New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-03
[GENERAt. NArrPE-Nn 1A0l

! GENERAL NATURE-NO. 140.l
| An act to authorize the construction of a
! bridge across the Mississippi river at or
| near the city of Red Wing, in the State
| Of Minnesota, and to establish it as post
I 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 conneo-
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 ia case of
any litigation arising from any obstruction,
| or alleged obstruction, to the tree naviga-
| 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 pivot or other form of
draw, or with un5rOken 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
hTrt1 hn 4hnV, Il e
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 in length; and
provided also, that if any bridge built
under this act shall be constructed as a
drawbridge, she same shall be constructed
as pivot awbridge, with q draw over
the main channel of the river at an acces-
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,
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,
fol 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 un-
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 desir
ing to use the said bridge shah have and be
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
parties 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 War
for his approval, and until he approve the
plan and location of said bridge 1t shall not
be built or commenced: and should any