Public Law 72–32

That in order to promote interstate commerce, improve the postal service, and provide for military and other purposes Sullivan County, Indiana, or any board or commission of said county which is or may be created or established for the purpose, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a highway bridge and approaches thereto across the Wabash River, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, extending from some point in the county across said river to a point opposite on the Illinois shore, in accordance with the provisions of the Act entitled “An Act to regulate the construction of

Construction.

Vol. 34, p. 84.

bridges over navigable waters,” approved March 23, 1906, and subject to the conditions and limitations contained in this Act.

Sec. 2.

There is hereby conferred upon the said Sullivan County,

Right to acquire, etc., real estate.

Indiana, or such board or commission and the successors thereof, all such rights and powers to enter upon lands and to acquire, condemn, occupy, possess, and use real estate and other property needed for the location, construction, maintenance, and operation 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 in which such real estate or other property is situated, upon making just compensation therefor, to be ascertained and paid according to the laws of such State, and 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 Sullivan County or such board or commission and

Tolls authorized.

the successors are hereby authorized to fix and charge tolls for transit over such bridge, and the rates of tolls so fixed shall be the legal

Vol. 34, p. 85.

U. S. C., p. 1076.

rates until changed by the Secretary of War under the authority contained in the Act of March 23, 1906.

Sec. 4.

In fixing the rates of toll to be charged for the use of such

Adjustment of, to provide for operation, and sinking fund.

bridge the same shall be so adjusted as to provide a fund sufficient to pay for the reasonable cost of maintaining, repairing, and operating the bridge and its approaches under economical management, and to provide a sinking fund sufficient to amortize the cost of such bridge and its approaches, including reasonable interest and financial cost, as soon as possible under reasonable charges but within a period of

Acquisition by Indiana.

not to exceed twenty years from the completion thereof. After a sinking fund sufficient for such amortization shall have been so provided such bridge shall thereafter be maintained and operated free of tolls, shall then be and become the property of the State of Indiana and a part of the State highway system and be maintained by the State of Indiana out of the maintenance fund of the State

Record of receipts and expenditures.

highway commission. An accurate record of the cost of the bridge and its approaches, the expenditures for maintaining, repairing, and operating the same, and of daily tolls collected shall be kept and shall be available for the information of all persons interested.

Sec. 5.

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

Amendment.

expressly reserved.