Commence ment & com SEC. 3. The said bridge shall be commenced and completion of said pleted within eighteen months from and after the passage of bridge. this act, and shall at all times be kept in good repair so as to admit of a safe passage of all persons and their property over it on the payment of the toll herein specified. SEC. 4. That in case the said bridge shall be destroyed Destruction, by high water, fire or other casualty, it shall not create a forof bridge by feiture of the rights conferred by this act, but one year shall casualty not be allowed for the re-erection thereof after the happening of said casualties. to create for feiture. SEC. 5. This act and the powers therein granted shall be Term of act and remain in force for the period of twenty years from and Approved, February 17, 1841. In force Feb 26, 1841. after its passage. An ACT to amend "An act to authorize Henry W. Cleaveland to build a bridge across the Winnebago Swamp," Approved February 19, 1839. SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That Henry W. Cleveland and his associates, and assigns, be allowed till the first Time allowed day of December, A. D., one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, for the completion of the bridge and causeway across the Winnebago Swamp. Approved, February 26, 1841. In force Feb. 26, 1841. Across Salt An ACT to authorize Isaac D. Patterson to build a bridge across Salt creek, in the counties of Menard and Mason. SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That Isaac D. Patterson, his heirs and assigns, be, and they are hereby authorized to build and keep for the term of twenty years from the passage creek for 20 of this act, a toll bridge across Salt creek, in township nineteen north, range six west of the third principal meridian, and at the best point near the place now known as "Day's Ferry," in Menard county, Illinois. years Location SEC. 2. The said Isaac D. Patterson, his heirs or asTo commence signs, shall commence the building of said bridge within one and complete year, and complete the same within two years from and after the passage of this act. Said bridge shall be built in a good and substantial manner, 30 as to give a safe and easy passage, to all persons, and their property, wishing to cross the Toll gate and rates same. SEC. 3. After said bridge shall be completed, the said Isaac D. Patterson, his heirs and assigns, are hereby authorized to place a toll gate on either end of said bridge, or elsewhere, where he or they may demand of all and every person passing said bridge, the following rates of toll, viz: for each two horse wagon, drawn by two horses or one yoke of oxen, twenty-five cents; for each additional yoke of oxen or pair of horses, twelve and a half cents; for each one horse wagon or carriage, eighteen and three-fourths cents; for each man and horse, twelve and a half cents; for each head of hogs, sheep or goats, one cent; for each head of horses, cattle, mules, or asses, three cents; and six cents for each footman. SEC. 4. The said Isaac D. Patterson, his heirs and assigns, Kept in repair shall at all times after the completion of said bridge, keep the same in good repair, and allow a speedy passage; and if, at any time, the bridge be kept out of repair, so that the same be impassable for the space of three months at any one time, the said bridge shall accrue to the counties of Menard and Mason; Provided, however, That the destruction of said Proviso bridge by fire, high water, or other casualty, shall not work a forfeiture of the privileges hereby granted; but said Patterson, his heirs or assigns, shall proceed immediately to repair the same. Counties may be built SEC. 5. When the commissioners of the counties of Menard and Mason deem it expedient to purchase said bridge, purchase they shall have the right to do so, by paying the said Patterson, his heirs or assigns, the value of said bridge, in current money of the State of Illinois, which value shall be ascertained by the valuation of three disinterested appraisers, to be appointed by the court of Menard county, who shall be sworn to a faithful and impartial discharge of their duties as such appraisers; or, if the commissioners of said counties will proceed without delay to build a free bridge at the place Free bridge to aforesaid, or if the people of said counties, or any number of them will proceed without delay and build a free bridge across Salt creek at the place aforesaid, and have the same completed within one year from and after the passage of this act, they shal! have the power to do so under this act; and the said bridge, when so completed, shall be and remain open and free for all persons and their property wishing to cross the same, and shall be and remain a free bridge to all intents and purposes: Provided, That if the said free bridge, Proviso when so completed, shall remain out of repair for six months at any one time, the privileges herein before granted to Isaac D. Patterson, shall be revived, and he may proceed to the erec- Privileges retion of the toll bridge aforesaid, the same as if no bridge had been erected by the commissioners or the people aforesaid: Proviso. Provided, further, That casualties, or high water, or otherwise, shall not work a forfeiture to the people of said counties, or commissioners, herein before offered to them, but they may vived. proceed immediately to repair the same: Provided, further, That Further prothe county commissioners' courts of the aforesaid counties, shall viso. have power so prevent the said Isaac D. Patterson from building the said bridge, if it shall appear to their satisfaction that the people of said counties are opposed to it. SEC. 6. If any person or persons shall wilfully do, or Injury done, cause to be done, any injury to said bridge, the person or per- how punished Highway sons so offending, shall forfeit and pay the said Isaac D. Patterson, his heirs and assigns, double the amount of said injury or damage, to be recovered before any justice of the peace or court of record, having jurisdiction of the same. SEC. 7. The said bridge shall be deemed a public highway, within the meaning of the laws providing for the punishment of persons injuring, obstructing, or destroying public bridges in any manner or by any means whatever. Approved, February 26, 1841. In force Feb. 27, 1841. created. An ACT to incorporate the Illinois and Missouri Bridge Company. SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, Incorporation represented in the General Assembly, That Isaac Prickett, William Montgomery, Thomas G. Hawley, Enas Hibbard, George W. Long, Enoch Long, Sherman W. Robbins, and Benjamin K. Hart, with their associates, be, and they are hereby created a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of "The Illinois and Missouri Bridge Company," for the purpose of erecting a bridge over the Mississippi river at or near the city of Alton, and they and their associates, successors, and the stockholders in the company hereby created, shall have perpetual succession, and by that name and style are hereby made as capable in law as natural per sons, to contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, in all courts of law and equity; shall have all the power, privilege and franchise incident to