The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-31
CONSOLIDATED" HAS NOT EXCLUSIVE USE OF BRIDGE Act of Congress Gives Equal Rights to All Railroad Companies. TERMS OF ACT UNDER Which the New Bridge Over the Connecticut is
 Being Built.
TERMS OF ACT, UNDER

ed permission to construct new bridge across the Connecticut river from Salbrook to Old Lyme by act of congress, it failed to secure the eXclu- sive right to use the bridge And yet in the proposal to lease its old bridge to the state, 1t demands proper provisions reserving to us the exclusive right to street railways across this bridge"
 That the public may thoroughly un- derstand the situation in all its details the act of congress under which the new bridge is being constructed, is giv- en in full as follows:
 An act to authorize the New York New Haven and Hartford Railroad com pany to construct, maintain, and oper- ate bridge across the Connecticut river.
 Be 1t enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled, That the New York, New Haven and Hart ford Railroad company, corporation created by the general assembly of the state of Connecticut, its successors and d5bABllns pbt anu ill6 ShlIl6 are JltfEpJ | authorized to construct maintain, and operate a railroad bridge across the Connecticut river from point in the town of Old Saybrook easterly to a point on the opposite bank of said river In the town of Old Lyme, the exact To- cation length of span, and height of said bridge to be approved by the sec retary of war. The said bridge, when built in accordance with the provisions and requirements of this act, shall be d 10nfaA axyf1lf cf and ma be used as a highway for railroad pur- poses and shall take the place of the present railroad bridge in said vicinity. Section 2. That the bridge authorized shall be built under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation of said river as the secre- tary of war shall prescribe, and to SC" cure that object the said company shall submit to the said secretary of war for his examination and approval design and drawing of the bridge and piers and map of the location, giving for the space of 0ne-half mile above and one-half mile below the proposed loca- tion the topography of the banks of low water, an accurate representation of the bottom of the river, determined by actual soundings, and shall furnish such other information as may be re- 1nired for a full and satisfactory un- N~ ~derstanding of the subject; and until the said plans and locations are ap- proved by him the bridges shall not be commenced or built; and should any change be made in said bridge before or after completion such change shall be likewise subject to the approval of the Secretary of war
 Section 3. That this bridge shall be kept and managed so as to offer req. sonable and proper means for the pass age of vessels through or under the same, and for the safety of vessels passing at night there shall be display ed on said bridge from sunset to sun rise such lights or other signals as the lighthouse board shall prescribe And any changes in said bridge which the secretary of war may at any time deem necessary to be made,s and shall order in the interest of navigation shall be made by said company at its own ex- pense.
 Section 4 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 railway trains over the same and the approaches thereto upon payment oi reasonable compensation for such use or in case of disagreement, upon such terms apd conditions as shall be pre- scribed by the. secretary of war upon hearing the allegations and proofs of the parties in interest.
 Section 5. That the bridge construct ed, maintained, and operated under this act shall be known as a post-road, upon ,WulCH ID UtBnBF CDnfRe small be made for the transportation over the same of the mails. the troops. and munitions of war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for the transporta- tion over railroads or public highways leading to said bridge; and said bridge shall enjoy the rights and privilege ot other post-roads in the United States and the United States shall have tn. right of way across said bridge foi postal telegraph and telephone pur. and ,ri1 s.. Il of. said bridge shall be granted to al telegraph and telephone comnanies.
 Section 6. That this act shall become null and void if the construction of tho bridge herein authorized be not com nenced within one year, and completed within three years after the passage 6 this act.
 Section z That said cornoration shal remove the existing railroad bridgt after tho proposed bridee is complete, and ready for practical operation, an, said removal as to the time and man ner thereof shall be ubjent to the di rection of the secretary of war.
 Section 8. That congress hereby re peal'this act.
 Approved, April ', 1904.
 As will be seen by the fourth sectioI "all railroad companies desiring tn use of said bridge shall have and b entitled to equal rights and privileges In case of controversy over the term the matter will be adjusted by the sec retary of war,
 Tie act was approved April :, l90l By its provisions it was to be com menced within one year and complete within three years after the passage Q the act, or nearly two months ago. is probable that an extension of tim was secured.
 A well known citizen of the state wh is thoroughly acquainted with the con ditions relating to the old and ne1 bridges, said it would be almost impos sible to maintain the two Even wit the draw in the old bridge remove so as to be opposite the draw in tn new bridge, it will be unsafe for steam CTS or small vessels to manoeuvre i the small space between the structure. He doubts the possibility of securln permission from the secretary of war { maintain the two bridges. Then, agalr he said, the present bridge if leased b the state would be inadequate to prop erly accommodate the travel over i Two automobiles could hardly pas in the narrow width, and with trolle tracks the roadway would be nearl Alled.