Public Law 72–231

That in order to

Rio Grande.

Fort Hancock-Porvenir Bridge Company may bridge, at Fort Hancock, Tex.

facilitate international commerce, improve the postal service, and provide for military and other purposes, the Fort Hancock-Porvenir Bridge Company, its successors and assigns, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Rio Grande, so far as the United States has jurisdiction over the waters of such river, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, at Fort Hancock, Texas, in accordance with the provisions of the Act entitled “An Act to regulate the

Construction.

Vol. 34, p. 84.

Approval of Mexico required.

construction of bridges over navigable waters,” approved March 23, 1906, subject to the conditions and limitations contained in this Act, and subject to the approval of the proper authorities in the Republic of Mexico.

Sec. 2.

There is hereby conferred upon the Fort Hancock-Porvenir

Acquisition of real estate, etc., for location, approaches, etc.

Bridge Company, its successors and assigns, all such rights and powers to enter upon lands and to acquire, condemn, occupy, possess, and use real estate, and other property in the State of Texas needed for the location, construction, operation, and maintenance of such bridge and its approaches as are possessed by railroad corporations for railroad purposes or by bridge corporations for bridge purposes in the State of Texas, upon making just compensation therefor, to be ascertained and paid according to the laws of such State, and

Condemnation proceedings.

the proceedings therefor shall be the same as in the condemnation or expropriation of property for public purposes in such State.

Sec. 3.

The said Fort Hancock-Porvenir Bridge Company, its successors

Tolls authorized.

and assigns, is hereby authorized to fix and charge tolls for transit over such bridge in accordance with any laws of Texas applicable thereto, and the rates of toll so fixed shall be the legal rates until changed by the Secretary of War under the authority

Vol. 34, p. 85.

contained in the Act of March 23, 1906.

Sec. 4.

The right to sell, assign, transfer, and mortgage all the

Right to sell, etc., conferred.

rights, powers, and privileges, conferred by this Act is hereby granted to Fort Hancock-Porvenir Bridge Company, its successors and assigns; and any corporation to which or any person to whom such rights, powers, and privileges may be sold, assigned, or transferred, or who shall acquire the same by mortgage foreclosure or otherwise, is hereby authorized and empowered to exercise the same as fully as though conferred herein directly upon such corporation or person.

Sec. 5.

The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby

Amendment.

expressly reserved.