Case Information
*1 OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS AUSTIN
GROVER SELLERS ATTORNEY GENERAL
Honorable Alton C. Arnold County Attorney Breazerla County Anderson, Texas
Dear Sir:
Opinion No. 0-6672 No: Contribution of Article 1466, Vernon's Annotated Civil Statutes.
Your request for opinion has been received and carefully considered by this department. We quote from your request as follows:
"Mr. R. M. Parker of Matagarda, Texas, is desirous of placing two bridges across the San Bernard River at points near Sweny, Breazerla County, Texas. One of the bridges is a connecting length for an abandoned road where the river was formally trebored by plans of a ferry. Both projects are to be privately owned and operated, but are to be open by the public without charge. Of course, the chief purpose of the bridges is the furthertone of Mr. Parker's business and the promoting of the development of oil in this particular section.
"Breazerla County has given its consent for the construction of these bridges, and the Federal Government, after a bearing, stands ready to grant its permission; however, Mr. R. B. Gillette, Jr., of the United States Engineers' Office at Galveston, Texas, is not sure of the sufficiency of the legal authority under Article 1466 of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas for an individual to construct such bridges at the points designated,
*2 Mon. Alton C. Arnold, Page 2 but says that a statement by the Attorney General of the state of Texas, to the effect that Article 1466 is sufficient legal authority, will be acceptable as to the suffisiency. "Your opinion on this matter at an early date will be highly appreciated."
Article 1466, Vernon's Annotated Texas Civil Statutes reads as follows: "Article 1466. Authority to build. -- Any person, corporation or association of persons, hereinafter called the owner, may purchase, build, construct, own, maintain and operate a combination bridge, dam, dike, causeray and roadway across any arm of the Gulf of Mexico or inlet thereof, or any of the saltwater bay, wholly within the limits of this State, to provide a causeray, roadway or highway for vehicles, teams, pedestrians, railroads, and for every character of inland transportation. (Acts 1913, p. 331.)"
The expression "gulf veters" like the word "sea" includes not only the high seas, but the beys, inlets and rivers as high up as the tide ebbs and flows. See the following authorities:
Mennheim Ins. Co. v. Charles Clarke & Co., 157 S. W. 291 Cray v. Fort Arthur Channel & Doak Co., 47 S. W. 967 City of Galveston v. Mann, 143 S. W. (2d) 1028 Lorino v. Crawford Packing Co., 175 S. W. (2d) 410
You do not state in your letter whether the San Bernard River, at the places where the bridges are proposed to be constructed, is subject to the ebb and flow of the tide. We have consulted the general highway map of Brazoria County, Texas, prepared by the State Highway Department of Texas in 1936. This map shows that the San Bernard River passes the town of Sweeny about 2 miles to the East and for a distance of approximately 20 miles, more or less, pursues a southeast. eely course until it reaches Cedar Lake, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, and thenoe into the Gulf of Mexico.
*3 Hon. Alton C. Arnold, Page 3
The question as to whether the portions of the San Bernard River, where the bridges are proposed to be constructed, are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, is a question of fact, which will determine the applicability of non-epplicability of Article 1466, V. A. C. S.
If such portions of the San Bernard River (where the bridges are proposed to be constructed) are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide Article 1466, supra, will be applicable to the situation inquired about.
Conversely if such portions of the river are not subject to the ebb and flow of the tide Article 1466, supra, will not be applicable to the situation inquired about.
Yours very truly
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TRIAB
By
Vm. J. Fanning
Assistant
WJF 1fD
WJF 1fD
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