Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-12-19
oFFlolAk.
Law OF THE UNITED sTATHs
po,.,d al he Second Session Of As Fortv-seooHt
Congress.

F"'s' Conqresa II
GENERAL NATURH-N0. ST.
AN ACT TO authorize the construction Of q
bridge, and 70 establish the same a. pontroad.
ne Il enacted BY The Senate and House Of Repressnta-
.rss Of tAe Uesed States Of America IN Congress as
ssmbled That Il shall be lawful for Bny person or
persons, company or corporation, having authority
rom the states Of Iowa and Illinois, TO build q
bridge across the Mississippi river OF Fort Madison,
Iowa, aud TO lay on or over said bridge railway
roads that are or shall be constructed to the said
river at or opposite said point, under the limita-
inns and conditions hereinafter provided that said
bridge shall not inter ere with the free navigation
of said river beyond what Ia necessary In order TO
rry into effect the rights and privileges hereby
granted and in case OF any litigation arising from
navigation OF said river, the may beiried be-
fore the district court Of the United States Of any
state in which any portion Of said obstruction or
Sac :. That any bridge built under the provisions
OF the act may. at the option OF the company
building tae same, be built either a. pivot draw
bridge, with plvor or other form OF draw, or with
unbrOken or continuous spans: Provided, That II
the said bridge sha be made with unbroken and
any case than nifty feet above high water mark as
understood at the point OF location, TO the bottom
chord on the bridge, nor shall the spans Of said
bridge be less than two hundred and nfty 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 PrOvt-
dd also, That II any bridge built under, this act
channel of the river at an accessible and nayiQable
int, and with spans Of not less than one hundrt
sixty feet in length In the clear each side OF
the cent al or pivot pier OF the draw, and the next
adloRng spans TO the draw shall not be less than
two hundred and nifty feet " the proper alton OF
the draw over the channel will admit spans Of this
width between IL and the shore, and said spans
shall not be less than Thirty feet above oW-wster
marx and not less than ten above extreme high
waer mark, measuring to the bottom chord OF the
bridge; aud the piers OF said bridge shall be par
ae with the current OF the river where said bridge
may be erected: lad Provided, also That said draw
shall be opened promptly, upon reasonable signal,
for the passage OF boats and In no CASE shall nnne
Gesaary delay In opt ming the said draw during
or after the passage Of trans.
sKo. Q. That any bridge constructed under this
act and according TO Its limitations shall be law
fnl structure, and shall be known and recognized
M pOst-route, upon which, also, 10 higher charge
shall be AIDE for the tram mission the same Of
the ais, the troops, and the munitions OF war Of
their transportation over the railroads or public high
ways leading 10 the said bridget and the United
States shall have the right OF way for postal tele
graph purposes across said bridge
SIC. 4. That all railway companies desiring to use
the said bridge shall have and be entitled to eqnal
% a aSa M ths N see pssage o. Ie same snd
Of oil the approaches thereby, under and upon such
terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by
the Secretary of War, upon hearing the allega-
tons and pr offs Of thepares In case they shall not
agree.
be built and located under and subject 10 such reg
uatiOna for the security OF navigation OF said river
the Secretary Of War shall described; and 10 So
cure that object the said person persons c0mpa-
ny corporation shall submit TO the Secretary OF
War, for his examination and approval, design
and drawings OF the bridge and piers, and map Of
the ocation giving, for the space OF At least one
mile above and one mile below the proposed loca-
ton, the topography OF the banks Of the river, the
shore lines at high and low water the direction and
strength OF the currents at all stages and the sound
ngs accurately showing the bed OF the stream, the
location OF any other bridge or bridges AID shall
furnish such other information as may DO required
for full and satisfactory understanding OF the 81 b.
ect; and until the said plan and location OF the
bridge are approved by the Secretary OF War, the
bridge she'll not be built; and II any change be made
In the plan OF construction of said bridge during the
progress OF the work thereon before the compile
ton OF said bridge such change shall be subject TO
the approval Of the Secretary of War; and the said
Structure shall be At all times 80 kept and managed
As 10 offer reasonable and proper means for the pas
sage OF vessels through under said structure and
the said structure shall be changed at the cost and
expense OF the owners thereof, from time TO time,
"a Congress may direct so as To preserve the free
and convenient navigation Of said river. And the
authority TO erect and continue said bridge shall be
subject to revocation or modification by law when
everlthe public good SHALL in the Judgment Of Con-
gress 80 require, without any expense or charge 70
the United States.
SEC. 8. That the right to alter or amend this act,
90 as 10 prevent remove all material distractions
TO the navigation OF said river by the construction
OF bridges, without expense 70 the United States Is
hereby expressly reserved.
Approved, May %, 1872