[Second indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, D. C., October 20, 1887. Respectfully forwarded to the Secretary of War, with formal instrument for his approval (prepared in duplicate) of the design and drawings and map of the location of the bridge proposed to be built by the Georgia Pacific Railroad Company across the Sunflower River, in the State of Mississippi. G. NORMAN LIEBER, Acting Judge-Advocate-General. LETTER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, October 22, 1887. SIR: In reply to your letter of the 30th ultimo, transmitting, for approval by the Department, plans of a bridge proposed to be constructed across the Yazoo River by the Georgia Pacific Railway Company, I have the honor to inclose, for the information of the company, a copy of a report upon the proposed bridge by Capt. J. H. Willard, Corps of Engineers, with accompanying tracing, as suggested by the Acting Chief of Engineers, a copy of whose report of the 14th instant is also herewith. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, I. Y. SAGE, Esq., WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, Secretary of War. Birmingham, Ala. General Manager Georgia Pacific Railway Company, LETTER OF THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE GEORGIA PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY. THE GEORGIA PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY, Birmingham, Ala., January 23, 1888. DEAR SIR: The Georgia Pacific Railway Company desire to submit for the approval of the War Department the inclosed plans for constructing the draw-bridge across the Yazoo River. These plans have been prepared in accordance with the suggestion of William C. Endicott, Secretary of War, October 22, 1887, based upon the recommendations of Charles W. Raymond, Acting Chief of Engineers, October 14, 1887, transmitting the report of J. H. Willard, Captain of Engineers, August 30, 1887. Yours, very truly, CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. I. Y. SAGE, First indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. The within plans for the proposed bridge of the Georgia Pacific Railway Company across the Yazoo River, prepared under authority granted by an act approved March 3, 1887, are in accordance with the requirements of the War Department, and are recommended for approval, subject to the condition that such services be maintained by the railroad company as may be necessary to insure prompt opening of the draw on reasonable signal, and that such signals be displayed as are customary, or as are now and may hereafter be prescribed by the Light-House Department. The previous papers in the case were submitted to the War Department with indorsement of this office, dated October 14, 1887. J. C. DUANE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. [Second indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, Respectfully referred to the Acting Judge-Advocate-General to prepare the formal approval, in duplicate, with conditions as proposed by the Chief of Engineers. By order of the Secretary of War. JOHN TWEEDALE, Chief Clerk. [Third indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, JUDGE-ADVOCATE GENERAL'S OFFICE, Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War, with formal instrument (prepared in duplicate), for his approval of the plans and location of the bridge proposed to be built by the Georgia Pacific Railroad Company across the Yazoo River, in the State of Mississippi. Attention is invited to the fact that the extracts from the company's minutes, purporting to show the names of the officers of the company, are extracts from the minutes of meetings held respectively November 29 and December 18, 1886, at which meetings officers and directors were elected for the then ensuing year. There is nothing to show that the officers then elected are the present officers of the company. G. NORMAN LIEBER, Acting Judge-Advocate-General. LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE GEORGIA PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY. THE GEORGIA PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY, Birmigham, Ala., March 24, 1888. SIR Referring to your favors, October 21, 1887, and February 4, 1888, to I. Y. Sage, general manager, relative to the Sunflower River Bridge of this company, and to other letters relative to the Yazoo River Bridge of this company, I beg to explain that the delay in signing and returning the papers has been due to the fact that an error appears in the act of Congress approved March 3, 1887, in that the corporate name of this company is given as the "Georgia Pacific Railroad Company." Under the circumstances it was thought best to withhold the papers until another act of Congress could be gotten correcting this mistake and giving longer time within which to build the bridges. I have now advices from Senator George that the necessary bill has been passed in the Senate, and Representative Allen writes me that he hopes to pass this bill through the House next week. We have recently sent to the office of the Chief of Engineers plans for our proposed bridge over the Tombigbee River, which bridge is covered by the same acts of Congress, and I hope that the papers for this bridge also can soon be gotten in shape for proper execution. So soon as the pending act of Congress becomes a law I will be prepared to execute the papers as to the Sunflower and Yazoo River bridges, and will do so and promptly return them to you. