New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-20
GENERAL NArURE-No. l40.l

An act to authorize the. construction of a
bridge across the Mississippi river a or
near the city of Red Wing, iii the State
of Minnesota and to establish it as a post
road.
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 any person or persons,
company or corporation, being first thereto
authorized by the legislatures of Minnesota
and Wisconsin respectively, to. build a
bridge across the Mississippi river. at or
near the city of Red Wing, in the State OF
Minnesota, and to lay on or over said bridge
railway tracks for the more perfect c0unec-
ton of any railroads that are, or shall be,
constructed to the said river at or opposite
said point, under the limitations ana cOndi-
tons hereinafter provided; that said bridge
shall not interfere with the free navigation
OF said river beyond what is necessary in
order to carry into effect the rights and
privileges hereby granted; and in case of
any litigation arising from any obstruction,
or alleged obstruction, to the free naviga-
ton OF said river, the cause may be tried
before the district court of the United
States of any State in which any portion of
said obstruction or bridge touches.
Sec. 2. That any bridge built under the
provisions of this act may, at the option of
the company binding the same, be built as
a draw bridge, with pivot or other form of
draw, or with un0roken or continuous
spans; provided, that # the said bridge
shall be made with unbr0l1en and eOntinu-
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 tire bottom chord of
the bridge; nor shall the spans Of said
bridge be less than two hundred and ffty
feet ~ length, and the piers Of said bridge
L 1Elf ErD ttL1 Il, Al
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 any bridge built
under this act shall be constructed as a
drawbTidge, she same shall be constructed
as pivot drawbridge, with a draw over
the main channel of the river at an Access
sible 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
sad spans shall not be less than thirty feet
above low water mark, and not less than
ten 1eet above extreme high water mark,
measuring to the bottom chord ct 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,
1of the passage Of boats; and in no case
shall unnecessary delay occur in opening
the said draw during or after the passage OF
trains.
SEC. g. That any bridge constructed un.
der this act, and according to its limitations.
shall be q lawful structure, and shall be
known and recognized as a pest route. up-
On which, also, no higher charge shall BE
made for 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 for their transp ortation over the
railroads or public highways leading to the
said bridge, and the United States shall
have the right of way for postal telegraph
purposes across said bridge
SEC. q. Tbat all railway companies desir-
ing to use the said bridge shall have and be-
entitled to equal rights and privileges in
the passage Of the same, and IN the use Of
the machinery and fixtures thereof. ana Of
all the approaches thereto, under and Ifpon
such terms and conditions as shall Be pre-
scri6ed by the Secretary Of War, upon
parties in case they shall not agree.
SEC D That the plan and Specifications,