a public corporation, to make and use a common seal, and the same to alter or amend at pleasure, and generally to do and execute all acts, matters and things which a body corporate or politic, or an individual could or may lawfully do: Provided, That the construction of said bridge shall not in any manner obstruct the free navigation of said river. Object of the Proviso. Capital stock. Election officers. SEC. 2. The capital stock of said company shall be one million of dollars, which shall be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each, and the persons before named, or a majority of them shall cause books to be opened for the subscription of the stock of said company, at such times and places as they shall direct until the whole stock is taken up. of SEC. 3. As soon as half of the capital stock shall be subscribed, the said persons, or a majority of them, shall advertise a meeting of the stockholders giving ten days notice of the time and place of such meeting, when they shall provide for the election of a president and six directors from among the stockholders of said company, and such of the persons mentioned in the first section of this act as shall not hold any of said stock shail cease to be members of said corporation. Term of office All officers so elected, shall hold their offices for one year, and until their successors are chosen; each share of said stock shall entitle the holder to one vote. All vacancies Vacancies shall be filled by a majority of the directors. how filled.' Jand. SEC. 4. The said company may enter upon, purchase and Company take possession of so much of the land at or near [the] eastern may enter uptermination of said bridge as may be necessary for the erec- on and take tion of the same, also for a toll house and necessary roads leading to said bridge, and in case [of] a disagreement be-In case of distween the parties as to the value of said lands, the same shall agreement. be determined by a jury of twelve men, freeholders of the county of Madison, who shall be appointed for taat purpose by the county commissioners' court of said county, on application of either party, and the company shall pay the award of said jury, (which jury shall be sworn to make a just valuation) to the owner or owners of said land, and receive a title therefor; and in case of refusal on the part of the owners of said land to receive the valuation and make the conveyance as aforesaid, the same may be paid into the county treasury for the use of the owners of said land; whereupon the treasurer of said county shall by decd convey said land to said company, which conveyance shall pass to said company, all such estate of said owners, both in law and equity. to SEC. 5. The company shall have power, by the president Power and directors thereof, to make such ordinances and by-laws as make by-laws they may deem proper for the carrying on and regulating the business of said company, not inconsistent with the laws of the State. to SEC. 6. The company shall have power to purchase any Company auquantity of land not exceeding in value the sum of thirty thou- thorized sand dollars, and erect a saw mill. They shall have power and manufacpurchase land to manufacture their own lumber and all other materials ne- ture materials cessary for the construction of said bridge, and to do all acts that may be necessary to forward the interests of said company and the speedy completion of said bridge. SEC. 7. It shall and may be lawful for said company to Tolls. erect toll gates at the end of said bridge, and to demand and receive the same rates of toll as are now received by the Alton Ferry Company. This act shall be a public act of Act declared the State of Illinois, and shall be construed liberally for the public. benefit of said company. SEC. 8. If the Legislature of this State shall after the ex- State piration of twenty years from the completion of said bridge, purchase bridge. make provision by law, and pay over to said company the value of the same, with the fixtures and appurtenances thereunto belonging, then and in that case, the said bridge with all its fixtures and appurtenances, shall vest in and become the property of the State. may SEC. 9. The company shall be required to commence said Time within bridge within two years after the passage of this act, and which bridge is to be begun shall be required to finish the same within ten years there- and finished. after, or the Legislature may declare this charter forfeited; Forfeiture. and when said bridge shall be completed, the company shall at all times keep the same in a good passable condition. or be Fines. subject to such fines and penalties as the Legislature may deem proper, to remedy the evil. This act to be in force from and after its passage. SEC. 10. The Legislature hereby reserves to itself the Right to re-right to repeal, alter, or amend this charter, if the public good peal charter. require it: Provided, They cause to be paid to the said comProviso. pany a fair indemnity for damages sustained by said repea! or amendment. Approved by the Council, February 27, 1841. In force Feb. 24, 1841. Time to com An ACT to amend the several acts incorporating the Beardstown and SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, mence canal represented in the General Assembly, That the time for commencing operations for constructing the Beardstown and Sangamon canal, be extended for the term of four years. extended. SEC. 2. The present board of directors of said company may remain in office until operations shall be commenced, Present direc- after which an election shall be held in the manner provided tors to remain for by the act incorporating said company, to which this is an amendment. in office. SEC. 3. The present board of directors, or a majority of Further sub- them, shall have power at any time and place they may deem scription allowed. proper to cause books for a further subscription of stock to be opened, and to perform any act or acts by which the interest of said company shall be promoted. This act to be in force from and after its passage. Approved, February 24, 1841. In force Feb 17, 1841. An ACT to extend the provisions of an act entitled "An act to provide for the dedication of lots in towns situated on canal lands, to public purpo ses," approved, February twenty-eight, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine. SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That the commissioners of Canal com'rs the Illinois and Michigan canal, be, and they are hereby auto convey lot to 1st Unitari- thorised to grant and convey to the first Unitarian Society of an society of Chicago, the lot number seven, in block number thirty-eight, Chicago. of the original town of Chicago, under the provisions and conditions of an act entitled, "An act to provide for the dedication of lots, in towns situated on canal lands to public purposes," approved, February twenty-eight, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine, notwithstanding the said lot may have been exposed for sale, and upon the surrender to the said canal commissioners of the original certificate of purchase of the aforesaid lot, the title to the aforesaid lot ed in society. shall be vested in the said society, and thereupon an entry Lot to be vest |