The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-03-08
MlIClIELL,S BILL
Providing for tic nridu,nE Of the 0ren.

Providing for tic ErtdsinE Of the Great
~. \ Z. innnwhn River.
From Our Special Correspondent. u
WAsnlSaroS. March 7.-Sena.or Mitchell,
Of PENNSYLVANIA, on Thursday, introduced
q bill to authorize the construction OF
bridges across tho Great Kanawha river
and to prescribe the dimensions Of the
same. X. -"
The bill tex. Of the bill reads as follows:
SECTION !. That any person or corpora
ton having lawful authority to erect a
bridge or bridges acroas the Great kanawha
river in Yves. Virginia. may hereafter erect
bridges across said river for railroad or
other uses, upon compliance with the p1o.
visions and requirements Of this act.
SIC. 2. That every bridge hereafter erect
ed across the Great Kanawha river shall
have at less. one span oil Il height Of not
less than 90 feet above low water and OF not
lees than 40 feet above local highest water
measured to the bottom chord OF the bridge.
That this high span shall give clear OPEN
ing OF at least 400 feet between the piers
measured,at right angles to the current at
every stage, and that it shall be placed
over the main channel ofthe river used by
boats during ordinary stages of water. r
SEC. 3. That no draw bridge shall be
erected with pivol or other form OF draw
over the said river. but every bridge shall
be constructed with unbroken and coz
tinous spans.i !. III II "
I sEc.,4. That the piers OF the bridge erect
ed under the authority Of this act shall be
built parallel with the current at that stage
Of the river which sis most important for
navigation, and that no riprap or other but
side protection ior imperfect foundation
will be permitted in the channel way OF the
high span or in any other portions OF the
river whatever. V! y
4 SEC. s, That any person or corporation
authorized 10 con8truct bridge across
the Great kanawha river shall give notice,
by publication ior one week in newspapers
having a wide circulation, in not less than
two newspapers in the cities OF Cincinnati
and Louisville, and shall submit to the
Secretary Of War, for his examination, a |
design and drawings Of the bridge and
piers and a$map OF the location, giving, !
Tor the space OF at least one mile above and
one mile below the proposed location, the |
topography Of the banks Of the river, the
shore lines at high and low water, the |
direction Of the current at all stages, and
the eoundipgs, accurately showing the bed
OF the stream, the location Of any other
bridge or bridges and shall furnish such
other information as may be required for
full and satisfactory understanding Of the
subject by the Secretary Of War; and II the
Secretary otsWar is satisfied that the pro-
visions Of the came have been complied
with in regard 10 location, the building OF
tho pieis may. be at. once commenced. 5,5
y jSgc, Q. That )all parties owning oc-,
cupying or operating bridges over the
Great: kanawhN river shall maintain at
their own, expense from sunset 10 sunrise
throughout the year such lights on their
bridges as may be required by the light.
house board for the security Of navigation;
and all persons owning occupying or op'
Grating any bridge over the Great Kan.
awha river shall in any event maintain all
lights on their bridge that may be neces-
Bary for the security Of navigation. ft.l
q Sac, 4: That the officers and crews OF
all vessels, boats or RATS navigating the
Great kanawha river are required to reg
ulate |; the use Of said vessels and OF any
pipes or chimneys belonging thereto so as
not TO interfere with the elevation Of con.
s,ruction, OF, uss OF any of the bridges
erected orlegalizad under the provisions
ofthis act. % 5ss ys71$,5;a,g,,y Il
! SIC. s. That any bridge constructed un.
der the act accor ling to the limitations
shall be q lawful structure and shall be re-.
'cognized and known az a 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 tho United States and than the rate
per mile paid for the transportation paid
over the railroads. or public highways lead
ing 10 said bridge, and the United States
shall have tho right OF way for postal teIe.
graph purposes across any said bridge and
in case OF any litigation arising from any oh.
struc!ion:or alleged obstruction to the nav.
igation ot said Great kanawha river crea.
ted by the. e.construction Of any bridge .uu.
der this act the cause or que es.ion arising
may be tried before the District Court OF
the United States iior the District Of West
Virginia. ..S5 ,-29l55 ,sISji5ii{Il
= SEQ. o. That the right 10 alter or. amend
this act 90, ,as to prevent or remove all ma.
terial obstructions TO tho navigation OF said
riverlby the inture construction OF bridges
10 hereby e1pree,ly observed without any
liability of;the government for damages on
account ofltbe, alteration or amendment of
this act OF, any account OF the prevention
Or requiring Of any such obstruction, III Z,