Public Law 73–194

That in order to facilitate interstate commerce, improve the postal service, and provide for military and other purposes, the city of East Saint Louis, Illinois, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Mississippi River, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, at or near a point between Morgan and Wash Streets in the city of Saint Louis, Missouri, and a point opposite thereto in the city of East Saint Louis, Illinois, in accordance with the provisions of the Act entitled “An Act

Construction.

Vol. 34, p. 84.

to regulate the construction of 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 city of East Saint

Right to acquire realty, etc., for approaches, etc.

Louis, Illinois, all such rights and powers to enter upon land 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

Condemnation proceedings.

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 city of East Saint Louis, Illinois, is hereby

Tolls authorized.

authorized to fix and charge tolls for transit over such bridge, and the rates of toll so fixed shall be the legal rates until changed by the Secretary of War under the authority contained in the Act of

Vol. 34, p. 85.

March 23, 1906.

Sec. 4.

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

Tolls to be applied to operation, sinking fund, etc.

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 financing cost, as soon as possible, under reasonable charges, but within a period not to exceed thirty years from the completion thereof. After a sinking fund sufficient for such amortization shall have been so

Maintenance as free bridge after amortizing costs.

provided, such bridge shall thereafter be maintained and operated free of tolls, or the rates of toll shall thereafter be so adjusted as to provide a fund of not to exceed the amount necessary for the proper maintenance, repair, and operation of the bridge and its approaches under economical management. An accurate record of the cost of

Record of expenditures and receipts.

the bridge and its approaches, 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. 5.

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

Amendment.

expressly reserved.