We desire, and have determined, to continue the construction of the bridge without delay and to complete it as soon as possible, and therefore respectfully request the early approval of the accompanying plans, etc., which will be presented by Mr. E. L. Corthell, engineer of the bridge, in person. Mr. Corthell is authorized to act for this company in any and all matters relating to the approval of the plans. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War through the Acting Judge-Advocate-General, U. S. Army. Upon examination of the within plan and location of the proposed bridge of the Chicago, Saint Louis and New Orleans Railroad Company across the Ohio River at East Cairo, Ky., it is believed that they conform to the requirements of the Board of Engineers as contained in its report of May 7, 1886, and printed as House Mis. Doc. No. 339, Fortyninth Congress, first session (copy herewith), and also with the provisions of the act of December 17, 1872, and the supplementary act of February 14, 1883, authorizing the construction of bridges across the Ohio River, etc. (copies herewith), and therefore no objection is known to their approval by the War Department if the rule of the War Department dated July 31, 1886, has also been complied with. J. C. DUANE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. [Second indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, JUDGE-ADVOCATE GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, D. C., March 30, 1887. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War with drafts of formal approval by the Secretary of the design, drawings, and maps submitted by the Chicago, Saint Louis and New Orleans Railroad Company. The company presents in lieu of a copy of the minutes of its organization duly authenticated, a memorandum signed by E. L. Corthell, representing Chicago, Saint Louis and New Orleans Railroad Company, and sworn to before a notary public of this city. It is for the Secretary of War to determine whether this document, in connection with the volume of laws and documents filed by the company, may be accepted as sufficient evidence of the fact in question. G. NORMAN LEIBER, Acting Judge Advocate General. [Third indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, April 1, 1887. e; Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers for file in his office the original copy of the instrument having been sent to Mr. E. L. Corthell, No. 34 Nassau street, New York City, this date. By order of the Secretary of War. SAM'L HODGKINS, Acting Chief Clerk. LETTER OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY, Washington, D. C., April 11, 1888. SIR: Under date of April 1, 1887, the Secretary of War approved certain drawings showing design, location, etc., of the bridge of the Chicago, Saint Louis and New Orleans Railroad Company across the Ohio River at Cairo, Ill., proposed to be erected under acts of Congress approved December 17, 1872, and February 14, 1883; and in order that the Secretary of War may be fully advised as to the manner in which such bridge, piers, etc., are being constructed, and as to whether the plans approved by him are being complied with and the bridge built accordingly, it is desired that you supervise its construction so far as may be necessary to enable you to supply the information required. Copies of two of the drawings, with copy of the approval of the Secretary of War attached, are sent herewith for your guidance. The remaining drawing, showing location of proposed bridge without contours of the bottom of the river, was sent you March 30, 1888. By command of Brigadier-General Duane. Lieut. Col. WM. E. MERRILL, JAS. C. POST, Major of Engineers. Corps of Engineers. WW 7. FREE WAGON BRIDGE ACROSS THE CUMBERLAND RIVER NEAR THE CITY OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, AUTHORIZED BY ACT OF CONGRESS APPROVED MARCH 3, 1887. NASHVILLE, TENN., April 10, 1887. SIR: In obedience to the act of Congress and the rule of the Department of July 31, 1886, I have the honor to-day to forward by mail to your address a copy of the specifications of the North Nashville Bridge, and by express the general plan of the North Nashville Bridge with a duplicate (tracing) of the same, which plans and specifications are necessary to accompany the application of the Bridge Commissioners for the approval of the plans so the work may proceed. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The Hon. SECRETARY OF WAR. [First indorsement.] E. F. FALCONNET, OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, Respectfully referred to Lieut. Col. J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers, for his information and for examination and report. Colonel Barlow will see whether the plans conform to the requirements of the act of March 3, 1887, authorizing the construction of the bridge (copy here with). Colonel Barlow will also call attention of the bridge authorities to the accompanying rule of the Secretary of War and request compliance with the same. Papers under the rule to be furnished in duplicate. By command of Brigadier-General Duane. JOHN G. PARKE, Colonel of Engineers, Bot. Maj. Gen., U. S. A. [Second indorsement.] ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers with report of this Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War through the Acting Judge-Advocate General, U. S. Army, inviting attention to the accompanying report of Lieut. Col. J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers, from which it will appear that the bridge is held to be in conformity with the "Act to give the assent of Congress to the construction of a free bridge by the county of Davidson, Tennessee, over the Cumberland River," approved March 3, 1887. His views are concurred in by this office, and it is recommended that the plan be approved accordingly. J. C. DUANE, [Fourth indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, JUDGE-ADVOCATE GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, D. C., May 11, 1887. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War, with formal instrument for his approval (prepared in duplicate) of the design and drawings, and proposed location of the bridge across the Cumberland River, near the city of Nashville, Tenn., authorized by the act of Congress approved March 3, 1887 (page 471, Statutes of 1886-1887). G. NORMAN LEIBER, REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J. W. BARLOW, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, ACCOMPANYING SECOND INDORSEMENT ON FOREGOING COMMUNICATION. ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, SIR: In compliance with indorsement of the Chief of Engineers, dated April 19, 1887, on communication of E. F. Falconnet, consulting engineer,. to the honorable Secretary of War, herewith, I have the honor to submit the following report: The act of Congress authorizing the construction of the bridge in question provides that if the bridge be made with unbroken or continuous spans, the spans shall not be less than 164 feet in the clear, the main span to be over the main channel of the river, and the lowest part of the superstructure not less than 34 feet above extreme high-water mark; the bridge to be at right angles to, and its piers parallel with, the channel of the river. The proposed bridge is of this character, and the adopted plans and specifications for its construction provide for a higher bridge with wider spans than the act requires. The drawings provide for a bridge having a main or channel span 250 feet, and adjacent spans on either side 200 feet from center to center of piers. These spans in the clear will, therefore, be at the water's surface at ordinary stages about 235 feet and 185 feet, respectively. The height of the main span will be 44 feet above the highest recorded stage of the river, or 99 feet above low water. The plan shows that the bridge will be at right angles to the current, and the piers parallel therewith. The requirements of section 4 of the act, in regard to the preparation of a topographical map of the locality and its vicinity, have been substantially complied with; the map presented being a fair representation of the general characteristics of that section of the river. Pending the action of Congress upon the bill giving its consent to the construction of this bridge, objections were raised by adverse interests which were satisfied by a modification in the height of the bridge, which placed the superstructure 10 feet higher than was at first proposed. To insure the passage of the act during the then current session of Congress, and thus enable the construction of the bridge to go forward without loss of time, the consent of all parties was obtained to the passage of the act without amendment, upon the specific understanding that the bridge would be built 44 feet above high water, instead of 34 feet as specified in the act. As previously stated, the plans have been modified to conform to this increased height and contracts have been made in compliance therewith, and there now appears to be no opposition from any quarter to the construction of the bridge according to the modified plan; and as the greater includes the less in the matter of height, these plans are held to be in accord with the act above mentioned. The county of Davidson, Tennessee, the grantee, by and through its County Court and duly appointed and empowered Board of Bridge Commissioners, has accepted and is carrying out the plans submitted for the construction of the North Nashville Bridge, and has also accepted the provisions of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1887, in reference thereto, and the parties in interest have filed a paper, in duplicate, properly authenticated and transmitted herewith, setting forth these facts, in compliance with War Department rule, July 31, 1886. It is noted that on this paper the date is omitted when the meeting was held by the County Court accepting the provisions of the act, but it is certified as of record that it was during the April term of said court. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. J. W. BARLOW, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. LETTER OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J. W. BARLOW, CORPS OF EN GINEERS. ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, Chattanooga, Tenn., April 6, 1888. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a communication of March 31, from certain parties in interest, having reference to the height of the Davidson County Bridge over the Cumberland River, now constructing under the provisions of act approved March 3, 1887. (Public, 123.) The act provides for this bridge a height of 34 feet above extreme high water, but by a compromise with the opposing interests (represented by the within communication), the plans, etc., presented to the War Department under the act provided for a bridge at least 44 feet above extreme high water, and said plans were approved by the Secretary of War. It now appears that by reason of various unfortuitous contingencies, during the progress of construction, the height that will be secured is only 43 feet above extreme high water, and it is understood that now the parties in interest seek, through the inclosed communication, the approval of the Secretary of War to the change in height, under the provisions of section 4 of said act. Under the circumstances, and the reduction in height being comparatively small, I respectfully recommend that the "change of plan," so far as to authorize the construction of said bridge "having the lowest part of its superstructure at least 43 feet above extreme high-water mark as understood at the point of location," may be approved. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. J. W. BARLOW, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. [First indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, April 14, 1888. Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. It appears from the within communication from Lieut. Col. J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers, and its accompanying inclosure, that the approved plan of the bridge in question provides for a height of at least 44 feet above extreme high water, but that, owing to an error made in the early surveys for ascertaining the high-water mark in the Cumberland River, upon which the plans were based, the bridge as being constructed will only attain a height of 43 feet above extreme high water, which is stated by parties representing the opposing interests to be sufficient for their purposes, and who consent to the present grade and derrequest that it be approved by the Secretary of War. Colonel Barlow recommends that the change of plan so far as to authorize the construction of the bridge "having the lowest part of its superstructure at least 43 feet above extreme high-water mark as understood at the point of location" may be approved. No objection appears to authorizing the change of plan as requested, and it is accordingly recommended that it be approved under the provisions of section 4 of the act of March 3, 1887. J. C. DUANE, |
