New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-13
proved March l, 1872.
[GENERAL NArrRr-No. 1s.l

Approved March l, 1872.
GENERAL NATURE-No. 1S.
An act to authorize the construction of 3
bridge across the Missouri river at or neal
st. Joseph, Missouri.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives of the United States Of
America in Congress assembled, That il
shall be lawful for "The st. Joseph Bridge
Building Company" corporation organ
lied for that purpose under the general
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 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 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 may
also charge and receive reasonable eompen-
sati0n or tolls for the transit over the said
bridge of all wagons, carriages, vehicles
animals, and foot passengers.
SEC. 2. 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 unbroken 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 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 q
draWbridge the same shall be constructed
as pivot drawbridge, with draw over
the main channel of the river at an aceessi-
BILE and nayigable 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 he
parallel with the current of the river, and
provided also, that said draw shall be
opened promptly, upon reasonable signal
Tor the passage OF boats whose construction
shall not be such as to admit of their pas
sage under the permanent spans of said
Drldge, 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 nr1.
Ylded further, That the corporation building |
sald bridge may, If not unauthorized by the |
provisions OF its charter of incOrpatiOn, enter
upon the banks of said river, either above |
or below the point of the location of said |
bridge, for distance of seven miles, and |
erect and MAINTAIN breakWaters or use such |
other means as may be necessary to make |
q channel for said river, and eonfpe the |
now OF the water to a permanent channel, |
ana 20 90 Whatever may be necessary to &C
cOmphsh said object, but shall not impede |
or obstruct the navigation of the said river; |
and all plans for such works or erec- |
TONS upon the banks of the river shall first |
pe submitted to the Secretary of War for |
Sec. 3. That any bridge built under this
act, and according to its limitations, shall |
be lawful structure, and shall be reeOg- /
hlzed and known as a post-rOute, upon /
winch, aiso no higher charge shall be made i
Tor 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 Tor their transportation over the rail-
roads or public highways leading to the
said bridge.
SEC. 4. That in case of any litigation
arising from any obstruction, or alleged OBJ
to the free navigation of the Mia
souri, river, at or near the crossing of said
said bridge, and caused or alleged to be
caused thereby, the cause shall be com
menoed and tried in the district courts Of |
either judicial districts of Missouri or Kan
5as IN which the said bridge, or any portion
Of such obstruction touches; and the RIGHT
to alter or amend this act so as to prevent
Or remove all material distractions to the
navigation of said river by the construction
d SAID bridge is hereby expressly reserved,
anu all sach alterations, when required by
aw, shall be made at the expense of said
bridge company; and the plan on which
such bridge ls intended to be built; and shall
be built, shall be first submitted to and an
proved by the Secretary of War.
SEC. D. That the Saint Joseph Bridge
building Company, after the passage Of
his act, shall not have the right to assign
'HO CHaA VOA when sara company now hOlQS |
9y assignment from the Saint Joseph and
Denver City Railroad Company, and which |
vas granted to said last named company by |
'lrtue OF an act Of Congress, approved July
ourteenth, eighteen hundred and seventy,
o any other company, person, or persons; |
'or shall said bridge building company be |
permitted, under the said charter so OBJ
AIMED as aforesaid from the Saint joseph
nd Denver City Railroad Company, to
onstruct any other bridge than the one !
Ouri.
Approved March 5, 1872.