An act to incorporate the Rock Island City Bridge Company

Sec[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly, that all persons who shall ^be^come stockholders pursuant to this act, shall be, and they are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, by the name of “Rock Island City Bridge Company” for the term of fifty years.

2. The capital stock of said Company shall be divided into one thousand three hundred shares of one hundred dollars each.

3^d George Davenport, Levi C. Turner, William Dickson Miles W. Conway, John W. Spencer John S. Miller and William Curr, shall be Commissioners for opening, books for receiving subscriptions to to the Capital stock of said Corporation: the said books shall be opened, on or before the first day of September next, and each of the said Commissioners may receive subscriptions, and on subscribing, shall be paid five dollars on each share subscribed

4. Whenever five hundred shares of the stock of the said Corporation shall be subscribed, the Commissioners shall cause to be given to the stockholders at least Twenty days notice of the time and place of meeting of the said stockholders, by publishing once in each week, next preceding said time of meeting, in Two Newspapers, printed nearest to the place of erecting the Bridge to choose Directors. At the time and place appointed the stockholders, shall choose

---

seven Directors, being stockholders of said Corporation; a quorum of whom, shall be competent, to transact business. A new election of Directors shall be made annually, at such time and place as the stockholders at their first meeting shall appoint.
The Directors, at any election, shall as soon thereafter as may be, choose out of their number one person to be President, and shall also appoint a Secretary and a Treasurer.

5. The Directors may continue to receive subscriptions to the stock of the said Company, until the whole number of shares, shall be subscribed

6. The Directors may demand from the stockholders respectively, all such sums of money, by them subscribed at such times, and in such proportions, as they may think proper under the penalty of forfeiting their respective shares, and all previous payments thereon, to the said President Directors and Company not impairing the right of enforcing payment, by process of law, of the subscription, made under this act as aforesaid.

7. The said Corporation may erect a Bridge across the Rock River at Rock Island City, said Bridge is to be so constructed as to do no injury to the navigation of the River, and that steam or other Boats may pass without difficulty

8. The President and Directors, or other persons employed by them, may enter upon, and take possession of the land on each side of the River, where the said Bridge shall be erected: and the said Corporation, on taking possession of any such land, and on receiving a

---

conveyance thereof, shall pay the owner or owners the value of so much of the same, as may be necessary for making and erecting said Bridge, and establishing a Gate, Toll house and all other works to the said Bridge; and in case of disagreement, between the parties, as to such value the same shall and may be ascertained by three free holders of the County of Rock Island, who shall be appointed for that purpose, and sworn, to make a just valuation, by the County Commissioners Courts on application of, or from, the said President and Directors, to them for such appointment

9. Whenever the said Bridge shall be completed and the fact certified by one of the Commissio[n]ers of the County Court of Rock Island County, the rates of Tolls are to be, regulated by the President and Directors of said Company; subject to the approval of the County Commissioners Court

10. If any person shall wilfully impair or injur[e] the said Bridge, he shall forfeit and pay to the Corporation, the sum of Twenty dolla[rs] to be recovered: with costs of suit, and shall also be liable to pay to the said Corporation double the amount of damages sustained with costs of suit, to be recovered in an action of trespass

11. If any person shall forcibly pass the Gate, without paying the legal Toll, he shall forfeit and pay to the said Corporation Eight times the amount of legal Toll, to be recovered by action of debt, with costs of suit.

12. If any Toll gatherer shall unreasonably delay or hinder any passenger at the Gate, or receive more than the legal Toll, or shall demand or receive toll from person or persons, either on foot or in Carriages, going to or returning from their usual place of attending religious Worship. He shall for every such Offense forfeit, and pay the sum of five dollars, to be recovered with costs, to the use of the person or persons unreasonably delayed or hindered

13. The shares of the stockholders of the said Corporation shall be considered, to be, personal estate, and shall and may be [transferred?] as such

14. It shall not be lawful for any person to erect a Bridge across the Rock River within two miles of said Bridge at any time when the said Bridge shall be in a safe state for crossing over the same.

15. The said Bridge shall be built not less than Twenty four feet wide and be well secured by a railing on each side, not less than four feet high

16. It shall not be lawful for any person or persons to ride or drive over said Bridge faster than a walk with his, her or their team^s^. Nor shall it be lawful for any person or persons, to drive more than twenty head of cattle or horses, on said Bridge at a time, or penalty of forfeiting for every such offence, not less than five dollars to be recovered with costs of suit, in the name of the Treasurer, for the use of the said corporation, if a notice to this effect shall be posted at each end of of the Bridge

17. If the said Bridge shall not be commenced1 within one year and completed in five years after the passage of this act, or if the same shall be carried away, or destroyed, and not rebuilt within Eighteen months thereafter, then the said Corporation shall from thenceforth cease, and this act be null and void.