Mr. RAMSEY. When we framed this bill we understood it to be from the center of the pier to the center of the opposite pier, from the center of the swing pier to the center of the resting pier. Now, I think in this bill we have guarded all these various interests upon the river. We have insured, I think, a safe passage way sufficiently large. We have required the piers to be on a line with the current. We have required the elevation to be 50 feet above high water if the bridge be constructed of a contin uous s an. I think we have provided against every anlt thnthes been heretofore complained of in the other bridges erected upon that river. AsI said before, if we could avoid buildin bridges entirely on the Mississippi river, I should esteem it in the interests of the country which I represent and in the interests of navigation upon that river; but the fact is that almost in spite of law they are building them. At this time I am told they are building a bridge upon the Mississippi river at Burlington. It is, then, important at this time, before these structures are up, when it will be impossible to remove them, the interest for retaining them being so large, that Congress should step in and relate the construction, so as to be as little inju rions to the navigation of the river as possible. No one can appreciate more than do the importance of the trade on the river. I know that at a few of the towns on the Mississippi StLouis, Louisville, and others the trade of 1865 amounted tomore than 700 million dollars; twice as much as our foreign trade. In the State of Minnesota, far up at the head of that river, we ourselves shied 8 million bushels of wheat last year. Then the continued navigation of this river to us is of the 1st importance. But, sir, we realize the fact that in spite of us, in spite of all our desires, in spite of the interest of navigation on that river they will persist in erecting these bridges; and hence we deem it of the highest importance new, when few have yet been constructed, that Congress should step in and, as well as it can, regulate them. As I said be fore, there are but 3 bridges now spanning the river, but there are applications for a dozen in this and the other House of Congress. We know, too, from the immense capital invested in the railroads that approach that river upon the east and upon the west, that they will cross it. It is not to be expected that they should be successfully resisted forever. They will cross it some time. I think now is the time when Congress should step in and regulate them, so as to be as little obstructive as possible.