Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 53 Part 2.djvu/794

 PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 608-AUG. 9, 1939 Record of expendi- tures and receipts. Conveyance of Com- mission's interest to Louisiana, Mississip- pi, etc. Conditions. Disposition of fer- ries. Free toll not to ap- ply to railroad using bridge. Louisiana - Vicks- burg Bridge Commis- sioncreated;powers. Membership of Commission. thereof shall be paid into the sinking fund hereinabove provided for bonds. An accurate record of the cost of purchasing the ferry or ferries, the expenditures for maintaining, repairing, and operating the same, and of the daily tolls collected shall be kept and shall be available for the information of all persons interested. SEC. 7. After payment of the bonds and interest, or after a sinking fund sufficient for such payment shall have been provided and shall be held for that purpose, the Commission shall deliver deeds or other suitable instruments of conveyance of the interest of the Commission in and to the bridge, that part within Louisiana to the State of Lou- isiana or any municipality or agency thereof as may be authorized by or pusuant to law to accept the same (hereinafter referred to as the Louisiana interest) and that part within Mississippi to the State of Mississippi or any municipality or agency thereof as may be authorized by or pursuant to law to accept the same (hereinafter referred to as the Mississippi interest) under the condition that the bridge shall thereafter be free of tolls (except the railroad portion of said bridge and except as otherwise herein provided) and be properly maintained, operated, and repaired by the Louisiana interest and the Mississippi interest as may be agreed upon; but if either the Louisiana interest or the Mississippi interest shall not be authorized to accept or shall not accept the same under such conditions, then the bridge shall continue to be owned, maintained, operated, and repaired by the Commission as a free bridge until such time as both the Louisiana interest and the Mississippi interest shall be authorized to accept and shall accept such conveyance under such conditions. After the conveyance by the Commission to the Louisiana interest and Mississippi interest, the said interests may collect from the rail- road or railroads using the bridge reasonable tolls, either under the then existing contract between the Commission and the railroad or railroads, or a new contract to be made by the Mississippi interest and Louisiana interest with the said railroad or railroads. If at the time of such conveyance the Commission or its successors shall not have disposed of such ferry or ferries, the same shall be disposed of by sale as soon as practicable, at such price and upon such terms as the Commission or its successors may determine. Free toll provi- sions of this Act shall not apply to railroad or railroads using bridge. SEC. 8. For the purpose of carrying into effect the objects stated in this Act, there is hereby created the Lonisiana-Vicksburg Bridge Commission, and by that name, style, and title said body shall have perpetual succession; may contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, complain and defend in all courts of law and equity; may make and have a common seal; may purchase or otherwise acquire and hold or dispose of real estate and other property only insofar as it is essential and necessary in the operation of the bridge; may accept and receive donations or gifts of money or other property and apply the same to the purpose of this Act; and shall have and possess all powers necessary, convenient, or proper for carrying into effect the objects stated in this Act. The Commission shall consist of three persons, one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor of Louisiana from the congressional district in the State of Louisiana wherein is located the west approach to said bridge, one of whom shall be appointed by the Gov- ernor of Mississippi from the congressional district in the State of Mississippi wherein is located the east approach to said bridge, and one of whom shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Public Roads. Such Commission shall be a body corporate and politic. Each member of the Commission shall qualify within thirty days after the approval of this Act by filing in the office of the Commis- 1270 [53 STAT.

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