HOUSE No. 190

Bill' accompanying' the recommendations of the Board of Harbor and Land Commissioners (House, No. 187). Harbors and Public Lands. January 11.

Cf)c Commontoealtl) of .

In the Year One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifteen.

AN ACT To provide for the Care and Supervision of the , Chicopee River, and . Be it enacted hy the Senat and House of Representativet in General Court assembled and hy the authority of the tame, as follows of harbor and 1 Section 1 . The board land commission- -2 ers shall have the general care and supervision of the fol- -3 lowing rivers, tributariesof the river, namely : 4 Westfield-river, Chicopee river, Deerfield river and Millers 5 river, within the confines of this commonwealth, and ot fi the banks thereof and of all structures therein, in order to 7 prevent and remove unauthorized encroachments and 8 causes of every kind which may in any way injure said q rivers and to protect and develop the rights and property 10 of the public therein. For the purpose of ascertaining promoting the best methods for the preservation and 9 SUPERVISION OF RIVERS. fjan. 1915.

12 improvement of said rivers, and for the promotion ot a 13 interests connected therewith, as the public good may 14 require, the board may from time to time make such 15 surveys, examinations and observations as it may deem It! necessary.

1 Section 2. All persons now or hereafter authorized 2 by the general court to build any structures in said 3 rivers shall proceed in the manner provided in section 4 sixteen of chapter ninety-six of the Revised Laws, and 5 shall be subject to the provisions of the said chapter.

1 Section 3. The said board may authorize any person 2 to build or extend a wharf, pier, shore wall, dam, road, 3 bridge, or other structure, or to fill land, or drive piles 4 in, over or upon said rivers below high water mark, upon 5 such terms as it shall prescribe. A license shall not be 6 granted for the construction of a bridge across said rivers, 7 except in a location above a bridge, dam or similar 8 structure authorized by law over said rivers, in which no 9 draw actually exists or is required by law, and not then, 10 if objection is made by the mayor and aldermen of the 11 city or the selectmen of the town in which the bridge is 12 to be built. To every proceeding for a license or 13 permit granted under this act the provisions of sections 14 nineteen, twenty and twenty-one of chapter ninety-six 15 of the Revised Laws shall apply.

1 Section 4. Nothing in any license or permit granted 2 as aforesaid shall be so construed as to impair the legal 3 rights of any person.

1 Section 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.