Keokuk & Hamilton Bridge Co. v. United States

The appellant had an authorized bridge across the Mississippi River. with a pivot pier and draw, to permit the passage of vessels. As a necessary incident it maintained what is called a protection pier extending down stream. In consequence of later authorized Constructions it became necessary to deepen the channel on the easterly side of the pier, and the part of this work with which we are concerned was done by the United States. The bed of the stream by the side of the pier was solid rock and into this the United States drilled and blasted it with dynamite. The work was done in the usual…