53 STAT.J
76TH CONG. , 18T SESS.-CH. 139-MAY 17, 1939
[CHAPTER 139]
AN ACT
Creating the Arkansas-Mississippi Bridge Commission; defining the authority,
power, and duties of said Commission; and authorizing said Commission and its
successors and assigns to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the
Mississippi River at or near Friar Point, Mississippi, and Helena, Arkansas, and
for other purposes.
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 Arkansas-Mississippi Bridge
Commission (hereinafter created, and hereinafter referred to as the
"Commission"), and its successors and assigns, be, and are hereby,
authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and
approaches thereto, across the Mississippi River at or near the cities
of Friar Point, Mississippi, and Helena, Arkansas, at a point suitable
to the interest of navigation, in accordance with the provisions of
the Act entitled "An Act to regulate the construction of bridges over
navigable waters", approved March 23, 1906, subject to the conditions
and limitations contained in this Act.
SEC. 2. There is hereby conferred upon the Commission and its
successors and assigns the right and power to enter upon such lands
and to acquire, condemn, occupy, possess, and use such real estate
and other property in the State of Arkansas and the State of
Mississippi, as may be needed for the location, construction, opera-
tion, and maintenance of any such bridge and its approaches, upon
making just compensation therefor, to be ascertained and paid accord-
ing to the laws of the State in which such real estate or other
property is situated, and the proceedings therefor shall be the same
as in the condemnation of private property for public purposes in
said State, respectively. The Commission, its successors, and assigns
is further authorized to enter into agreements with the States of
Arkansas and Mississippi, and any political subdivision thereof, for
the acquisition, lease, or use of any lands or property owned by such
State or political subdivision.
SEC. 3 . The Commission and its successors and assigns are hereby
authorized to fix and charge tolls for transit over such bridge in
accordance with the provisions of this Act, subject to the approval of
the Secretary of War, as provided by the Act of Congress approved
March 23, 1906.
SEC. 4. The Commission and its successors and assigns are hereby
authorized to provide for the payment of the cost of such bridge as
may be constructed, as provided herein, and approaches (including
the approach highways which, in the judgment of the Commission,
it is necessary or advisable to construct or cause to be constructed to
provide suitable and adequate connection with existing improved
highways) and the necessary lands, easements, and appurtenances
thereto, by an issue or issues of negotiable bonds of the Commission,
bearing interest at the rate or rates of not more than 6 per centum
per annum, the principal and interest of which bonds, and any pre-
mium to be paid for retirement thereof before maturity, shall be
payable solely from the sinking fund provided in accordance with
this Act, and such payments may be further secured by a mortgage
of the bridge. All such bonds may be registrable as to principal
alone, or both principal and interest, shall be in such form not incon-
sistent with this Act, shall mature at such time or times not exceeding
twenty-five years from their respective dates, shall be in such denomi-
nations, shall be executed in such manner, and shall be payable in such
medium and at such place or places, as the Commission may deter-
98907°-39-Tr 2---16
747
May 17, 1939
IS.964]
[Public, No. 80]
Mississippi River.
Bridge authorized
across,
near Friar
Point, Miss.,
and
Helena, Ark.
34 Stat. 84.
33U.S.C.§§491-
498.
Acquisition of real
estate, etc.
Agreements author-
ized.
Tolls authorized.
Bond issue to pro-
vide for payment of
cost.
Interest, maturity,
etc.
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