Public Law 54–176

That the mayor anti city council

Monroe and Ouachita Parish, La., may bridge Ouachita River.

of the city of Monroe, and the police jury of the parish of Ouachita, in the State of Louisiana, are hereby authorized and empowered to construct, operate, and maintain a general traffic bridge across the Ouachita River, to be located at such point, within or near the corporate limits of said city as shall be approved by the Secretary of War: Provided,

Provisos.

Drawbridge.

That said bridge shall be constructed as a drawbridge, and the draw shall be opened promptly, upon reasonable signal, for the passage of boats; and whatever kind of bridge is constructed the owners thereof

Lights, etc.

shall maintain thereon, at their own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals as the Light-House Board shall prescribe: Provided further, That if the said bridge shall be constructed to provide

Use by street railroads, etc.

for the passage of street-railway cars, all street-railroad companies desiring the use of the bridge shall have equal privileges in the passage of trains or cars over the same, and over the approaches thereto, upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in case of disagreement in regard to the terms of such use, or the rates to be paid, the matters at issue shall be decided by the Secretary of War.

Sec. 2.

That any bridge built under the provisions of this Act shall

Lawful structure and post route.

be a lawful structure, and shall be recognized and known as a post route, upon which no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, troops, and munitions of war of the United States passing over said bridge than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over the public highways leading to said bridge: and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies; and the United States shall have the

Postal telegraph.

right of way across said bridge and approaches for postal-telegraph purposes; and said bridge shall be so constructed and operated as not

Free navigation.

to interfere with the navigation of said river.

Sec. 3.

That said municipal corporation shall have the right to

Toll.

charge and collect a reasonable rate of toll, to be approved by the Secretary of War, not exceeding the rate limited by the law of Louisiana.

Sec. 4.

That the bridge authorized to be constructed under this Act

Secretary of War to approve plans, etc.

shall be located and built under and subject to such regulations for the security of the navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the said corporation shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, a design and drawings of the proposed bridge, 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 banks of the river, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the currents, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed of the stream, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject. And until the said plan and location of the bridge are approved by the Secretary of War, no work upon the bridge shall be commenced; and should any change be made

Changes.

in the plan of said bridge during the progress of construction, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War.

Sec. 5.

That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction of the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date of approval hereof.

Sec. 6.

That Congress hereby expressly reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act.