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. W. JOHNSTON, President Georgia Pacific Railway Company. Hon. WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, Secretary of War. LETTER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, April 28, 1888. SIR: Referring to Department letter to you of the 25th instant, relative to the bridges authorized to be erected by the Georgia Pacific Railway Company across the Yazoo and Tombigbee rivers, I have the honor to state that by inadvertence two copies of the instrument indicating approval of the plans of the bridge across the Yazoo River were transmitted to you, and to request that you return one of the copies in question to the Department. I inclose for retention by your company a duly-executed copy of an instrument indicating approval by the Secretary of War, under certain specified conditions, of the location and plans of the bridge authorized to be constructed by the company over the Sunflower River, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1887, and the amendatory act approved April 2, 1888. Very respectfully, Mr. J. W. JOHNSTON, WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, Birmingham, Ala. President Georgia Pacific Railway Company, LETTER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE GEORGIA PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY. THE GEORGIA PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY, Birmingham, Ala., May 5, 1888. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your favor, 28th ultimo, inclosing for retention by this company an executed copy of the instrument containing the approval of the Secretary of War for the erection by this company of its proposed bridge across the Sunflower River. As requested by you, I beg to return herewith one copy of the executed instrument, indicating approval by the Secretary of War of the plans for the bridge proposed to be erected by this company across the Yazoo River, said paper having been sent to this office through mistake. With thanks for your kind and prompt attention in these matters, I am, Hon. WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, Secretary of War. President. W W 18. HIGH BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT DUBUQUE, IOWA, AUTHORIZED BY ACT OF CONGRESS APPROVED FEBRUARY 21, 1887. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Rock Island, Ill., January 13, 1887. GENERAL: In my letter of August 31, 1886, I brought to the notice of the Department that a high bridge was in course of construction at Dubuque in lieu of the ponton bridge authorized by act of Congress approved May 29, 1884. I further stated that, "although the proposed height of bridge (over the channel) is but 50 feet, while if the plans had been submitted 55 feet would have been recommended," yet the high bridge, if built as proposed by the company, "would be less of an obstruction to navigation than the ponton bridge authorized by law." By indorsements on my letter of August 31, 1886, I was instructed to forward plans, etc., for the action of the Secretary of War. After considerable delay in obtaining the papers from the bridge company, I now have the honor to forward herewith the following documents duly authenticated: (1) Articles of incorporation of the Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company, with amendments thereto. (2) Proceedings of East Dubuque Bridge Company, (holding the charter for the ponton bridge under act of May 29, 1884), transferring their rights to the Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company, and approving the change from a ponton bridge to a high bridge. (3) Records of first meeting of Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company. (4) Plan and elevation of proposed high bridge under construction by Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company. (5) Details of piers. The drawings show the elevation of lower chord of long span at from 51 to 55 feet above extreme high-water mark, which will permit the pas sage of any boat now in use on the Upper Mississippi River. The arrangements of piers and location are good, and, as I stated in my letter of August 31, 1886, I believe the proposed bridge to be less of an ob struction to navigation than the ponton bridge authorized by law. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. MACKENZIE, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. Major of Engineers. [First indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, September 26, 1887. Respectfully returned to Maj. A. Mackenzie for report. Major Mackenzie is requested to ascertain whether the high bridge now being built across the Mississippi River at Dubuque is the one referred to in the act of Congress approved February 21, 1887, and, if so, whether in his opinion such wagon bridge is a "substantial obstruction to the navigation of said river." He will also report whether the bridge is being constructed upon the location and according to the plan inclosed herewith. If the bridge in question is correctly represented, or if changes have been made, drawings of the bridge as it is being built should be submitted in duplicate by the bridge company. By command of Brigadier-General Duane. [Second indorsement.] JAS. C. POST, Major of Engineers. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers. (1) The high wagon bridge built at Dubuque, Iowa, by the "Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company" is the bridge referred to in the act of Congress approved February 21, 1887. (2) This bridge has been constructed upon the location and according to plans originally presented by the above-named company and now accompanying this paper. (3) This bridge is not a "substantial obstruction to the navigation of said river." For reasons upon which above conclusions are based, reference is made to my report dated February 2, 1888, inclosed herewith. The duplicate plans of bridge as built are sent herewith, as requested. A. MACKENZIE, Major of Engineers. [Third indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War, through the Acting Judge-Advocate-General, U. S. Army. The bridge within referred to was originally authorized by act of Congress approved March 3, 1875, to be built as a ponton bridge, which act was modified by an act approved May 29, 1884, and finally, by act approved February 21, 1887, authorized to be built as a high wagon and foot-passenger bridge. The bridge is already constructed under the lastnamed act, and, as will appear from the accompanying report of Maj. A. Mackenzie, Corps of Engineers, dated February 2 last, has been constructed upon the location and according to the accompanying plans, and furnishes reasonable accommodation to the steam-boats now navigating the Upper Mississippi River, and is no "substantial obstruction to the navigation of said river." |