New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-18

this act.
Approved March l, 1872.
GENERAL NATURE-NO. 1871
An act to authorize the construction of a
bridge across the Missouri river at or near
st. Joseph, Missouri.
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 The st. Joseph Bridge
| Building Company corporation organ
lied for that purpose under the general
corporation laws of the State OF Mis-
| souri,, to construct a bridge across the
| Missouri river at or near Saint Jo-
! seph, Missouri, and to lay on and over
said bridge 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 Oh 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
i kinds, and for the transit of animals, and
to provide ways for foot passengers, and to
! keep up, maintain, and operate said bridge
for the purposes aforesaid and that when
said bridge is constructed, all trains of all
railroads terminating 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 hereafter
named. The owners of said bridge NAV
also charge and receive reasonable cOmpen-
sat1on or tolls for the transit over the said
bridge of all wagons, carriages, vehicles.
animals, and foot passengers.
SEC Z. That any bridge built under the
provisions OF this act may, at the option of
person, or persons, or corporation building
the same, be built as a drawbridge, with a
pivot or other form OF draw, or with unbro-
ken or continuous spans; provided that if
the same shall be made of unbrokeu coptinu-
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 bridAe.
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 a |
bridge shall be built under this act as a |
draw bridge the same shall be constructed |
as pivot drawbridge, with draw over |
the main channel of the river at an accessi- |
bic and navigable point, and with spans of |
not less than one hundred and sixty feet |
IN length in TIE 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.
the of hoofu hoe /
shall not be such as to admit of their pas
sage under the permanent spans of said
bridge, except when trains are passing over
the same, but in no case shall unnecessary
delay occur in opening the said draw during
Or after the passage of trains: And pro
vlded further, That the corporation building
SAID bridge may, If not unauthorized by the
provisions Gifts charter of Incorporation, enter
upon the banks of said river, either above
II below the point Of the location of said
bridge, for distance Of seven miles, and
rect and maintain breakWaters OF use such
)ther means as may be necessary to make
channel for said river, and confne the
low OF the water to permanent channel,
and TO do whatever may be necessary to ac-
'ompllsh said object, bUtshall not impede
II 0Ostruct the navigation of the said river
md all plans for such works or cree
ions upon the banks Of the river shall first
'e submitted to the Secretary of War for
lis approval.
SEC. B. That any bridge built under this
ct, and according to its limitations shall |
'e lawful structure, and shall be recog-
lzed and known as a pOst-route, upon
which, also, nO.higher charge shall be made !
or the transmission over the same of the
nails, the troops, and the munitions of war
the United States than the rate per mile
ald Tor their transportation over the rail ,
oads or pubic highways leading to the !
aid bridge.
SEC. 4. That in case of any litigation
rising from any obstruction, or alleged OBJ
Tuction, to the free navigation of the Mis-
DurI river, at or near the crossing of said
AID bridge, and caused or alleged to be
aused thereby, the cause shall be com :
lenced and tried in the district courts of :
.ther Judicial districts of Missouri or Kan /
as in which the said bridge, or any portion :
such obstruction touches and the right 4
} alter or amend this act so as to prevent :
r remove all material distractions to the ;
avigation of said river by the construction =
said bridge is hereby expressly reserved, !:
1d all such alterations, when required by IL
w, shall be made at the expense of said
ridge company; and the plan on which
lch bridge is intended to be built: and shall
2 built, shall be first submitted to and ap- A
'Oved by the Secretary Of War.
SEC. ). That the Saint Joseph Bridge
ulLdng Company, alter the passage OF
rs act, shall not have the right to assign
10 charter which said company now holds p
? assignment from the Saint Joseph and a
enver City Railroad Company, and which =,
as granted to said last named company by ~
rtue of an act of Congress, approved July o.
eighteen hundred and seventy, "a
any other company, person, or persons; =?
II shall said bridge building company be oI
rmitted, under the said charter SO OBJ
med as aforesaid from the Saint Joseph
d Denver City Railroad Company, to
instruct any other bridge than the one Al
W being constructed at Saint Joseph, Mis-
lri
Approved March ), 1872