The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-20
r Avs or THE UNITED STATES PASSED
II AT THE THIRD SESSION OF THE
FORTY-SECOND CONGRESS-.

AN ACT to authorize the construction O

GENERAL NATuRE-No IL
AN ACT to authorize the construction of
bridges across the Ohio river and to prescribe
the dimensions of the same.
Be IL enacted By the Senate and House of Rep
resentattces Of Tue United States Of America Ia
Congress assembled, That any persons or corpora
tions, having lawful authority therefor, may
hereafter erect bridges across the Ohio river,
for railroad or other uses, upon compliance with
the provisions rnd requirements of this act
SIC. 2. That every bridge hereafter erected
across the Ohio river, above the mouth of the
Big Sandy, shall have at least one span ofa
height of not less than ninety feet above low
water, and of not less than forty feet above
local highest water, measured to the bottom
erected across the Ohio river below the mouth
| of the Big sandy, shall have at least one span
of height of not less than one hundred feet
| above low water, and of not less than forty
| feet above highest water, measured to the bot
| tom chord of he bridge; that this high span
| shall give clear opening of at least four hun
| dred rect between the piers measured at right
| angles to the current at every STAGE and that
| 1t shall be placed over the main channel of the
river used by boats during ordinary stages of
| water: Proetdcd, hoa0sUer, That any on. com
| pany, lawfully authorized by the States OF
| West Virginia and Ohio, is hereby authorized
| to construct a bridge across the Ohio river
| from the city of Wheeling in the State OF
| West Virginia, to The opposite side Of said
! river within the State of Ohio, with a span
| over the main channel of not less than three
hundred and fifty feet in lcrgth, and in all
other respects conlormable and subject TO the
| provisions OF TINS act, so far as the same are
applicable to bridges about the mouth of the
Big Sandy: Aad prouided, That in csss this
high span is not over the low-water channel,
suitable arrangements be made elsewhere to
permit the passage of single boats under the
| bridge at low water; that all bridges over tho
Ohio river, below the Coving ton and Cincinnati
suspension bridge, shall have in addition to the
high span prescribed above, pivot-draw Civ
ing two clear openings of one hundred and
sixty feet each, measured at right angles 10
| the current at the average stage of water in
| located nj he br;f;c hat
can be safely and conveniently reached at that
stage; and that said draw shall be opened prompt
| ", upon reasonable signal, for the passage of
boats whose construction SHALL not be such as to
admit of their passage under the stationary spans
of said bridge, except when trains passing
over the same ! but in no case shall unnecessary
delay occur in opening the said draw before or
after the passage of trains.
SEC g. That the piers of the high span and the
piers of the draw shall be hult parallel with
the current at that stage of the RIVER which is
most important for navigation: and that
rpraps or other ouls side protection for Imperfect
foundation Will DO permitted in the channel. way
Of tho high span, or of the draw openings.
SIC A. That any person, company, corpo-
ration authorized to construct a bridge across
the Ohio river shall give notice. by publication
for one week in newspapers having a wide CIR
culation, in not less than two newspapers in the
cities OF Pfttsburg, Cincinnati and Louisville,
for bridges, above the mouth of the Big Sandy,
and the cities OF fittsburg, Cincinnati Louis
vile, St. Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans, for
bridges below the mouth of the Zig Sandy aud
shall, submit 10 the Secretary OF War, for his ex-
animation, design and drawings OF the
bridge and piers, and map of the location Civ
ing for the space of Of at least mile above and
one mile below the proposed location, the tops
graphy of the banks of the river the shore lines at
! high and low water, the direction Of the current
AZ all stages, and the soundinss accurately show
ing thebed of the stream the location OF any other
| bridge or bridges, and shall furnish such other
information as may be required for q full and
satisfactory understanding of the subjsct by
the Secretary of War; and il the Secretary of
War IS satisfied that the provisions Of the law
hnyyo hrn wit in
the building of the piers may bs at once COM
menccd; buff it shall appear that the ccndi-
ton. prescribed by this act cannot be complied
with at the location where it is desired to con-
struct the bridge, the Secretary of War shall,
G after considering any remonstrance s filed against
the building OF said bridge and furnishing copies
I of such remonstrances to the board of engineers
provided for in this act, detail board composed
of three experienced officers of the corps OF eng
neers, TO examine the case and may, on theii
e recommendation, authorize such mod1catio
,f in the requirements of this act, as to location
and piers as will permit the construction of the
= bridge; not, however, diminishing tbs width o.
g the spans contemplated by this act: Fropided
e That the free navigation Of the river be no
r. materially injured thereby.
= SEC. g. That all parties owning, occupying
q OF operating bridges over the Ohio river shall
J. maintain, at their own expense, from sunset IL
sunrise throughout the year, such Lights on thei
bridges as may be required by the Light Hous,
l. board for the security of navigation and al
persons owning Occupying, or operating any
| bridge over the Ohio river shall, in any event
maintain all lights on their bridge that may b
= necessary for the security of navigation.
" SEC 6. That any bridge constructed unde1
this act and according to its limitations, shall
II be a lawful structure, and shall be recognizes
L. and known as a postroute, upon which, also
: no higher charge shall be made for the trans
l. mission over the same of the mails, the troops
to and the munitions of war of the United State
Is than the rate per mile paid for the transports
ii ton over the railroads a. or public highway
u leading to said BRIDGE and the United State
s. shall have the right of way for postal telegram
a. purposes across any such bridge; and in cas-
" OF any litigation arising from any obstructio
CT or alleged obstruction tn the navigation OF sal
en- river, created by the construction of any brids
IN under this act, The cause or question arisir
United States of any State in which any DO
tion of said obstruction on bTitge touches.
49, Sec. T. That the right to alter or amend tn
~ act, so as to prevent or remove all material o
structions to the navigation of said river by ii
- future construction of bridges, is hereby express
90 ly reserved, without any liability Of the Cover
~ ment for damages on account of the aiIeratic
K, or amendment OF this act, or on account of Il
d. prevention or requiring the removal OF any SUE
~, | Instructions and if any change be made
ui The plan of construction of any bridge co
IS. structed under this act, during the progress
on the work thereon or before the completion
r. such bridge, such change shall be subject to Il
.ho approval of the Secretary of War; and a.
ta- change in the construction OF any alteration
any such bridge that may be directed at al
time by Congress, shall be made at the &C
and expense of the owners thereof.
Sec. That joint resolution mum bsr ten. a
lie. proved April seventh, eighteen hundred a
VI.
ne bridge over the Ohio river at Paducah, be- u
ted the same hereby is, repeated
,el- SIC. q. That the provisions of an act entitl
-. San act to provide for The better security
ast life on vessels propelled in whole or in part
The steam" &C., approved February tweEty-esht
eighteen hundred and seventy-one, so far
they relate to the limitation of steam pressr
of steamboats, used exclusively for towing a
se. carrying freight the Mississippi river a
of its tributaries, are hereby so far modified
W. to substitute for such hoats one hundred q
'.e fifty pounds of steam pressure in place of c
rlct hundred and ten pounds, as provided in said
dge for the standard pressure upon stsnderd boil
one'quarter of an inch in thickness; and ST
boats may, on the written permit of the sup
tor yisng inspector of the district in which 81
boats shall carry on their business for per
ID of twelve mon his from and after the passag
- this act be permitted to carry steam above
sue standard pressure Of one hundred and
Dor pounds, but not exceeding the standard press
orm of one hundred and fifty pounds TO the SOU
inch.
!. q. BLAINE,
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives.
SCHUYLER COIFAX.