Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 53 Part 2.djvu/275

 53 STAT.] 76TH CONG., 1ST SESS.-CH. 139-MAY 17, 1939 of Public Roads, made upon his own initiative or upon application of the Commission or any member or members thereof, but only after a public hearing in the city of Helena, Arkansas, notice of time and place of which hearing and the purpose thereof shall have been published once, at least thirty days before the date thereof, in a news- paper published in the cities of Helena, Arkansas, and Clarksdale, Mississippi. At the time of such dissolution all moneys in the hands of or to the credit of the Commission shall be divided and distribution made between the interests of the States as may be determined by the Chief of the Bureau of Public Roads of the United States. SEc. 9. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Act, the Com- mission shall have full power and authority to negotiate and enter into a contract or contracts with the State Highway Commission of Arkansas, and the State Highway Commission of Mississippi, the cities of Helena, Arkansas, and Clarksdale, Mississippi, or any county or municipality in the State of Arkansas and State of Mississippi, whereby the Commission may receive financial aid in the construction or maintenance of the bridge and approaches thereto, and said Com- mission, in its discretion, may avail itself of all of the facilities of the State Highway Commission of the State of Arkansas and the State of Mississippi with regard to the construction of said bridge, and the Commission may make and enter into any contract or contracts which it deems expedient and proper with the State Highway Com- missions of Arkansas and Mississippi, whereby said highway depart- ments. or either of them, may construct, operate, and maintain, or participate with the Commission in the construction, operation, and maintenance of said bridge constructed hereunder, and the approaches thereto. It is hereby declared to be the purpose of Congress to facil- itate the construction of a bridge and proper approaches across the Mississippi River at or near Helena, Arkansas, and Friar Point, Mississippi, and to authorize the Commission to promote said object and purpose, with full power to contract with either the State High- way Commission of Arkansas or the State Highway Commission of Mississippi, or with any agency or department of the Federal Govern- ment, or both, in relation to the construction, operation, and mainte- nance of said bridge and approaches. SEc. 10. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize or permit the Commission or any member thereof to create or obligate or incur any liability other than such obligations and liabilities as are dischargeable solely from funds contemplated to be provided by this Act. No obligation created or liability incurred pursuant to this Act shall be a personal obligation or liability of any member or mem- bers of the Commission but shall be chargeable solely to the funds herein provided, nor shall any indebtedness created pursuant to this Act be an indebtedness of the United States. SEC. 11. The design and construction of any bridge which may be built pursuant to this Act shall be in accordance with the standard specifications for highway bridges adopted by the American Associa- tion of State Highway Officials. SEC. 12. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, May 17, 1939. 751 Public hearing; no- tice. Division of moneys. State, etc., aid. Contracts. Purpose declared. Creation of other obligations, etc., tor- bidden. Design and con- struction. Amendment.

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