New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-28
ApprOved Maroh !. l872.
GENERAL NATURE-No. 1871


GENERAL NATURE-No. ISL
An act to authorize the construction OF a
bridge across the Missouri river at or near.
st. Joseph, Missouri.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives of the United States Of
America IN Congress assembled, That It
shall be lawful for The St. Joseph Bridge
Binding Company" a corporation organ
lied for that purpose under the general
corporation laws Of the State OF Ms
souri,, to construct a bridge across The
Missouri river at or near Saint Jo.
seph, Missouri, and to lay on and over
said bridge railway tracks for the more
perfect connection OF any and all railways
that are now, or which may hereafter be-
constructed to the Missouri river at or near
Saint Joseph, or to the river on the opposite
side Of the same, near Saint Joseph; and
build, erect, and lay on and over said
bridge ways for wagons, vehicles of all
kinds, and for the transit of animals, and
to provide ways for foot passengers, and to
keep up, maintain, and operate said bridge
for the purposes aforesaid; and that when
said bridge is constructed, all trains of al
railroads terminating at said river, and on
the opposite side thereof, at or near. Saint
Joseph, Missouri, shall be allowed to cross
said bridge for reasonable COMPENSATION. to
be made to thelowners of the same, under
the limitations and conditions hereafter
named. The owners of said bridge may
also charge and receive reasonable compen-
sation or tolls for the transit over the said
bridge OF all wagons, carriages, vehicles,
animals, and foot passengers.
SEC. 2 That any bridge built under the
provisi0ns-of this act may, at the option of
person. or persons, or corporation building
the same, be built as drawbridge, with a
pivot or other form of draw. or with unbro-
ken or continuous spans; provided. thai If
the same shall be madeof unbrOken coHtinu-
Gus spans it shall not be of less elevation in
any case than fifty feet above extreme high
water mark, as understood at the peint Of
location, to the bottom chord of the bridge.
nor shall the spans of said bridge be less
than three hundred and fifty feet in length,
and the piers of said bridge shall be parallel
with the current of the river, and the main
span shall be over the main channel of the
river and not less than three hundred feet
10 length; and provided also, that if a
bridge shall be built under this act as a
draw bridge the same shall be constructed
as a pivot drawbridge, with a draw over
the main channel Of the river at an aecessi-
bic and naYigable point, and with spans of
not less than one hundred and sixty feet
IN length In IKE clear on each side
OF the central or pivot pier Of the draw, and
the next adjoining spans to the draw shall
and said spans shall not be less than thirty
feet above low-water mark, and not less
than ten feet above extreme high-water
mark, measuring to the bottom chord of the
bridge, and the piers of said bridge shall be .
parallel with the current of the river, and
provided also, that said draw shall be
opened promptly, upon. reasonable signal,
for the passage Of boats whose construction
shall not be such as to admit of their pas .
sage under the permanent spans of said
bridge except when trains are passing over
the same, but IN no case shall unnecessary
delay occur in opening the said draw during
OF after the passage of trains: And pro-
ylded further, Thatthe corporation building
said bridge may, If not unauthorized by the
provisions ofits charter OF Incorporation, enter
upon the banks of said river, either above
OF below the point of the location of said
bridge, for distance of seven miles, and
erect and maintain break waters or use such
other means as may be necessary to make
3 channel for said river, and confine the
low OF the water to a permanent channel,
and TO do whatever NAV be necessary TO ae- .
eomplish said object, but shall not fmnede
u obstruet the navigation of the said river;
ana all plans for such works or cree
lions upon the banks of the river.shaH first
oe submitted to the Secretary Of War for
ais approval
SEC. 3. That any bridge built under this
aet and according to its limitations, shall
3e lawful structure, and shall be reeOg-
lized and known as a post-ronte. mon
which, also, no higher charge shall be made
or the transmission over the same Of the
nails, the troops, and the munitions of war
u the United States than the rate per mile
paid for their transportation over the rail-
Dads or public highways leading to the
aid bridge.
SEC. 4 That in case Of any litigation
arising from any obstruction or alleged OBJ
truction, to the free navigation of the Mis-
ouEi river, at or near the crossing of said
aid bridge, and caused or alleged to be
aused thereby, the cause shalt be com
nenced and tried in the district eourts of
lther Judicial districts of Missouri or Kan
as IN which the said bridge, or any portion
4 such obstruction touches: and fba RIGHT
o alter or amend this act 80 as To nre1snt
T remove all material INSTRUCTIONS to the.
SsVlgaIon OF said river by the construction
SAID bridge is hereby expressly. reserved.
nd al sHch alterations, when re0lIired bv .
tW; snail be made at the expense Of said
flage company; and the plan on. which
uen bridge is intended to be built; and shall
g 0ullt shall be first submitted to ind An.
feesYed 6y the Secretary of War.
SEC: ,. That the Saint Joseph BRIDGE
'.9!l u Company, after the passage Of
MS act, shall no6haYe the right 10 ASSIGN
" charter which said company now holds
assignment from the Saint joseph and
.enyer City Railroad Company, and which
IL granted to said last named company by
LFtue OF an act of Congress, approved July
,arteenth, eighteen hundred and seventy.
I an fy. 9gner company, person, or persons;
z s. SILL saiu bridge building COMPANY be
sfmltted, under the said charter so Oh.
lneg as aforesaid from the Saint Josenb
~ Denver City Railroad COMPANY. Ia
instruct any other bridge than fbe one
oW eeing constructed at Saint Joseph, Mis-,
Approved March 5. 1879.