The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-07-19
OF THE UNITED STATES.
PASSED AT THE SECOND SESSION of THE fJR-
ry-SEcbSb CONGRESS-.

PASSED AT THE SECOND SESSION of THE FJR-
rY-sEcbSb CONGRESS-.
GENERAL NATURE Nc. sS
AN ACT4o authorize the construction of a
bridge across the Mississippi river at or near
the town Of Clinton; In the State of Iowa;
and other bridges acrOss said river, and to
establish them as p0st-rOads.
Be il enacted by The Senate and House
Of Representatives. of the United States Of
America in Congress assembled,
That 1t shall he lawful forany person or per-
sons, company or corporation, to build albifdge
across the Mississippi river, at such point
on said river within fifteeu miles Of the
town Of Clinton, In the state of Iowa, as may
accomliaie the Chicago, Burlingi gionand Qnin-
siile Of said river, and to lay on or over said
bridge railway tracks for the more perfect
connection Of any railroads that are, or shall
he, constructed 10 the sald river at or opposite
sail nOiut, under the limitations and conditions
herinafter provided that said bridge shall not
interfere with the free navigation Of said river
beyond what Is necessary In order tocarry In
to effect the rights and privileges hereby
granted; and In case Of any litigation arising
from any obstruction, or alleged obstruction,
to the free navigation of said river, the cause
NAV he tried before the district court of the
Unite lStates of any State In which any portion
OF sail obstruction or bridge touches: Provide
ed, That sai1 bridge shall not be so located Ur
constructed as to Interfere In any niant1er
with the approaches TO the railroad bridge now
erected at Clinton, or with the piers OF the
same. or so as to obstruct In any manner the
passage Of said bridge by boats, vessels, or
RATS, or to render such passage more difficult
or dangerous; Provided, however, That this
clause shall not be construed 10 prohibit the
the crossing Of the approaches to sdidsbrldge,
if such crossing shall be found necessary.
SEC. .. That any bridge built under the
provisions OF this act may, at the option OF the
company builnng the same, be built as q
drawbrhge, with a pivot or other foIm Of
draw, or with unbroken or continuous spans:
Provided, That if the said bridge shall be
made with continuous and unbroken spans,
1t shall not be OF less elevation, in any case,
than tifty feet above extreme higltwater mark,
rs 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 feet In length, and the piers Of saitl
bridge shall be parallel with thecurrent Of the
river, and the main Sran shall be over the
main channel Of the river, and not less than
three hundred feet In length And provided
also, That ffany bridge built under this act
shall be constructed as pivot draw-bridge,
with draw over the main channel Of the
river at an accessible and navigable p0int, 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 0fthe draw and |
the adjoining spans to the draw shall not be |
less than two hundred and fifty feet and said |
draw shall not be less than thirty feet above |
low watei-mark, and not less than ten feet |
above extreme high watermark. measuring to
the bottom chord Of the bridge; and the piers
Of said Lridge shall be parallel with the cur
rent Oft the river, where said bridge may be
erected And provided also. That said draw |
shall be opened, promptly upon reasonable |
signal, for the passage Of boats.
SEC. 8 That any bridge constructed under |
this net, and according to its limitations, shall
be lawful structure, and shall be known and |
recognized as q post-rOute, upon which, also, |
no higher charges shall be male for the trans |
mission over the same Of the mails, the troops, |
and the munitions ofwar of the [ nited States |
than at the rate per mile paid for their trans
porlation over the railroads public highways |
leading 10 the said bri lge, and the United |
states shall have the right Of way for postal
tclegrap ph purposes across said bridge.
SEC. l. That all railway companies desiring |
to use the said bridge shall have and be enti-
led to equal rights and privileges In the las- |
slge of the same, and In the use of the machin- |
ery and fixtures thclOG aud Of all the APP |
proaches thereto, under and upon such terms !
and conditions as shall he prescribed by tho |
Se;retay Of War, uponhearing the allegations /
and proofs Of the parties in case they shlll
not agree.
SEC. 5. Tha. the structure herein autprizea
shall he built and located under and subject to |
such regulations for the security of navigation
Of said river rs the Secretary of War shall
prescribe, and the said strilIture hall be at all
times 'sO kept md manages; us to offer reason.
able and proper means for the passage Of
vessels through 0runder such structure; and |
The said structure shall be changed at the cost
and expense Of the owners thereof, from time |
to time as Congress may direct, so as to pre-
serve the free and convenient navigation of |
said river. And the authority 10 erect and
continue said bridge shall he subject 10 rey0;o- |
tion, modification by law whenever the public |
good shall in the judgment Of Congress so re-
qnire, without any expense or charge to the |
United Stctes.
SEC. g. That Muscatine Western Railroad |
Company, or their assigns, a ccrpcrai ion eX-
isting Under the laws OF the State of Iowa, be,
and Is hereby, authorized to construct and |
maintain q bridge across the Mississippi river |
at the city Of MuEaine, In the State Of Iowa.
The bridge authorized TO be built by this SCI.
tlon is hereby-declared to be q pnst-route, and
shall have all the privileges, an! is subject to
all tne terms, restrictlons, ana requirements
contained In the foregoing sections Of this act:
SEC. 7. That bridge may be constructed
and maintained across the Mississippiriver, at
any point they may sele',t, between the coun.
ties OF oiCarroli anu Wh'tesides, IN the STATE oi
Illinois, and the counties Of jackson and Clin-
ton, In thc state of Iowa, either by the Western
Unoin Haliroaa Company OF me sa,ula, AK
10y, ana DakoLa hailroad company, or DoIn
or ASST assias Or by any @ person. Oi 'c com,sDy. S or