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. 12966, transmitted with your letter of June 16 with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate. This bill would authorize the H. C. Brenner Realty & Finance Corporation, its successors and assigns, to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Mississippi River, at or near a point between Cherokee and Osage Streets, city of St. Louis, Mo., and between such points and a point opposite in St. Clair County, Ill. The bill appears to conform to the form adopted by the committee for a private interstate toll bridge. The usual provision is made in the bill for the bridge to be taken over by purchase or by condemnation or expropriation by the States of Illinois and Missouri, or any political agency or political subdivision thereof, the exercise of such right jointly or severally being authorized. If, however, it is taken over by condemnation or expropriation after the expiration of five years following its completion, the amount of damages or compensation to be allowed therefor shall be appropriately restricted, the restrictions being the same as appear in the regular committee form for a private interstate toll bridge. It can not be determined definitely whether the proposed bridge would be on the system of Federal-aid highways, but it very readily could be used as a connecting link on said system between Illinois and Missouri, as several routes on the Illinois system approach the Mississippi River opposite the city of St. Louis." The department does not believe that a private toll bridge should be authorized as a public bridge, if an additional bridge across the Mississippi River at this point is needed, could be constructed and financed from the tolls and be made free in a much shorter time than will be possible under any plan for a private toll bridge. It, therefore, would recommend against favorable action on the bill. Sincerely, ARTHUR M. HYDE, Secretary. The Hon. Henry F. Neidringhaus who introduced this bill has submitted the following information with reference thereto: Hon. JAMES P. PARKER, CHIPPEWA-BROADWAY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, Member Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: In reference to bridge bill No. 12966, introduced by the Hon. H. F. Niedringhaus, wish to say that we, the Chippewa-Broadway Business Association, herewith take the occasion to request you to put forth every effort to see that same will become a reality, because it means so much to both our local and rural territory. Yours very truly, CHIPPEWA-BROADWAY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, BRIDGE ACROSS RED RIVER AT OR NEAR MONCLA, LA. DECEMBER 20, 1930.-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. 13514) The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 13514) granting the consent of Congress to the Louisiana Highway Commission to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Red River at or near Moncla, in the parish of Avoyelles, La., having considered and amended the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. Amend the bill as follows: Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the following in lieu thereof: That the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge authorized by act of Congress approved March 10, 1928, to be built by the Louisiana Highway Commission of the State of Louisiana across the Red River, at or near Moncla in the Parish of Avoyelles, State of Louisiana, are hereby extended one and three years, respectively, from March 10, 1931. SEC. 2. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this act is hereby expressly reserved. Amend the title so as to read as follows: A bill to extend the time for construction of a bridge across the Red River at or near Moncla, in the Parish of Avoyelles, Louisiana. The bill has the approval of the War and Agriculture Departments, as will appear by the letters attached. WAR DEPARTMENT, December 12, 1930. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. The accompanying bill (H. R. 13514, 71st Cong., 3d sess.) authorizing the construction of a free highway bridge across the Red River at or near Moncla, in the parish of Avoyelles, La., is in the usual form adopted by Congress for such measures. It is understood, however, that the bridge referred to in this bill is the same as that authorized by the act of Congress approved March 10, 1928 (Public, No. 141, 70th Cong.). The time for commencing the construction of the bridge under that act, as implied by section 6 of the general bridge act of March 23, 1906 expired March 10, 1929. For the purpose of identification of authorities an simplification of record, it is preferable to extend the time limits of the existin act rather than to enact another bill authorizing the same bridge. The bill herewith has been amended accordingly, and, as thus amended, know of no objection to its favorable consideration. Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, F. H. PAYNE, 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 13514, transmitted with your letter of December 2 with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate. This bill would authorize the Louisiana Highway Commission to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge and approaches thereto across the Red River, at or near Moncla, La. The location indicated for the proposed bridge is on the system of Federal-aid highways approved for Louisiana. Favorable action on the bill is recommended. Sincerely, R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. О BRIDGE ACROSS RED RIVER AT OR NEAR ALEXANDRIA, LA. DECEMBER 20, 1930.-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. 13515] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 13515) granting the consent of Congress to the Louisiana Highway Commission to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Red River at or near Alexandria, in the Parish of Rapides, La., having considered and amended the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass.. Amend the bill, as follows: Line 7, after the words "to the" strike out the word "interest" and insert the word "interests" in lieu thereof. The bill has the approval of the War and Agriculture Departments, as will appear by the letters attached. WAR DEPARTMENT, December 8, 1930. 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. 13515, 71st Cong., 3d sess.) granting the consent of Congress to the Louisiana Highway Commission to construct a free highway bridge across the Red River at or near Alexandria, La. PATRICK J. HURLEY, Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Washington, D. C., December 8, 1930. Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. PARKER: Careful consideration has been given to the bill, H. R 13515, transmitted with your letter of December 2, with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate. This bill would authorize the Louisiana Highway Commission to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge and approaches thereto across the Red River, at or near Alexandria, La. The location indicated for the proposed bridge is on the system of Federal-aid highways approved for Louisiana. Favorable action on the bill is recommended. Sincerely, о R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. |