BRIDGE ACROSS ALLEGHENY RIVER AT OR NEAR JANUARY 23, 1931.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. WYANT, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 15862] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 15862) granting the consent of Congress to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge across the Allegheny River at or near Emlenton, Venango County, Pa., having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. The bill has the approval of the War and Agriculture Departments, as will appear by the letters attached. WAR DEPARTMENT, January 15, 1981. 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. 15862, Seventy-first Congress, third session, granting the consent of Congress to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to construct a free highway bridge across the Allegheny River at or near Emlenton, Venango County, Pa. Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, PATRICK J. HURLEY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR MR. PARKER: Careful consideration has been given to the bill, H. R. 15862, transmitted with your letter of January 8 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 Pennsylvania to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge and approaches thereto across the Allegheny River at or near Emlenton, Venango County, Pa. Favorable action on the bill is recommended. Sincerely, R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. O 3d Session No. 2352 BRIDGE ACROSS MISSOURI RIVER AT OR NEAR RULO, NEBR. JANUARY 23, 1931.-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. 15869] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 15869) to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Missouri River at or near Rulo, Nebr., having considered and amended the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. Amend the bill as follows: Line 6, correct the name "T. C. Davies" to read "T. L. Davies"; correct "Huthings" to read "Hutchings". Line 8, after the figures "1928" insert the following, "heretofore extended by Act of Congress approved June 10, 1930,". Line 9, after the word "hereby" insert the word "further". Line 10, after the word "from" strike out the words "the date of approval thereof" and insert "March 29, 1931" in lieu thereof. The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached. WAR DEPARTMENT, January 15, 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. 15869, Seventy-first Congress, third session, to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Missouri River at or near Rulo, Nebr., if amended as indicated in red thereon. PATRICK J. HURLEY, HR-71-3-VOL 1-55 Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. PARKER: Careful consideration has been given to the bill, H. R. 15869, transmitted with your letter of January 8, 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 the date of its approval, the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Missouri River at or near Rulo, Nebr., authorized by act of Congress approved March 29, 1928, to be built by John C. Mullen et al. When the original bill to authorize the construction of this bridge by the parties named was pending in Congress, this department reported adversely thereon. It still is the view of the department that a private toll bridge should not be authorized at this point. Furthermore, the parties named in the authorization certainly have had ample time within which to arrange for the commencement of the construction of the bridge if they have been in position to do so, and the fact that they have been unable to do so indicates that to authorize them to construct a bridge merely had the effect of tying up the location in the hands of people who were unable to proceed with the improvement contemplated. Almost three years have elapsed since the original authorization, and the department would recommend against any extension of time from that already allowed by law. Sincerely, R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. The Hon. John H. Morehead, who introduced this bill, has submitted the following information with respect thereto :" HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., January 22, 1931. INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE COMMITTEE, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: I have your communication in reference to H. R. 15869, introduced by me, asking for an extension of time for constructing the Rulo Bridge at Rulo, Nebr. The building of a bridge like the one contemplated involves a large sum of money. The largest towns on the Nebraska and Missouri sides of the river are only a few thousand, and the people are very anxious to have the bridge constructed owing to their limited property holdings and are not financially able to help finance the undertaking. On both sides of the river is a very productive agricultural section of the country and so much of the year, ferry boats can not be operated owing to the high water and ice-hence all the more reason for a bridge. Since I have been in Congress, I have succeeded in getting two bridges constructed-one at Nebraska City and one at Plattsmouth, Nebr. They were built by the Woods Bros. of Lincoln, Nebr., financed by themselves and the people at the two towns mentioned. A bridge at Rulo would serve a large section of the country and be a great convenience as it is about 60 miles below the Nebraska City bridge and about the same distance from the Atachison bridge of Kansas. Rulo is in my home county and I am thoroughly acquainted with the section of the country and know that a bridge located at Rulo would be a great convenience. Not only as an official, but as a citizen of the county, I am exceedingly anxious to have favorable action taken by the committee and by Congress in granting this franchise. The only objections I have ever heard by those who are opposed to a toll bridge is the method adopted by those who build the bridge in financing it. I haven't always approved of their methods, but no one is compelled to take stock in a corporation, and the convenience afforded those who are adjacent or in close proximity to the bridge are the traveling public, which convenience largely exceeds the toll charge. My home town is within 10 miles of Rulo and often I have business matters just across the river in Missouri. At the present time I am compelled to drive 200 miles to make the trip that could be made with a bridge at the location described, a distance of 30 or 40 miles. I will be glad to come before your committee if any further statement that I could make should be deemed necessary by your committee. Yours very truly, о JOHN H. Morehead. BRIDGE ACROSS OHIO RIVER AT OR NEAR SHAWNEETOWN, ILL. JANUARY 23, 1931.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. DENISON, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 16033] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 16033) to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Ohio River at or near Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Ill., and a point opposite thereto in Union County, Ky., having considered and amended the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. Amend the bill as follows: Page 2, line 1, after the figures "1928," insert the following: "heretofore extended by the act of Congress approved June 20, 1929,". Line 2, after the word "hereby" insert the word "further". The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached: WAR DEPARTMENT, January 15, 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. 16033, 71st Cong., 3d sess.), to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Ohio River at or near Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Ill., and a point opposite thereto in Union County, Ky., if amended as indicated in red thereon. PATRICK J. HURLEY, Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. PARKER: Careful consideration has been given to the bill H. R. 16033, transmitted with your letter of January 12 with request for a report |