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BUREAU OF STANDARDS

Forms which cease to have any reference value, and the disposal of which would not affect any status or action for the calendar year 1929:

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O

BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSOURI RIVER AT OR NEAR RANDOLPH, MO.

FEBRUARY 12, 1932.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

Mr. MILLIGAN, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 8072]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 8072) to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Missouri River at or near Randolph, Mo., having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it do pass.

The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached.

Hon. Joseph B. Shannon, who introduced this bill, has submitted the following information with reference thereto.

Hon. JOSEPH B. SHANNON,

KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN RAILWAY CO.,
Kansas City, Mo., February 10, 1932.

Member of Congress, Washington, D. C.

DEAR MR. SHANNON: Mr. Thomas P. Littlepage has forwarded to me the letter from your secretary under date of January 23 asking that we supply you with all the evidence we desire to file in support of H. R. 8072, which provides for an extension of the time within which the Kansas City Southern Railway Co. may construct a bridge over the Missouri River near Randolph.

This is the proposed bridge which we discussed with you in 1928, when you kindly arranged for former Congressman Combs to introduce and secure the passage of the original bill. A map showing the location of the bridge and surroundings is inclosed.

I submit the following statement:

Our company has purchased a considerable amount of acreage in East Kansas City, Mo., adjacent to the proposed bridge, with a view to constructing a joint terminal for the interchange of business at Kansas City, principally for the lines of railroads entering Kansas City from the east and north and including the Kansas City Southern. This transportation yard, when constructed, will make unnecessary the handling through the congested part of Kansas City of a large amount of freight, since the interchange between the lines using the yard can be accomplished in that yard. Furthermore, drags of cars going to each of the

HR-72-1-VOL 1-42

other railroads can be consolidated and a substantial number of movements can be eliminated and the expense correspondingly reduced. A large amount of north and south traffic can, by the use of the proposed yard, move, with only slight interruption, to the north or the south, without passing through the center and congested section of Kansas City, known as the "goose neck," thereby avoiding the delays necessarily incident to such movement through a large city. At the present time the interchange of carload business between the various lines in Kansas City is the cause of a great deal of congestion and delay during peak seasons and is very expensive.

The construction of the proposed bridge is necessary in order to provide a short direct route by which the lines to the north and east may reach the proposed transportation yard.

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The Wabash Railway Co., Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Co. and Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific Railway Co. passenger trains now enter Kansas City from the north and east through Birmingham, passing thence through north Kansas City over the Hannibal Bridge and around which is called the Burlington 'Goose Neck" to the Union Station. The cut-off through Sheffield, that will be provided by the proposed bridge, would mean a saving of a distance of 2 miles in the handling of the passenger business of those lines. As already explained, also, the proposed bridge is necessary in order to make the proposed transportation yard function advantageously.

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives held a hearing on March 17, 1928, with reference to the proposed bridge, as a result of which they recommended the passage of the bill authorizing the bridge, and the said bill was passed, and approved May 24, 1928.

Shortly after the bill authorizing the construction of the bridge was passed, we presented definite plans for the location and design of the structure to the Secretary of War for his approval. This matter took considerable time, since the War Department now goes into the question of the effect of a proposed bridge upon flood protection, as well as the matters which it had previously been accustomed to investigate. The War Department approved the plans and location of the proposed bridge in May, 1929.

We have had numerous conferences with the officers of other railroad companies entering Kansas City, with a view to having them join in the construction and use of the proposed bridge and transportation yard. The entire project involves an expenditure of from $8,000,000 to $12,000,000, and our company has already expended over $500,000 in purchasing the land for the transportation yard.

The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railway Co. and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Co. have both been greatly interested in the construction of the proposed bridge, especially since the Rock Island and the Milwaukee joined in the construction of a more direct line, with low grades, between Birmingham, Mo., and the vicinity of Cameron, Mo.

On account of the depression, however, the times have not been favorable for the financing of such a project, and the railroad companies have not been in position to undertake a work of that magnitude by means of their own funds. In fact, for the last year, as you well know, the railroads have been compelled to cut all expenditures to those which were absolutely necessary, and have not been in position to undertake any work of the above character. All that can be done is to wait for the improvement of business and financial conditions.

This project is the result of mature judgment on our part to provide more adequate terminal facilities for handling the railroad traffic at Kansas City. The Kansas City Southern has developed the plan and has expended to date a large sum for property necessary in connection therewith.

In peak business periods the demand for such an improvement is very great and we should be in position to proceed just as soon as general conditions improve to the extent that the railroads interested may finance their respective parts of the project.

I trust that the above information will be sufficient to enable the committee to approve the bill for the extension of time for the proposed bridge. If it is desired, however, I shall be glad to appear before them for the purpose of making further explanations and answering any questions that may be asked.

Yours very truly,

C. E. JOHNSTON.

The acts of Congress referred to in the bill are as follows:

[PUBLIC NO. 500-70TH CONGRESS]

[H. R. 11338]

AN ACT Authorizing the Kansas City Southern Railway Company, its successors and assigns, to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Missouri River near Randolph, Missouri

-Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in order to promote interstate commerce, improve the Postal Service, and provide for military and other purposes, the Kansas City Southern Railway Company, its successors and assigns, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Missouri River, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, at or near a point approximately one mile southeast of Randolph, Missouri, 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. The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, its successors and assigns, is authorized to construct, maintain, and operate such bridge and the necessary approaches thereto as a railroad bridge for the passage of railway trains or street cars, or both, or as a highway bridge for the passage of pedestrians, animals, and vehicles, adapted to travel on public highways, or as a combined railroad and highway bridge for all such purposes; and there is hereby conferred upon the said the Kansas City Southern Railway Company, 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, operation, and maintenance 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. After the completion of such bridge, as determined by the Secretary of War, if the same is constructed as a highway bridge only, either the State of Missouri, any political subdivision thereof, within or adjoining which any part of such bridge is located, or any two or more of them jointly, may at any time acquire and take over all right, title, and interest in such bridge and its approaches, and any interest in real property necessary therefor, by purchase or by condemnation, in accordance with the laws of such State governing the acquisition of private property for public purposes by condemnation or expropriation. If at any time after the expiration of twenty years after the completion of such bridge the same is acquired by condemnation or expropriation, the amount of damages or compensation to be allowed shall not include good will, going value, or prospective revenues or profits, but shall be limited to the sum of (1) the actual cost of constructing such bridge and its approaches, less a reasonable deduction for actual depreciation in values; (2) the actual cost of acquiring such interests in real property; (3) actual financing and promotion cost, not to exceed 10 per centum of the sum of the cost of constructing the bridge and its approaches and acquiring such interests in real property; and (4) actual expenditures for necessary improvements.

SEC. 4. If such bridge shall at any time be taken over or acquired by the State of Missouri or by any municipality or other political subdivision or public agency thereof, under the provisions of section 3 of this act, and if tolls are charged for the use thereof, the rates of toll 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 amount paid therefor including reasonable interest and financing cost, as soon as possible under reasonable charges, but within a period of not to exceed twenty years from the date of acquiring the same. After a 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 amount paid for acquiring the bridge and its approaches, the actual expenditures for

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