The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-04-04
OFFICIAL.
Laws OF the United States.
PASSED AT THE THIRD SESSION OF THE
FORTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
General Nature No. L.

or corporations, having lawful authority
| therefor, may hereafter erect bridges
across the Ohio river, for railroad or othel
uses, upon compliance with the provisions
and requirements of this act.
SEC. 9. That every bridge hereafter cree.
ted across the Ohio river, above the mouth
of the Big Sandy, shall have at least one
sran of height of no less than ninety
feet above low water, and of not less than
forty feet above local highest water, meas
pred TO The bottom chord of the bridge
that every bridge hereafter erected across
the Ohio river below the mouth of The
Big Sandy. shall have at least one span OF
a height of not less than one hundred feet
above low water. and of not less than for
| ty feet above highest water, measured 10
| the bottom chord of the bridge; that this
| high span shall give clear opening OF at
least four hundred feet between the piers,
measured at right angles 10 the current al
| every stage. and that ii shall be placed
over he main channel of the river used
by boats during ordinary stages OF water
! P.rru d, hCW.rr, That any one company,
lawfully authorized by he States of West
Virginia and Ohio, il hereby authorized
to construct a bri1geacross the Ohioriver,
from the city of Wheeling, in the State of
West Virginia. 10 the opposite side of said
river within the State Of Ohio, with span
over The main channel of not less than
three hundred and fifi " feet in length, and
in all other respects confornable and sub
jnct TO the provisions of this act, SO far as
the same are applicable TO bridges about
the mouth of ine Biz sandy: And pOuid d,
That in case this high s0an II not over the
lov-water channel, suitable arrangements
be made elsewhere TO permit the passage
of single boats under the bridge Mt low
water; that all bridges over the Ohio riv-
er, below the COvin5 5ton and Cincinnati
susnension bridge, shall have, in addition
tothe high span prescribed aoove, pivot
draw, giving two Gear openings OF one
hundred and sixty feet each, measured at
right angles to the current ut the average
stage of water in the river, and located in
q part of the bridge that can he safely and
conveniently reached at that stage; and
flat said draw shall be opened promptly,
unon reasonable signal, for the passage Of
boats whose construction shall not be such
as to admit of their passage under the sta.
tiOnary spans of said bridge, except when
trains are passing over the same but in
no case shall unnecessary delay occur in
orening the said draw before or after the
passage of trains.
SEC. 8. That the piers of the high span
and the piers of the draw shall be built
parallel with the current at the stage of
ihe river which is most important for nav
igation and that no ripraps or other out
side protection for imperfect foundation
will be permitted in the channel-way of
the high snan, or of the draw openings.
SEC.4. That any person, company, 0rcor-
nolati0n authorized TO construct bridge
across the Ohio river shall give notice, by
fan N 1Nnp no
having wide circulation, in not less than
two newspapers in the cities of pittsburg,
Cincinnati, and Louisville, for bridges,
above the mouth of the Big Sandy, andin
the cities of Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Louis
vile, Saint Lc cuis, Memphis, and New Or
leans, for bridges below the mouth OF the
Big Sandy, and shall submit to the Secre.
tary of War, for his examination, design
and drawings of the bridge and piers, and
mapO of the location, giving, for the space
OF at least one mile above and one mile
below the proposed location, the topogia-
phy of the banks of the river, the shore
lines at high and low water, the direction
of the current at all stages, and the sound
ings accurately showing the bed of the
stream, the location of any other bridge
or bridges, and shall furnish such other
information as may be required for full
and satisfactory understanding of the sub
iect by the Secretary Of War; and ii the
Secretary of War is satisfied that the pro-
visions of the law have been complied
with in regard to location, the building Of
the piers may at once he commenced; but
If IL shall apptar that the conditions pre-.
scribed by this act cannot be complied
with at the location where it is desired to
construct the bridge, the Secretary Of
War shall, after considering any remon-
siranccs filed against The building Of said
bridge, and furnishing col,icS of such re-
mOnstrances TO the board of engineers
provided for in this &C detail Il board
composed of three experienced officers Of
the corl1s of engineers, to examine the
case, and may, on their recommendation,
authorize such notifications In the re-
duirements of this act, as to location and
piers, as will permit the construction Of
the bridge: not, however. diminishing
The width of the spans contemplated by
this act: PlUuMsd, That the free nayiga-
tion of the river be not materially injured
thereby.
SEC. ). That all PARTIES owning, occupy
ing, or operating bridges over the OHIO
river shall maintain, at their own cXnense,
from sunset TO sunrise throughout the
year, such lights on their bridges as may
be required by the Light House, board for
the security of navigation; and all per-
sons owning, occupying, or onel1ting any
bridge over the ohio river shall, in any
event, maintain ali lights on their bridge
that may be necessary 1or the security Of
sex. Q. That any bridge constructed nm
der this act, and according to its limisa-
;ions, shall be q lawful stiuctu ure, and shall
be recognized and known as q posl-route,
upon which, also, no higher charge shall
be made for The transmission over the
same OF the mails, the troops, and themu-
nitions OF war Of the United States than
the rare per mile raid for the tiHnsporia-
won over the Iailreads or public highways
leading to said bridge; and the United
States shall have the right OF way fog pos
purposes across any such
bridge; and III case of any litigation aris-
inls from any obstruction or alleged Oh
stIuction to The navigation Of said river,
created by the construction of any bridge
under this act, the cause or question aris.
ing m,y be tried bctore the district cou't
Of ihe United States of any STATE IN which
any portion OF said obstruction or bridge
touches,
SEC. I. That the right 10 alter or amend
Ihisaot, 50 as 10 prevent or remOveall ma
tcrial distractions 10 he navigation of
'aid river by the future construction of |
bridges, is hereby expressly reserved,
without any Iia0iiity OF the government
iof damages on account of the alteration |
Dr amendment OF this act, or On account |
)f the prevention 0r requiring he renlOv- |
Il OF any such distractions; and If any |
'hange be made in the plan OF construc.
ion OF any bridge constructed under this |
lct, during the progress of the work |
hereon or before the completion Of such
such change shall be subject TO |