Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force Jan.[January] 29, 1835.

AN ACT, further to amend “An act to authorize James Nabb to build a Toll Bridge across the Embarrass River.[”]
1

Allowed two years to complete said bridge.

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That James Nabb have two years from the passage of this act, to complete his bridge so as to entitle him to the rights and privileges granted by the act to which this is a further amendment.2

Authorized to change part of State road.

Proviso.

Sec. 2. The said James Nabb shall be, and he is hereby authorized to change a part of the State road3 leading from Vincennes to St. Louis, so as to make said road pass over

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said bridge: Provided, the said James Nabb shall not be allowed to obstruct the ford below said bridge in any manner by changing said road.

Approved, Jan. 29, 1835.

1Jesse K. Dubois introduced HB 100, originally titled “A Bill for the Benefit of James Nabb,” in the House of Representatives on January 10, 1835. On January 12, the House referred it to a select committee. The select committee reported back the bill on January 13 with a substitute, in which the House concurred. The House passed the bill as substituted on January 14, amending the title so as to read “A Bill, Further to Amend ‘An Act to Authorize James Nabb to build a Toll Bridge Across the Embarrass River.’” The Senate concurred on January 22. On January 29, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1835. 9th G. A., 1st sess., 251, 265, 277, 284, 291, 357, 406, 419, 431; Illinois Senate Journal. 1835. 9th G. A., 1st sess., 257, 258, 272, 308, 356, 369.

2The General Assembly passed the original bill on February 7, 1831 with a two year deadline. Nabb apparently did not meet that deadline and the legislature revived the bill for another two years in 1833. This bill sets an additional two year deadline that was not renewed.
“An Act to Authorize James Nabb to Build a Toll-Bridge over the Embarrass River,” 7 February 1831, The Laws of Illinois (1831), 28-9; “An Act To revive an act to authorize James Nabb to build a toll bridge over the Embarrass River,” 26 February 1833, Laws of a Private Nature (1833), 12.

3State roads were those public roads established or designated by the General Assembly and usually crossed county lines. Only the General Assembly could establish, alter, or abandon state roads, until 1840 and 1841, when the General Assembly gave counties the authority to alter or to abandon state roads upon petition by a majority of voters in the area of the change.
An Act concerning Public Roads, sec. 9; An Act Authorizing Commissioners’ Courts to Alter, Change, and Relocate State Roads; An Act concerning Public Roads.