BRIDGE ACROSS KINGSTON LAKE AT CONWAY, S. C. JULY 23, 1912.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed. Mr. BROUSSARD, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 6777.] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 6777) to authorize the board of county commissioners of Horry County, S. C., to construct a bridge across Kingston Lake at Conway, S. C., having considered the same, report thereon with amendment and, as so amended, recommend that it pass. Amend the bill as follows: Strike out, on page 1, line 5, the words "steel or wood." Strike out, on page 1, lines 7 and 8, the words "as may be determined by the said board of county commissioners and approved by the Secretary of War" and insert in lieu thereof the words "suitable to the interests of navigation." Add, at the end of the bill, as new section, as follows: SEC. 2. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this act is hereby expressly reserved. The following is the report of the Senate Committee on Commerce: The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 6777) to authorize the board of county commissioners of Horry County, S. C., to construct a bridge across Kingston Lake, at Conway, S. C., having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass with amendment. The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the following communication from the Secretary, suggesting an amendment to the bill, which has been made: [Second indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War with recommendation that the accompanying bill (S. 6777, 62d Cong., 2d sess.), to authorize the board of county commissioners of Horry County, S. C., to construct a bridge across Kingston Lake, at Conway, S. C., be amended as indicated in red thereon, As thus amended, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration of the bill by Congress so far as the interests of navigation are concerned. [Third indorsement.] EDW. BURR, Acting Chief of Engineers. WAR DEPARTMENT, May 31, 1912. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate, inviting attention to the foregoing report of the Acting Chief of Engineers, United States Army, and to accompanying copy of amended bill referred to. BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSOURI RIVER. JULY 23, 1912.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed. Mr. HAMLIN, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 25282.] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 25282) to authorize the Union Pacific Railroad Co. to construct a bridge across the Missouri River, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that pass. it The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached and which is made a part of this report. There are also attached and made a part of this report a letter from Hon. C. O. Lobeck, Member of Congress, a letter from S. H. Loomis, general solicitor Union Pacific Railroad Co., and a telegram and letter from A. L. Mohler, president of the Union Pacific Railroad Co. The SECRETARY OF WAR. WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, SIR: 1. I have the honor to return herewith a letter dated the 13th ultimo from the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce inclosing for the views of the War Department thereon H. R. 25282, Sixty-second Congress, second session, a bill to authorize the Union Pacific Railroad Co. to construct a bridge across the Missouri River. 2. There are at present three bridges crossing the Missouri River at Omaha, in the following order, going downstream: (a) The upper bridge, owned by the Omaha Bridge & Terminal Railway Co., is a combination structure, being used by the Illinois Central Railway and for a toll bridge for vehicles, etc. It consists of two drawspans and short approaches, the opening between piers being approximately 222 feet each; (b) The middle bridge, belonging to the Omaha & Council Bluffs Railroad & Bridge Co., is used for street car and vehicle traffic exclusively. It is a high bridge with seven spans, the channel span having an opening of 3,878 feet, the second river span 238.4 feet. The other spans are of various lengths, forming an approach to the bridge; H R-62-2-vol 5——17 (c) The lower bridge, belonging to the Union Pacific Railway Co., is used exclusively for railway purposes, being used by most of the railroads crossing the river at Omaha. It is a high bridge, with four spans, having openings of approximately 237 feet each. 3. The upper bridge can always be opened over the channel, and the main channel passes under the Omaha end of the two other bridges. The lower bridge crosses at a slight angle. The distance between the upper and middle bridges is 0.7 of a mile, and the middle and lower bridges are 2.4 miles apart. 4. It will be noted that the Union Pacific Railroad Co. already has one bridge at Omaha, and the necessity for an additional structure is not apparent. Every bri ige is more or less of an obstruction to the free navigation of the stream which it crosses, and unless good reason exist therefor, the multiplication of such structures should be discouraged. Assuming, therefore, that the bill under consideration is intended to authorize the Union Pacific Railroad Co. to build an additional bridge at this locality, I am unable, in view of the foregoing conditions and the absence of any knowledge as to the necessity therefor, to give my approval to the enactment of the measure. 5. If, however, such necessity exists within the knowledge of Congress, I make no objection to the passage of the bill, as the question of how many bridges shall be authorized at a given locality is one for Congress to decide upon consideration of the facts before it. 6. As to the form of the bill, I see no objection, as it provides fully for the protection of navigation. W. H. BIXBY, Chief of Engineers, United States Army. Very respectfully, [First indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, July 8, 1912. