Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-22
BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSOURI RIV-
ERAT LEXINGTON.

BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSOURI RIV-
ER AT LEXINGTON.
Mr.. Rea. from the committee on
commerce, reported back, with an
amendment, the bill (H. r. No. 2985) to
authorize the construction of bridge
across the Missouri river at or near Lex
ington, Missouri:
The bill was read, as follows:
Be it enacted, &C. That the Chillico-
the & Deshloines City Railroad Compa-
ny be, and is hereby, authorized to con-
struct and maintain bridge, and ap-
proaches thereto, over the Missouri riv-
er. at such point as it may select, at or
within twelve miles of Lexington. in the
county of Lafayette, In the state OF Mis-
souri,. Said bridge shall be constructed
to provide Ior the passage OF railway
trains. and, at the option OF the corpora
tion by which it may be built. may be
used tor the passage OF wagons and ve-
hicles of all kinds, for the transfer OF
ANIMALS, and for ioot-passengers.
Sec. 2. That any bridge built under
this act and subject to, its=lImitations-
shall be lawful structure and shall abe
| recognized and known as post-route.
upon 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 the trans
portation over the railroad or public
highways leading 10 the said bridge ;and
it shall enjoy the rights and privileges OF
| other post-roads in the United States.
| Sec. 8. That it said bridge shall be
made with unbroken and continuous
spans, the spans thereof shall not be
| less than three hundred feet in length in
the clear. and the main span shall be
the main channel of the river. The low
est part of the superstructure of said
| bridge shall be at least fifty feet above
extreme big b water mark as understood
| at the point of location, and the bridge
| shall be at right angles to, and its piers
parallel with, the current of the river:
Provided, That if the same shall be con-
structed as draw bridge, the draw or
pivot shall be over the main channel OF
| the river at an accessible navigable
point, and the spans shall not be less
than one hundred and sixty feet in
length in the clear, and the piers of said
| bridge shall be parallel with. and the
| bridge itself at right angles to, the cur
rent of the river, and the spans shall not
| be less than ten feet above extreme high
water mark, as understood at the point
of location, to the lowest part of the SUI
perstructure of said bridge: Provided.
also. That said draw shall be opened
promptly, upon reasonable signal, tor
the passing of boats; and said company
or corporation shall maintain at its own
expense, from sunset till sunrise, such
lights or other signals on said bridge as
the Light House Board shall prescribe.
No bridge shall be erected or maintained
under the authority of this act which
shall at any time substantially or mate
rally obstruct the free navigation OF said
river; and If any bridge erected under
such authority shall, in the opinion OF
the secretary of war, obstruct such nav
iyation, he is hereby authorized to cause
such change or alteration of said bridge
to be made as will effectually obviate
such obstruction; and all such altera-
tions shall be made and all such OBJ
structions be removed at the expense OF
the owner or owners of said bridge.
Aud in case of any litigation arising
from any obstruction or alleged obstruc-
ton to the free navigation of said river,
caused or alleged to be caused by said
bridge, the case may be brought in the
district court of the United States OF the
state of Missouri in which any portion Of
said obstruction or bridge may be To-
Gated.
Sec T. That all railroad companies
desiring the use of said bridge shall
have and be entitled to equal rights and
privileges relative to the passage of rail-
way trains over the same, and over the
approaches therto, upon payment of a
reasonable compensation tor such use
and in case the owner or owners OF
said bridge and the several rail-
road companies, or any one Of them
desiring such use. shall fail to agree
upon the sum or sums to be paid, and
upon rules and conditions te which
each shall conform in using said
bridge, all matters at issue between
them shall be decided by the secretary
of war, upon a hearing Of the allega.
tions and proofs of the parties.
Sec. 5. That any bridge authorized te
be constructed under this act shall be
built and located under and subject to
such regulations for the security OF nav
cation of said river as the secretary OF
war shall prescribe; and, to secure that
object, the said company or corporation
shall submit to the secretary OF war. for
his examination and approval, design
and drawings OF the bridge, and map
of the location, giving, for the space OF
one mile above and one mile below the
proposed location. the topography OF the
banks OF the river, the shors-lines al
high and low water, the direction and
strength of the currents at all stages,
and the soundings, accurately showing
the bed of the stream, the location ol
any other bridge or bridges, and shall
furnish such other information as may
be required for full and satisfactory
understanding of the subject; and until
the said plan and location OF the bridge
are approved by the secretary of War,
the bridge shall not be built; and shonld
, any change, be madein the plan OF said
bridge during the progress of construc
ton. such change shall be subject to the
approval of the secretary OF war
Sec. 6. That the ght to alter. amend
or repeal this act is hereby expressly re-
served.
The clerk read the report. 1t states
that the committee caused the bill to bt
submitted to the secretary OF war fol
information touching its provisions ane
received communications from him anc
from Charles r. Suter, major of eng i
neers, IN charge of the Missouri river
by which it appears that the provision,
> of the bill are approved and deemed
amply sufficient TO protect the interes
of navigation. Under the provisions o
the bill the bridge. at the option OF tn,
corporation by which it is built, may b,
used for the passage of wagons, vohi
oles, animals, and foot-passengers; ane
for this reason the committee recon
mend that the bill be amended by addlnl
the following as a new section:
= Sec. Z. Ii said bridge shall be bull
Tor the passage of wa gons, vehicles, AMI
? mails and passengers, then the sec
retary Of war shall have authority, an,
it shall be his duty, upon the petition o
citizens wishing to use the bridge, to fl,
the rates OF toll for wagons, vehicles
animals, and foot passengers over sal,
= bridge; and he may change the sam
from time to time as justice and righ
!