New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-02-13
O T. XCt n L..
sa~s or the United States Passed at the
Third sessiss at che Garty-scrsnd
Congress.

prescribe the dimensions OF the same
Be it enacted by the Senate and House OF
Representatives of the United States OF
America in Congress assembled, l hat any
persons or corporations, having iaWIul au-
| thDrity therefor, may hereafter erect bridges
across the Ohio river. for railroad OF other
| uses, upon compliance with the provisions
and requirements OF this act.
SEC. ,. That every bridge hereafter erect
I'd across the OHIO river, above the mouth
| OF the Big Sandy, shall have at least one
| span of "A height of not less than ninety
! feet above low water. ana OF not less imam
1 forty feet above local highest water meas
| ur.d 70 the bottom chord OF the bridge.
| that every bridge hereafter erected across
| the Ohio river below the mouth OF the Big
| Sandva shall have at least one span OF a
| HEIGHT of not less than one hundred feet
above low water and OF not less than forty
! feet above highest water measured to the
| bottom chord of the bridge; that this high
| span shall give clear opening OF at least
| four hundred feet between the piers, meas
| ured at right angles TO the current al every
stage, and that il shall Ue placed over the
main channel OF the river used by boats
during ordinary stages OF water: provided.
however. that any one company. lawfully
authorized by the States OF West Virginia
and Ohio, j. hereby authorized 10 construct
bridge across the Ohio river. from the
CITY Oh w UttIIDR. al JIl6 Oldlt vi w tSl . IL
gnia. to the opposite side of said river
within the State of Ohio. with Is epan over
the main channel of not less than three hun
dred and fifty feet in length. and in all other
respects GOnformable and subject to the
provisions of this act, 40 far a. the same
are applicable to bridges about. the mouth
of the Big Sandy: and provided, that in
case this high span ID 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 the Ohio river below
the CovingtOn and Cincinnati suspension
bridge, shall have, in addition TO the high
span prescribed above. p.vot-draw. giving
two clear openings of one hundred and
sixty feet each, measured at right angles to
the current at the average stage OF water
in the river, and located in part of the
bridge Ethat can be safely and convent
emily reached at that stage, and that said
draw shall be opened promptly, upon reason.
able 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 are pass
ing over the same: but in no case shall
unnecessary delay occur IN opening the
said draw before or after the passage Of
trains.
SEC. 3. That the piers.of the high span
parallel with the current at that stage of
the river which is most important for navi-
CATION; and that no ripraps or other outside
protection for imperfect foundation will be
permitted in the channel-way of the high
span, or of the draw openings.
SEC. 4. That any person. company. or
corporation authorized to construct a
bridge across the Ohio river shall give
notice, by publication for one week in news
papers having = wide circulation. in not
less than two newspapers iii the cities
of Pittsburg, Cincinnati, and louisville,
for bridges, above the mouth OF the Big
Sandy, and i'll the cities OF Pittsburg,
Cincinnati louisville, st. Louis, Mem
pkis. and New Orleans, for bridges below
the mouth Of the Big Sandy, and shall
submit to the Secretary of War. for his
examination. design and drawings of the
bridge and piers, and map ~ the To-
cation, giving. for the space of at
least one mile above and one mile below the
proposed location. the topography of the
banks of the river. the shore lines at high
and low water. the direction OF the current
at all stages. ana the soundings 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 under
standing of the subject by the Secretary of
fed that the provisions of the law have been
complied with in regard to location. the
building of the piers may be at once com.
menced; but if it shall appear that the con-
ditiOns prescribed by this act can not DO
complied with at the location where it is
desired to construct the bridge, the Secre'
tary of War shall. after considering any
circumstances filed against the building of
said bridge. and furnishing copies of such
tho hoard of POUIDpprS
provided for IN this act, detail board COM
posed oG three experienced officers o. the
corps OF engineers, to examine the case.
and NAV, on their recommendation, author
ize such notifications in the requirements
of this act. as TO location and piers, as Will
permit the construction of the bridge; not,
however, eliminating the width of the
spans contemplated by this act: provided.
that the free navigation 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 expense. from
sunset tS sunrise throughout the year, such
lights on their bridges as may be required
BY the lighthouse board for the security of
navigation; and all persons owning, sccu-
plying or operating any bridge over the Ohio
river shall, 10 any event, maintain all lights
on their bridge that may be necessary for
the security of navigation.
Sec. 6. That any bridge constructed I'M
der this act, according 70 its limitations,
shall be lawful structure and shall be
recognized and known az post route,
upon which, also. no higher charge shall be
made for the transmission over tbe same
of the mails, the troops. and the munitions
OF war of the Cnited States than the rate
per mile paid fer the transportation over
the railroads or public highways leading te
I,r;I nd tbn 'DieaS tata Cball
have The right of way for postal telegraph
purposes across any such bridge: anu in
case of any litigation arising from any OBJ
structiOn or alleged obstruction to the navl-
CATION of said river, created by the con
struction of any bridge under this act, the
cause o, question arising NAV be tried be-
fore the district court of the United States
of any State in which any portion OF salf
obstruction OF bridge touches.
SEC. 3. That the right 90 alter OF amend
this act. so as TO prevent or remove all Nj!
terial distractions to the navigation OF SAID
rive. by the future construction of bridges,
is hereby expressly reserved, without any
liability Of the government tor damages on
account of the alteration or amendment OF
this act, or IN account OF tue prevention or
requiring the removal of any such obStIuc.
tOns: and if any change be made III the plan
of construction of any bridge constructed
under this act. during the progress OF 1ht
work thereon or before the completion OF
sucl. bridge. such change shall be subject
10 the approval Of the Secretary OF War:
and any change in the construction. or any
alteration of any such bridge that may I"
directed al any time by Congress, shall be
made at the cost and expense Of the owners
thereof
SEC. s. That Joint resolution humber ten.
approved April seventh. eighteen hundred
and siXty-nine. authorizing the constiuc-
ton of bridge over the Ohio river at Pa
ducah, bee ana the same hereby Is. re-
pealed.