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, inviting attention to the accompanying report of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, dated 6th instant. ROBERT SHAW OLIVER, Hon. WILLIAM C. ADAMSON, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D. C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN: In relation to H. R. 25282, a bill which I had the honor to introduce, authorizing the Union Pacific Railroad Co. to construct a bridge across the Missouri River at Omaha, I have the pleasure to transmit herewith letters and telegram from Mr. A. L. Mohler, president of the Union Pacific Railroad Co., also letter of Mr. N. H. Loomis, general solicitor of the Union Pacific Railroad Co., setting forth the reasons and necessities for the construction of this bridge, to expedite the travel and commerce of the growing cities of Omaha and South Omaha. The cost of this bridge will be upward of $2,000,000. I also inclose for your consideration, pamphlets and photogravures of the business and public buildings of Omaha; also views of the buildings, shops and headquarters of the Union Pacific Railroad Co. at Omaha; also a pamphlet of the Union Stock Yards at South Omaha, showing 25 years' progress. I remember having seen its growth since the time, 25 years ago, when its present site was a cornfield. I am also inclosing a pamphlet on which Omaha's financial, commercial, and manufacturing resources are epitomized and a pamphlet showing Omaha's business for the year 1911. I know from personal knowledge that it is absolutely necessary to have an additional bridge to accommodate the travel at Omaha. The present bridge is used by seven transcontinental lines entering Omaha from the east and the Chicago North Western, Burlington systems, and Union Pacific from the west. No doubt you are familiar with the immense traffic at Omaha and the traffic is constantly growing. It is absolutely necessary that immediate relief be provided. All the business activities, merchandise and otherwise, the people of Omaha, and the traveling public are demanding this new bridge so that business can be properly accommodated. Hoping you will report this favorably, I have the honor to be, C. O. LOBECK. Hon. C. O. LOBECK, Member of Congress, Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, July 18, 1912. DEAR SIR: Referring to H. R. No. 25282, being bill to authorize the Union Pacific Railroad Co. to construct bridge across the Missouri River between Omaha and Council Bluffs, I wish to advise you of the urgent need for the construction of this bridge. The first bridge constructed at that point was built in 1869, consisting of a single track, which became overtaxed in 1886 and a new bridge was built to replace it with a double track which was completed in 1887. Since that time, seven other railroads entering Omaha from the East have acquired the use of this bridge, until to-day the present structure is entirely inadequate. Business at times becomes so congested that trains are delayed from 15 to 30 minutes, and at certain hours of the day there is a delay of as much as an hour. The increasing volume of traffic caused by the enlarged stockyards at South Omaha has become so great that the Union Pacific finds it necessary to construct a four-track bridge in order to serve the public. By way of comparison, on May 1, 1911, there passed over the Eads Bridge, St. Louis, 205 trains; over Merchants Bridge, St. Louis, same date, 124 trains, and over the Union Pacific bridge at Omaha, same date, 284 trains. This is an average of 12 trains an hour, or one every five minutes, and the traffic since May, 1911, has increased considerably, and there are times when over 300 trains a day pass over this bridge, causing serious delay and inconvenience to the traveling public. The construction of this bridge is needed as a relief proposition, and for public safety and convenience and is an immediate necessity. The only other railroad bridge across the river at this point is what is called the East Omaha Bridge, located about 2 miles north of the present Union Pacific bridge. This bridge is at present used by the Illinois Central Railroad only, its location being so inconvenient and out of the way that it can not be used to advantage by any of the other roads using the bridge of the Union Pacific. Furthermore, the seven roads at present using the Union Pacific bridge have long-time contracts in effect, most of them running for 99 years. Will you kindly transmit this statement to the chairman of the committee in charge of the bill, and give us what aid you can toward hurrying its passage at the present House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: Your favor of the 13th received on May 1, 1911. There was being handled over the Union Pacific bridge, at Omaha, 284 trains daily; over the Eads Bridge, at St. Louis, 205 daily; and over the Merchants' Bridge, at St. Louis, 124 daily. During September and October our number of trains is increasing; this will plainly show the congested condition of our Missouri River bridge. Will be glad to give you additional information if desired. The purpose is only to provide conditions and facilities for crossing the river for the roads now using the Union Pacific tracks, namely: Chicago Great Western; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Chicago and North Western; Wabash; Chicago, Bur lington & Quincy; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul; and Union Pacific railroads, all of whom use our tracks under a long-time contract. A. L. MOHLer. UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD Co., Hon. C. O. LOBECK, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. My DEAR Mr. LOBECK: Your wire of the 16th. As the press have given notice the past year, we require an enlargement of our present union depot facilities at Omaha, which makes it necessary for us to put in an additional bridge as proposed. Our present grounds can be utilized and enlarged so that they will serve the purpose for 25 or 30 years, and would relieve the congestion that we are now experiencing on our present double-track bridge, which, as you will |