Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force 20th July, 1837.

AN ACT to authorize John Green and William Stadden, to build a Toll Bridge across Fox River.
1

Green & Stadden, authorized to build a toll bridge.

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That John Green and William Stadden, their heirs and assigns, be and they are hereby authorized to build a toll bridge across Fox River; in town ship number thirty-four, north of range number four east, on section number twenty-nine at the town of Dayton, in La Salle county, State of Illinois.

Commence building within two years and and complete in five years.

How built.

Sec. 2. The said John Green and William Stadden, their heirs or assigns shall commence the building of said bridge within two years, and complete said bridge within five years from and after the passage of this act; said bridge shall be built in a good and workmanlike manner, so as to give a safe and easy passage to all persons and their property wishing to cross said bridge.

Toll gate.

Tolls.
County commissioners fix rates of toll.

Sec. 3. After said bridge shall be completed, the said John Green and William Stadden, their heirs or assigns, are hereby authorized to place a toll gate on either end of said bridge or elsewhere, where they may ask and receive of all and every person passing said bridge such toll as the county commissioners’ court shall fix from time to time.

Liability of charter to be forfeited.

Proviso.

Sec. 4. If said bridge shall be out of repair for more than six months at any one time, said charter shall be forfeited; Provided, That destruction of said bridge by fire, high water, other casualty shall not work a forfeiture of the privileges hereby granted, but said Green and Stadden, their heirs or assigns, shall proceed immediately to repair the same.

If persons shall injure, shall forfeit.

Sec. 5. If any person or persons shall wilfully do or cause to be done any injury to said bridge, the person or persons so offending shall forfeit and pay to the said Green and Stadden, their heirs or assigns, double the amount of such injury or damages, to be recovered before any court having jurisdiction of the same.

May purchase and hold estate.

Sec. 6. The said Green and Stadden, their heirs or assigns, shall be entitled to purchase, hold and convey, so much real estate as may be necessary to construct the aforesaid bridge, and erect a toll house or whatever many be necessary for the use and purposes of said bridge.

Sec. 7. This act to be in force from and after its passage.

Approved, 20th July, 1837.

1William Stadden introduced SB 8 in the Senate on July 12, 1837. The Senate passed the bill on July 14. The House of Representatives concurred on July 17. On July 20, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Journal of the House of Representatives of the Tenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at a Special Session of the General Assembly, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, July 10, 1837 (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1837), 56, 65, 97-98, 124; Journal of the Senate of the Tenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at a Special Session, Begun and Held in Vandalia, July 10, 1837 (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1837), 43, 45, 50, 79, 108-109, 114-15.