Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly, That all persons who shall become 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.

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

Sec. 3. 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 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.

Sec. 4. Whenever five hundred shares of the stock of the said corporation, [s]hall 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 preceeding 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.

Sec. 5. The directors may continue to receive subscriptions to the stock of said company until the whole number of shares shall be subscribed.

Sec. 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.

Sec. 7. The said corporation may erect a bridge across Rock river, at Rock Island City. Said bridge is to be so constructed as to do no injury to the navigation of the riv-

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er, and that steam or other boats may pass without difficulty.2

Sec. 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, or 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 freeholders of the county of Rock Island, who shall be appointed for that purpose and sworn to make a just valuation, by the county commissioners’ court, on application of or from the said President and directors, to them for such appointment.

Sec. 9. Whenever the said bridge shall be completed and the fact certified by one of the commissioners 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.

Sec. 10. If any person shall wilfully impair or injure the said bridge, he shall forfeit and pay to the corporation the sum of twenty dollars, 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.

Sec. 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.

Sec. 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 (any) 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 offence, 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.

Sec. 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.

Sec. 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.

Sec. 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.

Sec. 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 teams: 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, on 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 the bridge.

Sec. 17. If the said bridge shall not be commenced 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.

Sec. 18. The Legislature reserves the power and privilege of altering, amending or annulling this act whenever in its opinion the public welfare shall require it.

Approved 11th February, 1837.