Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force March 1st, 1837

AN ACT to incorporate the Quincy. Griggsville, Jacksonville, and Springfield Turnpike Company.
1

Corporation constituted a body politic and corporate

May sue and be sued and have a common seal

May make by-laws, &c.[etc.]

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That James Todd, John T. Cassell, John Henry, William King, Scott Riggs, George Camp, John White, Charles C. Perry, of Morgan county, James Brown, H. Yates, R. F. Barrett, J. E. Canfield, and Robert Allen, of Sangamon county, N. W.

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Jones, Uriah Brown, G. W. Johnson, Andrew Philips, John McConnell and William Kinman, and Hazel Wells, and Nathan Philips, of Pike county, John Wood, Archibald Williams, Robert Tillson, Francis C. Moore, and E. L. Pearsons, of Adams county,2 and their successors in office duly elected as hereinafter directed, are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, and by the name and style of the “Quincy, Jacksonville, and Springfield Company,” shall be able and capable in law and equity to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in any and all courts whatever; make and use a common seal, and the same to alter and change at pleasure; and shall be able to make contracts and enforce the same, and to make and enforce the necessary by-laws, rules and regulations to enable them to carry into effect the provisions of this act, not inconsistent with the laws and constitution of the state

Amount of capital stock divided into shares

Company may become organised

Sec. 2. The capital stock of said corporation shall be one hundred thousand dollars, divided into shares of fifty dollars each, with power to increase the capital stock, if necessary, to accomplish the objects herein contemplated, and whenever one hundred shares of the said stock are subscribed, the said company may become organised and it shall require (a majority) of said corporators and no more to be present to aid in the organization of said company.3

Time corporation to exist

Sec. 3. Said corporation shall exist for thirty years.—But in case said company shall not commence the construction of said work in two years and complete the same or some one of the sections hereinafter named in six years, then this charter to be null and void.4

Corporation to construct a road

Width of road

Sec. 4. The corporation by their agents shall have power from time to time to survey, examine, mark and locate a turnpike road, starting at Quincy, in Adams county, and running thence to the ferry on the Illinois river, known as Philips’ ferry, and thence to strike the line between townships fourteen and fifteen, in range thirteen west,5 and to continue on said line to Lynnville, or near thereto, thence to Jacksonville, thence to Trenton, thence to Burlin, and thence to Springfield; with full power to diverge from a direct line between the points named where more favorable ground can be had, for the construction of said road, the same to be not more than four poles in width.

Road divided into sections

Corporation to open books for subscription

Sec. 5. Said road is hereby divided into three sections, as follows, to wit: All that part of said road between Quincy and Philips’ shall be the first section: all that part between Philips’ ferry and Jacksonville shall be the second section; and all that part between Jacksonville and Springfield shall be the third section; and the said corporation have full power and authority to open books

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for the subscription of stock for the entire construction of said road its whole length: or said corporation may open books for the subscription of stock, to be subscribed for the constructing and completing the first, second, or third section of said road as the case may be, beginning with such section as the corporation may deem most advisable, under the regulations and provisions of this act.

State may purchase stock

Sec. 6. The state shall have the right to purchase the stock of said company at any time after ten years on paying said corporation a sum of money which together with the tolls received shall equal the cost and expenses of said turnpike road as aforesaid, with an interest of ten per centum per annum.

Rights of corporation

Proviso.

Sec. 7. The said corporation shall be entitled to all the rights, privileges, and immunities, and be subject to all the restraints, duties and penalties granted and imposed in and by an act “to incorporate the Wabash and Mississippi Turnpike company,” approved January 13th, 1836, whenever the same are or may be applicable to said company: Provided, however, That no part in section 20 of said act shall be considered as binding on said company.6

Grading of road

Sec. 8. Said road shall be so graded that the assent of no part of the same shall exceed seven and a half degrees.

Approved 1st March, 1838.

1On January 14, 1837, John J. Hardin in the House of Representatives introduced a petition from citizens of Morgan and Adams counties, seeking the construction of a turnpike road from Quincy to Springfield via Jacksonville. The House referred the petition to a select committee. In response to this petition, Hardin of the select committee introduced HB 143, originally titled “A Bill to Incorporate the Quincy, Jacksonville, and Springfield Turnpike Company,” in the House on January 21. The House referred the bill to a select committee. The select committee reported back the bill on January 30 with various amendments, in which the House concurred. On February 8, the House passed the bill as amended. On February 15, the Senate passed the bill, amending the title by inserting the word “Griggsville” after the word “Quincy.” On February 25, the House concurred with the Senate’s amended title. On March 1, the Council of Revision approved the bill, and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 256, 319-20, 421-22, 519-20, 602-03, 720, 760, 795; Illinois Senate Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 377, 398, 433-34, 555.

2On January 30 1837, the House of Representatives amended the bill by adding the names of the incorporators from Sangamon, Pike, and Adams counties.
Illinois House Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 421-22.

3On January 30, 1837, the House of Representatives amended the bill by adding the clause requiring a majority of incorporators be present to aid in organization of the company.

4On January 30, 1837, the House of Representatives amended the bill by filling in the blank with the word “two” and changing the completion time from eight to six years. On March 1, 1839, the Council of Revision approved two acts supplemental to the third section of the incorporation act. The first act allowed the company five years longer to commence and complete the road. The second act permitted the company to commence construction at any time within five years, and to complete construction in ten years, without either forfeiting its charter or rendering it null and void.

5Located in extreme northwestern Morgan County, near Meredosia.

6Section twenty of the act stipulated the width, composition, grade, curvature, elevation, and maintenance requirements of the proposed road.