions,
Your committee have carefully examined the
subjoIned, with reference to asGertainng what re.
strictiOns are really demanded by the marine in.
terests involved, and what can be conceded by
those interests to such extent as to leave no Sc
rious dltdcutles IN the way Of the requirements Of
the land transportation in crossing the river, and
etpreserve comparatively uninterrupted naYi
CATION ON the Mississippi.
The views of your committee are embodied il
the following resolutions, the adoption of which
they respectfully recommend:
ReS0Lred That the delegation in Congress from
Missouri be requested to procure at an early day
the passage of a law to regulate the construction
Of bridges over the Mississippi river and that theJ
earnestly endeavor to incorporate the following
provisions in said law:
l. That all bridges crossing the Mississippi rive
shall have clear height ofifty feet over the mali
channel between the lower part of the bridge AM
high water mark, measured in the center Of TIL
greatest span.
2. If below the mouth of the Missouri they shal
have one span of six hundred feet, or two span
of four hundred and fifty feet each, in the clear
abutments. If above the mouth of the Missouri
they shall have at least one span of three hundre
feet, in the clear, between abutments, at low waite
mark. In all cases, the greatest span shall b
placed over the main steamboat channel.
g. No span at low water mark shall be less tina
two hundred feet, in the clear, between abutments
4. No draw bridge with pivot or other form G
draw shall be permitted
8. No suspension bridge shall be permitted.
6. All piers placed in the river shall have thei
greatest axis parallel with the current Of tn
stream
EgRe8olUed, That the same law should be mad
applicable to the Missouri river, and that nasmuc
as its channel is liable to great changes at leas
two spans of three hundred feet each should b
required in bridges over that stream, one span t
be over the channel existing at the time of its cor
struction, and the other next to it.
Resoleed, That copy of this report and resolI
tons be sent TO each member of the Senate an
House of Representatives from Missouri at Wasl
Ington. JAS B, EADS,
At meeting held on Change on the 18th, til
foregoing report and resolutions were unanimousl
adopted Missouri Republican.
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