New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-02
GENERAL NATURE-No. 1901

GENERAL NATURE-NO 40.
An act to authorize the construction of q
bridge across the Mississippi river at or
near the city of Red Wing. in the State
Of Minnesota, and to establish it as a post
road.
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 any person or persons,
company or corporation, being first thereto
authorized by the legislatures of Minnesota
and Wisconsin respectively, to build
bridge across the Mississippi river, at or
near the city of Red Wing, in the State OF
Minnesota, and to lay on or over said bridge
railway tracks for the more perfect cOnnec-
ton of any railroads that are, or shall be,
constructed to the said river at or opposite
said point under the limitations and condi-
tons hereinafter provided; that said bridge
shall not interfere with the free navigation
of said river beyond what is necessary in
order to carry into effect the rights and
| privileges hereby granted; and IN case OF
any litigation arising from any obstruction,
or alleged obstruction, to the tree navlga-
| ton of said river, the cause may be tried
| before the district court of the United
! States of any State in which any portion OF
| said obstruction or bridge touches,
SEC 2 That any bridge built under the
provisions of this act may, at the option OF
the company building the same, be built as
| a drawbridge, with a pivot or other form OF
draw, or with un5T0ken or continuous
spans; provided, that if the said bridge
| shall be made with unbroken and cOntinu-
! Gus spans, it shall not be Of less elevation,
| in any case, than fifty feet above extreme
| high water mark, as understood at the
! point of location, to the bottom chord of
| the bridge; nor shall the spans of said
| bridge be less than two hundred and fifty
! -. IL i IL
| 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 in length; and
! provided also, that if any bridge built
| under this act shall be constructed as
| drawbridge, she same shall be constructed
as pivot drawbridge, with draw over
| the main channel Of the river at an aces
| sible and navigable point, and with spans
| of not less than one hundred and sixty feet
| in length in the clear on each side of the
| central or pivot pier of the draw; and the
| next adjoining spans to the draw shall not
| be less than two hundred and fifty feet: 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,
l 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; and IN no case
shall unnecessary delay occur in opening
| the said draw during or after the passage of
! trains.
SEC. 8. That any bridge constructed IN.
der this act, and according to its limitations,
| shall be lawful structure, and shall be
| known and recognized as post route, up
| on which, also, no higher charge shall be
made for the transmission over the same of
the mails, the troops, and the munitions of
war of the United States than the rate per
mile paid for their transportation over the
railroads or public highways leading to the
said bridge, and the United States shall
have the right of way for postal telegraph
purposes across said bridge.
SEC. 4. That all railway companies deslr-
ing to use the said bridge shall have and De
entitled to equal rights and privileges IN
! the passage Of the same, and IN the use OF
the machinery and fixtures thereof, and OF
all the approaches thereto, under and upon
such terms and conditions as shall be pre-
scribed by the Secretary of War, upon
hearing the allegations and proofs of the
Darties in case they shall not agree
SEC. s. That the plan and specifications
with the necessary drawings of said bridge
shall be submitted to the Secretary of Wa]
for his approval, and until he approve thu
plan and location OF said bridge it shall no
be built OF commenced; and should an