Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 22.djvu/137

 ]] FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 240. 1882. slmll be constructed as draw-bridges, the draw or pivot shall be over the main channel of the river at sm ncccssiblc navigable point, and thu openiug* on each side of the pivot-pier shall be not less than one hundred and sixty feet in the clear, and, as nearly as practicable, both of said openings shall be accessible at all stages of water, and the spans shall C¥“”"?“]“ f“?‘l be not less than ten feet above extreme high water, as understood m; §;`n;;K;l;;,:“¥Q$r the point of location, to the lowest part of the superstructure of the bridge, and the piers and draw-rests shall be parallel wtith, and the bridge itself at right angles t0, tho current of the river 01- rivers at that stage of the river which is most important for navigation; and no rip- · rap 01- other outside protection for imperfect foundations shall be parmittcd to approach nearer than four feet to the surface of the water at its extrcmc low stage, or otherwise to cncroach upon the channel-ways provided for in this act:. And if the said bridges, or either of them, over the said Saline, Ouachita, Zuid Bed Rivers shall be made with unbroken und continuous spans, there shall be at least one span of a. height of not less than eighty feet above low water or fifty feet above highest water, ns understood at tho point of location, measured to tho lowest part of the supcrstructurc of said bridge, and said span shall have a clear opening of at least two hundred feet between the piers, measured at right angles to the current, and shall be ovcr the main channel of the river, and the bridge or bridges shall be at right angles to, and the piers parallel with, the current of the river. And if the bridges, or either of them, cvcr the said Saline, Ouachita, and Red Rivers shall bccoustructcd us draw or pivot bridges, the draw or pivot pier shall be over the main channel of the river at an accessible navigable point, and the openings on each side of the pivot pier shall be not less than one lmndrcd and thirty feet in the clear, unless otherwise expressly directed by the Secretary of \Vm·, and if so directed shall be according to such direction, mul, as nearly as practicable, the said openings shall bc accessible at all stages of water, and the spans shall be not less than ten feet above extreme high water, as understood at the point of loca.-. tion, to the lowest part of the superstructure of the bridge, and the Draw. piers and draw rests shall be parallel with, and the bridge or bridges, at right angles to, the current of the river or rivers ; and no rip:-ap or other outside protection for imperfect foundations shall be permitted to approach nearer than four feet to thusurfaco of the water at its extreme low stage, or otherwise to cucronch upon the channel-ways provided for in thisact; and all and each of said draws shall be opened promptly upon reasonable `gnu! for the passing of boats ·  and said company shall Ligmsi maintain at its own expense, from sunset till sunrise, such lights or cihcr signals on said bridges ns the Light House Board may prescribe. Bridgu to be Sec. 3. That any bridge built under this act, and subject to its limit- 1·¤•¢-¤••¤¤•·, ations, shall be a lawthl structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post-route, upon which also no higher charge shall be made for the transmission ovcr the same of the mails, the troops, and the munitions of war of the United States than the mtu por mile paid for the transportation over the railroad or public highways loading to the said bridge ; and it shall enjoy the rights and privileges of other post roads in the United States. n Fm nsvigstion Sec. 4. That no brid? shall be erected or maintained under the an- obstruct the frce navigation of said rivers; and if any bridge erected under such authority shall, in the opinion of the Secretary of War, obstruct such navigation, he is hereby authorized to cause such change or altcratncu of sjnid  or bridges to be made as will eifectnally obviaw such obstruction; all such alterations shall be made and all such obstructions  removed at the expense of the owner 01- owners of said budge. And m cass of any litigation arising from any obstruction or alleged obstruction tc the the navigation of said river caused cr alleged to be caused by said bridge, the mso may bs bmught in the district court of the United States of the State of Arkansas in which any por-
 * ° "'* ””*¤*¤¤°*l· tlmrity of this act whic shall at any time substantially or materially