Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force 3d March, 1837

AN ACT to locate a road from Cleaveland in Tazewell county, to Versailles in McLean county, and for other purposes
1

Commissioners appointed to locate road.

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That James Robertson of McLean county, Isaac Dorderant2 and F. A. Whipple3 of Tazewell county, be and they are [here]by appointed commissioners to view, mark and locate [a] State road4 from the town of Cleveland, opposite the town of Peoria on the Illinois river, on the ne[ar]est and best route to the west end of Peoria street, in the town of Washington, in the county of Tazewell aforesaid, from thence through the said street on the nearest and best route to the town of Versailles, in the county of McLean.

Commissioners appointed to locate road.

Sec. 2. That John O’Brian , Esq.[Esquire] John Roberts and Philip Varble, of the county of Tazewell, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to view, mark and locate a State road from the town of Pekin on the Illinois river, via the town of Groveland, and to the south end of Phelps’ lane, on the most eligible route to intersect the Springfield and Ottawa road, near the town of Washington, in the county of Tazewell.

<Page 2>

Their compensation.

Sec. 3. Said commissioners shall receive such compensation, as the county commissioners court of Tazewell county shall see proper to allow; and said roads shall be opened at least four rods wide, and kept in repair as other State roads are.

This act to be in force from and after its passage.

Approved, March 3, 1837.

1On February 13, 1837, Benjamin Mitchell introduced SB 237 in the Senate. The Senate referred the bill to a select committee. The select committee reported back the bill on February 22 with an amendment, in which the Senate concurred. On February 23, the Senate passed the bill as amended, amending the title by adding the words “and for other purposes.” and referred it to the House. On February 28, the House of Representatives passed the bill. On March 3, the Council of Revision approved the bill, and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 686, 761, 820; Illinois Senate Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 407, 485, 494, 582, 608-609, 611-12.

2Clerks transcribing the bill record this name as “Isaac Bondurant.” The bill rendering appears to be correct.

3Clerks transcribing the bill record this name as “E. A. Whipple.” The bill rendering appears to be correct.

4State 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.