79TH CONG., 2D SESS.-CH. 794-AUG. 7, 1946 [CHAPTER 794] AN ACT Authorizing the city of East Saint Louis, Illinois, its successors and assigns, to construct, maintain, and operate a toll bridge across the Mississippi River at or near a point between Delmar Boulevard and Cole Street in the city of Saint Louis, Missouri, and a point opposite thereto in the city of East Saint Louis, Illinois. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 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, its successors and assigns, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a toll bridge across the Mississippi River, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, at or near a point between Delmar Boulevard and Cole Street 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 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 Louis, Illinois, 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 needed for the location, construction, main- tenance, and operation of such bridge and its approaches as are pos- sessed 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 city of East Saint Louis, Illinois, its 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 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 pro- vided, 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 operat- ing 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 expressly reserved. Approved August 7, 1946. 891 August 7, 1946 [H. R . 6953] IPublic Law 639] Bridge. Mississippi River. 34 Stat. 84. 33U.S.C.§§491- 498. Acquisition of land, etc. Tolls. Supra. Sinking fund, etc. Record of costs. etc. 60 STAT.]
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