Public Law 74–258

That in order to promote interstate commerce, improve the postal service, and provide for military and other purposes, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission of the State of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey be, and is hereby, authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Delaware River, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation at or near Delaware

Construction.

Vol. 34, p. 84.

U. S. C., p. 1474.

Water Gap, in accordance with the provisions of the Act entitled “An Act 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 Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission of the State of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey all such rights and powers to enter upon the 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 Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission of the State of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey is hereby 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 March 23, 1906.

Sec. 4.

In fixing the rates of toll to be charged for the use of such 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 of not to exceed thirty years from the completion thereof. After a

Maintenance as free bridge after amortizing costs, etc.

sinking fund sufficient for such amortization shall have been so 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.