The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-02
OFFICIAL.
n Avs OF THE UNITED STATES PASSED
IL AT THE SECOND SESSION OF THE
EORTY-SECUND CONGRESS.

(GBSKRlL NArURB--No. 1871
Az Acr to authorize the construction of a bridge |
across the Missouri river q or near st. Joseph, |
Missouri.
Be 1t enacted By the Senate and House Of Repre-.
sentatives Of the United States Of Americd in Con
gress assembled, That it shall be lawful for "The |
st Joseph Bridge Building Company a corpo- |
ration organized for that purpose under the gen
sral corporation laws of the State of Missouri |
TO construct briuge across the Missouri river at
or near Saint Joseph, Missouri, and TO lay on
and over said br dye 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 ops ratio sad fridge for the
purposes aforesaid and that when said bridge
Is constructed, all trains of all railroads erin'
mating 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 the owners of the
same, under the limitations and conditions here
after named The owners of said bridge may
| also charge and receive reasonable compensation
or tells for the transit over the said bridge Of all
| wagons, carriages, vehicles, animals, and foot
passengers.
SBc.2 That any bridge built under the pro-
visions of this act may ut the option of person
| or persons, or corporation building the SAM, be
built as drawbridge, With pivot or other form
| OF draw, or with unbroken or continuous spans:
| Provided, That If the same shall be made of un-
broken, continuous spans it shall not be of less
elevation in any case than fifty feet above ex-
| treme 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 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 in length and provided
also, That If q bridge shall be built under this
act as a dgawbridge, the same shall be con-
structed as pivot drawbridge. with a draw over
the main channel of the river at an accessible
| 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
tho 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 paralle4 with
the current of the river: Aad provided also
That said drawshall be opened promptly, upon
| reasonable signal, for the passage of boats
| whose construction shall not be such as to ad
, nit of their passage under the permanent spani
" of said bridge, except when trains are pas inE
| over the same, but in no case shall unnecessary
|, delay occur in opening the said draw during o.
after the passa ge of trains And proctdedf,trtaer
That the corporation building said bridge may
!, If not unauthorized by the provisions of its char
|, ter of incorporation, enter upon the banks o
!, said river either above or below the point of tn
location Of said bridge, for a distance of sever
, miles, and erect and maintain breakwaters 0
I, use such other means as may be necessary T.
= make channel for said river and conhne til
/, flow Of the water to permanent channel, am
3 to do whatever may be necessary to accomplish
: said object, but shall not impede or obstruct tn
navigation of the said river; and all plans 70
!. such works or erectons upon the banks of tn
river shall first be submitted to the Secretary
+, | War for his approval.
- SEC. 3. That any bridge built under this ac
and according TO its limitations, shall be a Law
full structure, and shall be recognized and know
1 .,,-t,,a ~, oh.
- charge shall be made for the transmission Owe
IA the same of the mails the troops, and the nun
II lions of war of the United States than the raj
per mile paid for their transportation over II
" railroads or public highways leading to the sal
n. bridge.
i. SEC. 4. That in case of any litigation arisir
- from any obstruction, or alleged obstruction,
n. the free navigation of the Missouri river, at
near the crossing of said bridge, and caused
oc alleged to be caused thereby, the cause shall
commenced and tried in the district courts
nd either indicial districts of Missouri or Kansas
3 which the said bridge or any portion OF such 0
struclion touches; and the right to alter
10. amend this act SO as to prevent or remove 9
material distractions to the navigation of sa
river by the construction OF said bridge is here
expressly reserved and all such alteration
when required by law, shall be made at the e
l. pense of said bridge company and the plan
which such bridge is intended to be built, al
No. shall be built, shall be first submitted 10 and
-: proved by the Secretary of War.
~ SEC. g. That the Saint Joseph Bridge Build
l. Company, after the passage of this act shall r
have the right to assign the charter which SO
company now holds by assignment from t
zen Saint Joseph and Denver Civ Railroad Co
pany, and which was granted TO said la
es, named company by virtue OF an act OF Congre
approved July fourteenth, eighteen hundred a
seventy, to any other company, person or p
sons nor shall said bridge building company
TO permitted, under the said charter SO obts ined
aforesaid from the Saint Joseph and Deny
$780, City Railroad Company, to construct any otl
ms b idge than the one now being constructed
ow- st. Joseph, Missouri
MS Approved, March 8, ls72.