Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 30.djvu/562

 FIFDY-FIFTH CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 537. 1898. 523 numbered forty-six of the Mile Reserve (so called), in the county of Niagara and State of New York, and a point opposite the head of Grand Island, in the county of Erie, to some point in Canada on the left or westerly bank of said river, which said bridge may be used for railroad and general traiiic purposes, as provided in said laws of the State of New York: Provided, That from Grand Island to the main shore or mg"- a I. easterly bank of the Niagara River there shall be constructed as a part cmu iii3MP7a Kid of any bridge to be built and maintained a convenient passageway, °"* °*‘°’°·°°°· with proper and suitable approaches thereto, for vehicles, teams, and foot passengers, who shall be entitled to use such passageway on the payment of tolls or charges as may be fixed and from time to time revised by the Secretary of War of the United States. ,. Sec. 2. That any bridge which may be erected under the authority obsmaimtrchm. of this Act shall be so located and constructed that the channels of ”°" said Niagara River shall not be unreasonably obstructed, and shall D¤w¤r1>iv¤*¤r¤¤¤- have two draw or pivot spans opening in the clear on each side of the pivot piers in such manner that one or both of the openings of said` . draw or pivot spans can be conveniently reached and passed by boats — ` pursuing the ordinary channels of said river. The Secretary of War _ is hereby directed to form a board, consisting of one engineer officer of ,,,£‘§§’f,}_t° °°°°"“”‘° the United States Army, one line officerof the United States Navy, and one officer of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, who shall, after examining the locality and giving full hearings to the parties interested, recommend to the Secretary of War the width of said draw or pivot spans authorized by this Act, and the assent of Congres is hereby given to the recommendation of said board, when approved by the Secretary of War. h f Sec. 3. That the height at which such bridge shall be constructed H"'; °° °"°“°‘ above the surface of the river shall be such as may be approved by the Secretary of War. . _ Sec. 4. That any and all draw or pivot spans authorized by this Act °P°"•°"”‘ °‘ d""'- shall be operated by steam or electric power, or other reliable mechanical power, and shall be operated and opened promptly upon reasonable signals for the passage of boats, and in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed in the premises by the Secretary of War. mm of Sec. 5. That the piers upon which said bridge is built shall be par- ,,,5 °" N"' allel with the current of the river, and so constructed as to avoid producing cross currents or bars dangerous to navigation; and if after their construction any piers are tbund to produce any of the abovementioned eifects, the same shall be changed and corrected by or at the expense of the corporation owning or operating said bridge, under the advice and direction of the Secretary of War. Sec. 6. That it shall be the duty of the corporation erecting or oper- Llghu ating a bridge under the plrovisions of this Act, to maintain, at its own. expen e, such lights or other signals on the bridge as may be required or prescribed by the Light-House Board for the security of navigation. Sec. 7. That any bridge constructed under this Act and accordingto uf·,°l{*_‘;’r0u§,§f“°*“° its limitations shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post route, over which the mails, troops, and munitions of war of the United States may be transported at no higher charge than is made for transportation of such mails, troops, and munitions of war over railroads and public highways leading to said bridge; and the ' United States shall have the right of way for postal telegraph lines and uu{:'°8"*P*’· °*°· ‘ appliances across said bridge, and all telegraph and telephone com- ' panics shall have equal rights and privileges in constructing and maintaining their lines across said bridge. W Sec. S. That before commencing work on any bridge contemplated ,,PS,,$Y,‘$::‘,'F,Q’,f_ "°° or authorized by this Act it shall be the duty of the company or cor-, poration about to construct the same to submit to the Secretary of War for his examination and approval a design and drawing, including plans and specifications, of the bridge and piers and a map of the location, giving for the space of one-half mile above and one-half mile below the proposed location the topography of the bank of the river, the shore