Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-03-07
IGENERAL NATURE-NO. 81. !

AN ACT to authorize the construction Of bridge and
To establish the same rs post.road.
BE 1t enacted py the Senate aud House of Represen
tntyes of the United States Of America In Congress
assembled That Il shall be lawful for any person
persons, company or corporation having authority
hon the States Of Iowa and Illinois, to build bridge
across the Mississippi river at Fort Madison Iowa and
tn lay or over said bridge railway tracks for the
more perfect connection Of railroads thatare or shall he
constructed tO the said river at or opposite said point
under the limitations and conditions hereinafter pro-
yded that said bridge shall not Interfere with the
free navigation OF said river beyond what 10 necessary
In ordar To carry into effect the rights and privileges
hereby granted and In case Of any litigation Aris-
free navigation Of said river the may be tried
before the district court Of the United states OF WY
State in which any portion Of said distractions or brd
SEC ,. That any bridge built under the provisions
Of this act may, at the option OF the company build
with pivot or other form of draw or with unbroken
or continuous spans Provided, That If the said bridge
shall be made with unhroken or contiguous spans
It shall not be Of less elevation In any cfse than any
feet above high wateTmark understood at the point
of location TO the bottom chord of the bridge,
shall the spans Of said bridge be less than two hundred
and fifty feet In length aud the piers Of said bridge
shall he parallel with the current Of the river aud tho
main span shall be over the main channel OF the river
and not less than three hundred feet In length And
provided also That any bridge built under this act
shall be constructed as pivot draw-brdge the same
shall be constructed with draw over the main chan,
mel Of the river at accessible navgable point and
with spans Of not less than hundred and sixty feet
In length In the clear each side of the central or
pivot pier Of the draw and the next adjoining span
To the draw shall not be less than two hundred and
fifty feet II the proper location of the draw over the
channel will admit spans Of this width between II and
the shore aud said spans shall not he less imam thy
extreme hlgh-water mark, measuring 10 the bottom
chord Of the bridge and the piers Of said bridge shall
he parallel WIN tne current OF tg IVs a "n9re sa1
draw shall be opened prOmtly upon reasonable signal
for the passage of boats and no case shall unneoessa
~ delay occur In opening said draw during or after the
passage of trains
SEC 3. That any bridge constructed under this act
and according 10 its limitations, shall be lawful struc
ture, aud shall he known and recognized as post
route, upon which, also, no higher charge shall be
made for the transmission oyer the sae 81 the mails
the troops, and the munti lions OF war or the United
States than the rate per mile paid for their taanspor
tation over the railroads or paoe leading q
right Of way for postateegruph purposes across sald
SIC A. That all railway companies desiring to us,
the said bridge shall have and he entitled to equa
rights aud privileges Ia the passage OF the same and IL
lie use of the machinery aud fixtures thereof aud
all the approaches thereto under and upon such term
aud conditions hall DO prescribed by the Secretary
of War upon hearing the allegations ana proofs OF the
| parties In case thoy shall not agree.
| SEC &. That the structure herein authorized bull
and loaoted under aud subject 70 such regulations TO
the security of navigation of said river as the Secretary
OF War shall prescribe and to secure that object tn
said person or persons, company Of corporation, sha
submit 70 thS secretary q, mI ,'6 of ha hrdaa
piers and map of the location, giving, for the spao
Of at least milo above aud one mile below the pr
posed location tho topography Of the banks Of tn
river the shoTeLes at high and low water the dlrec
ton and strength Of the current al all stages aud tn
soundngs accurately showing the bed Of the srtream
the location of any other bridge or bridges and sha
furnish such other Information as may be required 70
a full aud satisfactory understanding of the subject
and until the said plan and location OF the bridge ar
approved by tho secretary of War the bridge shall
| he built aud IL any charge be made IN the plan Q
construction Of said bridge during the progress Of IN
work thereon or henre the completion OF said bridge
such change shall be subject TO the approval Of the SO.
rotary Of War and the said structure shall be at al
tunes 50 kept aud managed as to offer reasonable an
proper for passage Of vessels through or unde
said structure aud the said structure shall be change
at the cost and expense Of tho owners thereof ffoI
time To time, Congress may direct SO as 10 preserl
the free and convenient navigation Of said river An
the authority TO and continue said bridge shall
subject 10 revocation or modification by Law whenevt
the public good shall, the Judgment Of Congress,
require, without any expense or charge 10 the Unn
States.
sac g. That Che right 10 alter Or amend this act,
as 10 prevent or remove all material obsrunons ~ N
navigation nf said river by the construction Of bridge
without expense 10 the United States, is hereby o.
pressly reserved,
Approved, MAY %, 1914.