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BRIDGE ACROSS CHOCTAWHATCHEE RIVER NEAR

FREEPORT, FLA.

JANUARY 14, 1932.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

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

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 5066]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5066) to extend the time for constructing a bridge across the Choctawhatchee River, east of Freeport, in Walton County, Fla., having considered and amended the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass.

Amend the bill as follows:

Page 1, line 4, after the word "of" strike out the word "the" and insert the word "a" in lieu thereof; line 6, after the word "by" strike out the word "the" and insert the word "an" in lieu thereof; line 7, strike out the date "May 26, 1928," and insert the date "June 18, 1930," in lieu thereof; line 7, strike out the word "one" and insert the word "two" in lieu thereof; line 8, strike out the word "three" and insert the word "four" in lieu thereof; line 8, strike out the date "May 26, 1930," and insert the date "June 18, 1931," in lieu thereof. Amend the title so as to read:

To extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Choctawhatchee River, east of Freeport, in Walton County, Florida.

The act of Congress referred to in the bill is as follows:

[PUBLIC-No. 383-71sT CONGRESS]

[S. 4585]

AN ACT Authorizing the State of Florida, through its highway department, to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge across the Choctaw hatchee River, near Freeport, Florida

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 State of Florida, through and by its highway department, be, and is hereby, authorized

to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge and approaches thereto across the Choctawhatchee River, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, east of Freeport, Florida, connecting the counties of Washington and Walton, Florida, in accordance with the provisions of an act entitled "An act to regulate the construction of bridges over navigable waters," approved March 23, 1906. SEC. 2. There is hereby conferred upon the State of Florida, through its highway department, all such rights and powers to enter upon land 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. The righɩ to alter, amend, or repeal this act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, June 18, 1930.

The bill has the approval of the War and Agriculture Departments, as will appear by the letters attached.

WAR DEPARTMENT, December 22, 1931. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives.

So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration of the accompanying bill (H. R. 5066, 72d Cong., 1st sess.) to extend the time for constructing a bridge across the Choctawhatchee River, east of Freeport, in Walton County, Fla., if amended as indicated in red thereon.

Hon. SAM RAYBURN,

PATRICK J. HURLEY,
Secretary of War.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
Washington, December 23, 1931.

Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce,

House of Representatives.

DEAR MR. RAYBURN: Careful consideration has been given to the bill H. R. 5066, transmitted with your letter of December 16 with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate.

This bill would extend for one and three years, respectively, from May 26, 1930, the times for commencing and completing the construction of the bridge across the Choctawhatchee River, east of Freeport, Walton County, Fla., authorized by act of Congress approved May 26, 1928, to be built by the State Road Department of Florida. The location of the proposed bridge is not on the system of Federal-aid highways approved for Florida, but the proposed extension of time within which the State may commence and complete the construction of the bridge is without objection so far as this department is concerned. Attention, however, is called to the fact that the period of extension proposed would be from May 26, 1930, whereas it no doubt was intended to be from May 26, 1931. This matter is called to the attention of the committee so that appropriate correction may be made before action thereon.

Sincerely yours.

R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary.

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BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEAR THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, LA.

JANUARY 14, 1932.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

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

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 5131]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5131) to extend the time for completing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River near and above the city of New Orleans, La., having considered and amended the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass.

Amend the bill as follows:

Page 1, line 3, strike out the word "times" and insert the word "time" in lieu thereof. Line 3 strike out the words "commencing and". Line 10 strike out the word "are" and insert the word "is" in lieu thereof.

Hon. Paul H. Maloney, who introduced this bill, has submitted the following information with reference thereto :

Hon. SAM RAYBURN,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., January 14, 1932.

Chairman Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee,

House of Representatives.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: With reference to H. R. 5131, to extend the time for completing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River near and above the city of New Orleans, in compliance with the request of your committee for information as to just what the parties authorized to build this bridge have done toward carrying out such authority, I submit the following:

The firm of Modjeski, Masters & Chase is employed as engineers for construction and bids referred to have been based on completed plans prepared by said firm.

The expenditures for bridge purposes to date amount to $600,000. The land for approaches on both sides of the river have been purchased. Contract had been determined upon between the Southern Pacific Railroad and the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad for the use of the bridge by said company.

HR-72-1-VOL 1- -12

The State of Louisiana under constitutional authorization will contribute $7,000,000 toward the construction of said bridge.

Bids have been received covering the construction of the bridge. Contracts for construction with the lowest and successful bidders have not been executed because of inability to market bonds, the proceeds from the sale of which will be used to pay for the construction of the bridge. The bond market, as is well known, is not conducive to the sale of low rate interest bonds at favorable prices and therefore the State and city have not been able to proceed with the construction of the bridge until the bonds are sold.

Successful bidders for materials and construction of the bridge have agreed to an extension of six months for the execution of contracts covering material and construction to expire June 30, 1932. It is expected that within a period of six months bonds may be marketed and contracts let for materials and construction actually begun.

Every effort has been made and will continue to be made with the minimum of delay to begin and complete the construction of the bridge.

The Interstate Commerce Commission has extended the date for beginning of construction for July 1, 1932.

Very truly yours,

PAUL H. MALONEY, M. C. By H. C. EUSTIS, Secretary.

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

[PUBLIC NO. 98-68TH CONGRESS]

[S. 2656]

AN ACT Granting the consent of Congress to the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River near and above the city of New Orleans, Louisiana

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the consent of Congress is hereby granted to the city of New Orleans, a municipal corporation existing under the laws of the State of Louisiana, its successors and assigns, through its Public Belt Railroad Commission, as authorized by the constitution of the State of Louisiana, to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Mississippi River, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, near and above the said city, in accordance with the provisions of an act entitled "An act to regulate the construction of bridges over navigable waters," approved March 23, 1906.

SEC. 2. That this act shall be null and void unless the construction of said bridge is commenced within two years and completed within five years from the date of approval hereof.

SEC. 3. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this act is hereby expressly reserved.

Approved, April 17, 1924.

[PUBLIC NO. 502-70TH CONGRESS]

[S. 4229]

AN ACT To extend the time for completing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River near and above the city of New Orleans, Louisiana

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the time for completing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River near and above the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, authorized by act of Congress approved April 17, 1924, to be built by the city of New Orleans, a municipal corporation existing under the laws of the State of Louisiana, its successors and assigns, through its Public Belt Railroad Commission, is hereby extended five years from the date of the approval hereof: Provided, That it shall not be lawful to continue the construction of said bridge until plans thereof shall again be submitted to and approved by the Chief of Engineers and by the Secretary of War.

SEC. 2. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, May 24, 1928.

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