Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 30.djvu/394

 1EIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. Srzss. H. *CHs; ‘120, 121. 1898. 355 ·thereon, after fourteen months from the date of settlement, upon full payment for the lands at the price provided in said Act. Approved, April 11, 1898. ‘ CHAP. 121.-—·An Act :1‘o·autherize the Shreveport Brldg and Terminal Company _ Am.;] u_ 1g9s_ to construct and maintain n bridge across Red River m e State of Louisiana, at ———+ or near Shreveport. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That tue Shreveport Bridge and ,m§,“'{,‘;*§’_f’{,f8, Bgjgf .Terminal Company, aeorporation existing under the laws of Louisiana, Puny may image me .its successors and assigns, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct m'°’·L°‘““““"· and maintain a bridge and all approaches thereto across Red River at or near the city of Shreveport, Louisiana, at a point suitable to the · interests of navigation, and in accordance with suchdocation and plans as may be approved by the Secretary. of War, and to lay on or over said B•il¤>•·i*¤¤l=¤·¤¤¤· bridge a track or tracksfor the more perfect connection of any railroad or railroads that are or shall be constructed to said river, on either or both sides thereof, at or opposite such point, under the limitations and conditions hereinafter provided. Said company, or its successors and assigns, are hereby authorized to build, construct, and maintain any and all trestles, roadbeds, tracks, appurtenances, and things that may be necessary for proper approaches to said bridge and for the use of · the same as a railroad bridge. That said bridge shall not interfere mfgjjgfgml **¤¤ with the tree navigation of said river, and in case of any litigation .nng»u€n. ` arising from any obstruction or alleged obstruction to the free naviga- ‘ tion of said river, by reason of the construction of the said bridge, the cause may be tried before the- circuit court of the United States in and for any district-in whose jurisdiction any portion of said obstruction or bridge may be: Provided, That nothing in this Act shall be so construed  hw M_ as to repeal or modify any of the provisions of law now existing in ref- qimgsa. g erence to the protection of the navigation of rivers or to exempt this _ bridge from the operation of the same: Provided further, That said "{,‘;’f,’;_g:,c‘f‘ *"*"'°· bridge shall be constructed to provide for the passage of railroad trains, and at the option of said company maybe used for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, for the transit of animals, and for foot passengers, for such reasonable rate of·toll as may be iixed by said 'M1- company and approved by the Secretary of War. Sec. 2. That if the bridge herein authorized shall be built as a draw- OP°°*”$ ¤f ¤¤¤*· bridge, the draw shall be operated by steam or other reliable power, and shall be opened promptly upon reasonable signal for the passage of boats, except when trains are passing over said span or spans; but in no case shall unnecessary delay occur in opening said draw after the passage of trains. _ SEO. 3. That all piers shall be built as nearly as maybe parallel with “f°°'“°“ °*` P‘°"* - the current of the river at that stage of water which is most important for navigation, and the bridge itself shall be built as nearly as may be at right angles thereto; and the riprappin g or other protection for imperfect foundations which will lessen the required waterway shall not be permitted; and also that piers which will produce cross currents or bars dangerous to navigation shall not be constructed; and if, after construction, any piers or accessory works are found to produce the above-mentioned eifects, or if any riprapping or other protection prohibited by this section is found to exist, the nuisance shall be abated or corrected under the direction of the Secretary of War at the expense · gfghe company or persons owning, controlling, or operating said ri ge. Sec. 4. That the approaches to said bridge shall be so designed and ,,°§*f)°,1",?,’;’j'r°*,;,_,j'*’·" constructed as not to interfere with the tree discharge of said river in ' seasons of tlood; and any encroachment on the high-water cross section by piers, solid. embankments, or otherwisewhich will result in unduly