Public Law 76–321

Ohio River.

Bridge authorized across, at Shawneetown, That in order to Ill.

promote interstate commerce, improve the Postal Service, and provide for military and other purposes, the county of Gallatin, in the State of Illinois, its successors and assigns, be and is hereby authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Ohio River at a point suitable to the interests of navigation at or near the city of Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois, to a point opposite thereto in Union County, Kentucky, in accordance with the provisions of an Act entitled “An Act to regulate the construction of bridges over navigable waters”, approved March

34 Stat. 84.

33 U. S. C. §§ 491–498.

23, 1906, and subject to the conditions and limitations contained in this Act.

For like purposes said county of Gallatin, its successors and assigns,

Purchase, maintenance, etc., of ferries.

are hereby authorized to acquire by purchase any and all ferries operating across the said Ohio River within ten miles on either side of the said bridge and to maintain and operate the same, or abandon the operation thereof, at the discretion of the said county of Gallatin, its successors and assigns, subject to the limitations contained in this Act.

Sec. 2.

There is hereby conferred upon the county of Gallatin, in

Acquisition of real estate, etc.

the State of Illinois, its successors and assigns, all such rights and powers to enter upon land and to acquire, condemn, occupy, possess, and use real estate and other property in the State of Illinois, including real estate and other property acquired for or devoted to public use or other purposes by the State of Illinois, or any other governmental or political subdivisions thereof, as may be needed for the location, construction, maintenance, and operation of such bridge and its approaches 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 of private property for public purpose in said States, respectively.

Sec. 3.

The said county of Gallatin, in the State of Illinois, its

Toll charges.

successors and assigns, 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

Application of tolls to maintenance, sinkingfund, 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 interest at a rate of not to exceed 5 per centum and reasonable financing cost, and the cost of the acquisition of any ferries as hereinabove provided, as soon as possible, under reasonable charges, but within a period of not to exceed twenty years from the completion thereof. After a sinking fund sufficient for such

Maintenance as free bridge after amortizing costs, etc.

Record of expenditures and receipts.

amortization shall have been so provided, such bridge shall thereafter be maintained and operated free of tolls. An accurate record of the cost of 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.