WAR DEPARTMENT, January 26, 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. 16334, 71st Cong., 3d sess.) to extend the times for the commencement and completion of the bridge of the county of Norman and the town and village of Halstad, in said county, in the State of Minnesota, and the county of Traill and the town of Herberg, in said county, in the State of North Dakota, across the Red River of the North on the boundary line between said States, if amended as indicated in red thereon. Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, PATRICK J. HURLEY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Washington, D. C., January 26, 1931. Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. PARKER: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (H. R. 16334) transmitted with your letter of January 20, 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 thereof, the times for commencing and completing the construction of the bridge authorized by act of Congress approved July 1, 1922, to be built by the county of Norman and the town and village of Halstad, said county, State of Minnesota, and the county of Traill and the town of Herberg, said county, State of North Dakota, across the Red River of the North, boundary line between said States. The location indicated for the proposed bridge is on the system of Federal-aid highways approved for the States of North Dakota and Minnesota. Favorable action on the bill is recommended. Sincerely, O R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. 3d Session No. 2506 BRIDGE ACROSS BLACK RIVER AT OR NEAR FEBRUARY 5, 1931.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. PARKS, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 16337] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 16337) to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Black River at or near Pocahontas, Ark., having considered and amended the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. Amend the bill as follows: In lines 7 and 8, after the word "respectively", change the period to a comma and add "from April 12, 1931." The bill has the approval of the War and Agriculture Departments, as will appear by the letters attached. WAR DEPARTMENT, January 24, 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. 16337, 71st Cong., 3d sess.), to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Black River at or near Pocahontas, Ark., 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. 16337) transmitted with your letter of January 19 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, the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Black River at or near Pocahontas, Ark., authorized to be built by the Arkansas Highway Commission by act of Congress approved April 12, 1930. The bill does not name any date from which the extension of time shall run. It, therefore, is suggested that there be added a comma after the word "respectively" in lines 7 and 8, together with the following additional language: "from the date of approval hereof." Subject to the above suggested change, the bill is without objection so far as this department is concerned. Sincerely, R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. The act of Congress approved April 12, 1930, is as follows: [PUBLIC NO. 119-71ST CONGRESS] [H. R. 8143] AN ACT Granting the consent of Congress to the Arkansas State Highway Commission to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge across the Black River at or near Pocahontas, Arkansas 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 Arkansas State Highway Commission to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge and approaches thereto across the Black River, at a point suitable to the interest of navigation, at or near Pocahontas, Arkansas, 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. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this act is hereby expressly reserved. BRIDGE ACROSS MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT OR NEAR BATON ROUGE, LA. February 5, 1931.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. RAYBURN, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 16246] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 16246) to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River at or near Baton Rouge, La., having considered and amended the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. Amend the bill as follows: Line 11, strike out the figures "1932" and insert the figures "1931" in lieu thereof. The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached, as follows: WAR DEPARTMENT, January 24, 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. 16246, 71st Cong., 3d sess.) to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River at or near Baton Rouge, La., if amended as indicated in red thereon. Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, PATRICK J. HURLEY, 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. 16246) transmitted with your letter of January 17 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 February 20, 1932, the times for commencing and completing the construction of the bridge across the Mississippi River at or near Baton Rouge, La., authorized to be built by the Baton Rouge-Mississippi River Bridge Co., its successors and assigns, by act of Congress approved February 20, 1928, and heretofore extended by acts of Congress approved January 25, 1929, and June 10, 1930. When the original bill to authorize the construction of this private toll bridge at the point proposed was pending, this department submitted an adverse report thereon. It still is the view of the department that a private toll bridge should not be constructed at this point. Furthermore, almost three years have elapsed since the original authorization was granted and the pending bill proposes to allow until February 20, 1933, within which to commence construction of the bridge and until February 20, 1935, for its completion. The department would recommend against any further extension of time to the beneficaries of the original authorization granted by Congress for the construction of this bridge. Sincerely, R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. The acts of Congress referred to in the bill are as follows: [PUBLIC NO. 62-70TH CONGRESS] [H. R. 6487] AN ACT Authorizing the Baton Rouge-Mississippi River Bridge Company, its successors and assigns, to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Mississippi River at or near Baton Rouge, Louisiana 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 Baton Rouge-Mississippi River Bridge Company, its successors and assigns, be, and is hereby authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Mississippi River at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, at or near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 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 Baton Rouge-Mississippi River Bridge Company, its succesors 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 Baton Rouge-Mississippi River Bridge 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 Louisiana, 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 value, (2) the actual cost of acquiring such interests in real property, (3) actual financing and promotion cost, not to exceed 10 per |