EXTENDING THE TIMES FOR COMMENCING AND COMPLETING CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE OVER THE RED RIVER, FROM A POINT IN WALSH COUNTY, N. DAK. JUNE 28, 1939.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. RYAN, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6111] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6111) to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Red River at or near a point suitable to the interests of navigation, from a point in Walsh County, N. Dak., at or near the terminus of North Dakota State Highway No. 17, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended pass. do The amendments are as follows: Page 2, line 4, after "Highway", insert "Department". Page 2, line 8, strike out "1938", and insert "1939". The bill has the approval of the War and Agriculture Departments, as will appear by the letters attached. Hon. CLARENCE F. LEA, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. LEA: Careful consideration has been given to the bill, H. R. 6111, transmitted with your letter of May 3 with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the Department might desire to communicate. This bill would extend for 1 and 3 years, respectively, from June 16, 1938, the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Red River from a point in Walsh County, N. Dak., at or near the terminus of North Dakota State Highway No. 17, to a point in Marshall County, Minn., authorized by act of Congress approved June 16, 1938, to be built by the highway departments of North Dakota and Minnesota. It is suggested that the word "Department" be inserted in line 4, page 2, after the word "Highway". It is suggested also that the date June 16, 1938, appearing 2 in lines 7 and 8, page 2, obviously is intended to be June 16, 1939. The original authorization for the Highway Departments of Minnesota and North Dakota to construct this bridge was approved June 16, 1938, and under the General Bridge Act of March 23, 1906, 1 year from such date is allowed for commencing and 3 years for completing the construction of the bridge. The object of the bill, therefore, is to extend these times for 1 and 3 years, respectively, from June 16, 1939. If the bill is changed in line with the above suggestions, it would be without objection so far as this Department is concerned. Upon reference of this matter to the Bureau of the Budget. as required by Budget Circular 344, the Director thereof advised the Department of Agriculture under date of May 19, 1939, that there would be no objection on the part of that office to the submission of this report to Congress. Sincerely, HARRY L. BROWN, Acting Secretary. WAR DEPARTMENT, May 22, 1939. 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. 6111, Seventy-sixth Congress, first session, to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Red River at or near a point suitable to the interests of navigation, from a point in Walsh County, N. Dak., at or near the terminus of North Dakota State Highway No. 17. A minor correction necessary to the purpose of the bill is indicated in red thereon. This proposed report was submitted to the Bureau of the Budget which advises that there would be no objection to its submission to the committee. HARRY H. WOODRING, [PUBLIC NO. 461-75тH CONGRESS] [CHAPTER 65-3D SESSION] AN ACT Authorizing the State Highway Departments of North Dakota and Minnesota and the Boards of County Commissioners of Traill County, North Dakota, and Norman County, Minnesota, to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge across the Red River of the North between Caledonia, North Dakota, and Shelly, Minnesota. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of American in Congress assembled, That in order to facilitate interstate commerce, improve the postal service, and provide for military and other purposes, the State Highway Departments of North Dakota and Minnesota and the Boards of County Commissioners of Traill County, North Dakota, and Norman County, Minnesota, be, and are hereby, authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge and approaches thereto across the Red River of the North, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, between Caledonia, North Dakota, and Shelly, Minnesota, 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. There is hereby conferred upon the State Highway Departments of North Dakota and Minnesota and the Boards of County Commissioners of Traill County, North Dakota, and Norman County, Minnesota, 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 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 right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. BRIDGE OVER CONNECTICUT RIVER, AT OR NEAR HARTFORD, CONN. JUNE 28, 1939.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. O'TOOLE, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6353] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6353) granting the consent of Congress to the State of Connecticut, acting by and through any agency or commission thereof, to construct, maintain, and operate a toll bridge across the Connecticut River at or near Hartford, Conn., having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill, as amended do pass. The amendments are as follows: Page 2, line 11, strike out "forty", and insert "twenty-five". Page 2, line 14, after "tolls", insert a period and strike out the balance of line 14, all of lines 15, 16, 17, and "ment." in line 18. War DepartmENT, June 7, 1939. 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. 6353, Seventy-sixth Congress, first session, granting the consent of Congress to the State of Connecticut, acting by and through any agency or commission thereof, to construct, maintain, and operate a toll bridge across the Connecticut River at or near Hartford, Conn. This proposed report was submitted to the Bureau of the Budget, which advises that there would be no objection to its submission to the committee. HARRY H. WOODRING, Secretary of War. Hon. CLARENCE F. LEA, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULture, Washington, June 7, 1939. Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. LEA: Careful consideration has been given to the bill, H. R. 6353, transmitted with your letter of May 17, with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the Department might desire to communicate. This bill would authorize the State of Connecticut to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Connecticut River at or near Hartford. Section 2 provides that if tolls are charged for the use of such bridge the rates shall be so adjusted as to meet reasonable annual maintenance, repair, and operation costs and provide a sinking fund sufficient to amortize the cost of the bridge and its approaches within not to exceed 40 years from the completion thereof. After a sinking fund sufficient for such amortization shall have been so provided, the bridge thereafter would have to be maintained and operated free of tolls or the rates of toll would have to be so adjusted as to provide a fund not to exceed the amount necessary for maintenance, repair, and operation costs. The Department questions the advisability of a toll bridge at the point proposed. If such bridge is constructed and operated as a toll bridge, it is believed that it should be able to provide for annual maintenance, repair, and operation costs and create a fund for amortization of its construction cost within a period considerably less than 40 years. It would seem that 25 years should be sufficient for this purpose. It is believed also that if such bridge should be constructed and operated as a toll bridge it should be made free as soon as a sinking fund sufficient to amortize its construction cost shall have been provided. It therefore is suggested that the word "forty", line 11, page 2, be changed to "twenty-five". It also is suggested that a period be inserted after the word "tolls", in line 14, page 2, and that the remainder of that sentence be stricken out down to and including the word "management", in lines 17 and 18, page 2. If the bill is changed in line with the above suggestions, this Department will interpose no objection to it. Upon reference of this matter to the Bureau of the Budget, as required by Budget Circular 344, the Director thereof advised the Department of Agriculture, under date of May 31, 1939, that there would be no objection on the part of that office to the submission of this report to your committee. Sincerely, TOLL BRIDGE OVER THE ST. LOUIS RIVER, BETWEEN THE STATES OF MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN JUNE 28, 1939.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. YOUNGDAHL, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT (To accompany H. R. 6475) The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6475) to authorize the city of Duluth, in the State of Minnesota, to construct a toll bridge across the St. Louis River, between the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendments are as follows: Page 2, line 14, after "to", insert "a point in". Page 2, line 15, strike out "consin, in" and insert "consin as approved, within a reasonable time, by the City Council of the City of Superior, Wisconsin,' Page 3, line 18, after "exceeding", strike out "twenty-five" and insert "twenty". Page 3, line 23, after "exceeding", strike out "forty" and insert "thirty". Page 5, strike out all of lines 11 to 17, inclusive, and in line 18 strike out "such conditions." and insert "Duluth as a free bridge." The bill has the approval of the War and Agriculture Departments, as will appear by the letters attached. Hon. CLARENCE F. LEA, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR MR. LEA: Careful consideration has been given to the bill, H. R. 6475, transmitted with your letter of May 24, 1939, with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the Department might desire to communicate. |