An Act to change ^extend^ the corporate powers of the Town of Peoria

Sec.[Section] 1^st Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly That J D Shewalter[,] George B Parker[,] Henry W Cleveland[,] Tho^s Phillips and George C. Bestor be and they are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate to be known by the name of the “Trustees of the town of Peoria” and by that name they and their successors shall be known in law, have perpetual succession sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded defend and be defended in courts of law and equity and in all actions and matters whatsoever; may grant, purchase and receive and hold property, real and personal within said town and no other (burial grounds excepted) and may lease sell and dispose of the same for the benefit of the town and shall have power to lease any of the reserve lands which have been or may hereafter be appropriated to the use of said town and may do all other acts as natural persons may have a common seal and break and alter the same at pleasure

Sec 2 That all that district of country contained in fractional section nine, fractional section ten the south half of section four and fractional section three and to the middle of the Illinois river and Lake Peoria is hereby declared to be within the boundaries of the town of Peoria.

Sec 3 That the corporate powers and duties of said town shall be vested in nine trustees (after the term of the present incumbents shall have expired to wit on the eighteenth day of July next and to be chosen and appointed as hereinafter directed) who shall form a board for the transaction of business

Sec 4 The members composing the board of trustees shall be elected annually on the last Monday of July by the persons residing within

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said town (qualified to vote for representative to the legislature) to serve for one year; they shall be at least twenty-one years of age citizens of the United States and inhabitants of said town and shall possess a freehold estate within the limits thereof

Sec 5 That the board of trustees shall appoint their president from their own body shall appoint all other officers of their board and shall be ^the^ judges of the qualifications elections and returns of their own numbers; a majority shall constitute a board to do business but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as the board may provide they may determine the rule of proceeding and make such other rules and regulations for their own government as to them may seem proper and expedient.

Sec 6 That the board of trustees shall have power to levy and collect taxes upon all real estate within the town not exceeding the one half of one per centum upon the assessed value thereof except as hereinafter excepted; to make regulations to secure the general health of the inhabitants, to prevent and remove nuisances to establish night watches erect lamps in the streets, and lighting the same to regulate and license ferries within the corporation to lease the wharfing privilege of said town giving to the owner or owners occupant or occupants of the lots fronting the river the preference of such privilege to erect and keep in repair bridges; to provide for licensing, taxing Stores taverns, Groceries Auctioneers and taxing and regulating theatrical and other shows billiard tables and other amusements within said corporation to restrain and prohibit gaming houses bawdy houses and other disorderly houses to build

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market houses establish and regulate markets to open and keep in repair streets avenues lanes alleys drains and sewers to keep the same clean and free from incumbrances to establish and regulate a fire department and to provide for the prevention and extinguishment of fires to regulate the storage of gun-powder and other combustible materials to erect pumps and wells in the streets for the convenience of the inhabitants to regulate the police of the town to regulate the election of the town officers to fix their compensation to establish and enforce [...?] laws and from time to time to pass such ordinances to carry into effect the ordinances ^provisions^ of this act and the powers hereby granted as the good of the inhabitants may require and to impose and appropriate fines and forfeitures for the breach of any ordinance and to provide for the collection thereof Provided That said trustees shall in no case levy a tax upon lots owned by the state county ^nor upon any land untill the same shall have been laid of into town lots^

Sec 7 That upon the application of the owners of two thirds of real estate on any street or parts of a street it shall be lawful for the board of trustees to levy and collect a special tax on the owners of the lots on the said street or parts of street according to their respective fronts for the purpose of grading and paving the side walks on said street

Sec 8 That the board of trustees shall have power to regulate grade pave and improve the streets avenues lanes and alleys within the limits of said town and to extend open and widen the same making the person or persons injured thereby adequate compensation to ascertain which the board shall cause to be summoned twelve good and lawful men freeholders and inhabitants of said town not directly interested who (being first sworn for the purpose)

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shall inquire into and take into consideration as well the benefits as the injury which may accrue and estimate and assess the damages which would be sustained by reason of the opening extension widening of any street avenue lane or alley and shall moreover estimate the amount which other persons will be benefited thereby and shall contribute towards compensating the persons injured all of which shall be returned to the board of trustees under their hands and seals and the person or persons who shall be benefited and so assessed shall pay the same in such manner as shall be provided and the residue if any shall be paid out of the town treasury

Sec 9 All ordinances shall within ten days after they are passed be published in a newspaper printed in said town and posted in three of the most public places thereof

Sec 10. That when any real estate in said town shall have been sold by the authority of the corporation thereof for the non-payment of any tax that may have been levied upon the same the same shall be subject to redemption by the owner or owners thereof, his, her, or their agent or agents within one year after the same shall have been sold on paying to the treasurer of the board of trustees of said town double the amount of the taxes for which the same was sold together with the costs for the selling of the sameBut should the said lots or parts of lots so sold for the non-payment of the taxes aforesaid not to be redeemed within the time specified then in that event it shall be the duty of the president of the board of trustees of the said town to execute a deed with a special warranty signed by the president of said board and countersigned by the clerk thereof

Sec 11 It shall be the duty of the board of trustees to cause to be paid to the purchasers of lots all moneys which may have been paid to the treasurer over the costs of selling the same

Sec 12 The officers of said town (in addition to the trustees) shall consist of one clerk one street commissioner one treasurer one assessor and collector of taxes one town surveyor one or more measurers of wood and coal one of more measurers of lumber one or more measurers and weighers of grain and such other officers as the trustees of said town may deem necessary for the good of said town

Sec 13. That the president and trustees of said town shall whenever they may deem necessary order the formation of fire engine companies each to contain and firehook and ladder companiesThe fire engine companies each to contain from twenty-five to forty able bodied men of between the ages of eighteen and fifty years and no moreWhich companies shall ^be^ officered and governed by their own by-laws shall be formed only by voluntary enlistment. The fire-hook and ladder companies to contain each from fifteen to twenty-five able bodied men and no moreEvery member of each company shall be exempted from jury and military duty and whenever a member of such company shall have served twelve years he shall receive a discharge from the corporation signed by the president and shall forever thereafter be exempted from further military duty except in case of invasion

Sec 14 The members of the board of trustees and every officer of said corporation shall before entering on the duties of his office take an oathe or affirmation before some judge or justice of the peace to support the constitution

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of the United States and faithfully to demean themselves in said office

Sec 15 The trustees shall have power to divide the town into as many districts or wards as they from time to time may think necessary or proper for the good of said town

Sec 16 The trustees of said town of Peoria shall have full power to receive donations of lots or lands for any public buildings or other public works and to receive in the name of the corporation from individuals or companies deeds or of trust for lots or lands situate in the bounds of said town or within one mile thereof whenever the said trustees shall deem it for the interest of the said town to except such deeds of trust and when so received or accepted they and their successors shall perform the terms of all such deeds in perpetuity