Sec[Section] 1 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly. That John Ritchie, John Logan[,] William, B Cowan, Thomas Jenkins, William Lagate, John Croghan, William Croghan[,] Richard Lane, John E Cowan, Pierre Menard[,] William Kinny[,] Alexander P Field[,] and such other persons as may associate with them by subscribing stock as hereinafter authorised, be and they are hereby Constituted a body politick and corporate by the name of the “Mississippi Grand Tower Bridge Company” and by that name they and their successors shall and may hereafter have succession and shall in law be capable of suing and being sued pleading and being impleaded answer and being answered unto, in all Courts and places whatsoever, and they and their successors may have a Common seal, and may alter and change the same at pleasure, and also they and their successors by that name and style, shall be in law capable of purchaising, holding[,] and conveying any estate real and personal, for the use of the said Corporation; but the said real estate so to be holden shall be such only as shall be necessary for the transaction of the business of said Corporation, at each end of said bridge.

Sec. 2. That the Capital stock of said Company shall be two hundred and fifty thousand with the previlege of encreasing the same to five hundred thousand dollars by new subscriptions, in such maner and form as they shall think proper, if such increase shall be found necessary to fill the intent

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of this act which said Capital stock shall be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each, which shall be deemed personal property, and be transferable in such maner as said Corporation shall in their by laws order and direct.

Sec. 3. The said John Ritchie[,] John Logan, William B Cowan, Thomas Jenkins, William Lagate, John Croghan[,] William Croghan[,] Richard Lane[,] John E Cowan[,] Pierrie Menard, William Kinny[,] and Alexander P Field are hereby appointed Commissioners the duty of whom it shall be to open books in the following places towit: At S^t Louis, Louisville[,] Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Wheeling and such other places as the commissioners may deem necessary, and shall advertise the times and places of opening said books in the Carthagenian and such other newspapers in this State or elsewhere as they may think proper, giving at least thirty days notice of the time and place of opening books. If the whole of the Capital stock herein naimed shall not be subscribed for at the time and place appointed for such subscription, said Commissioners or a majority of them, shall take such measures for completing such subscription, as they may deem expedient and proper, and every subscription shall at the time of subscribing, pay to said Commissioners the sum of one dollar on each share subscribed.

Sec 4. As soon as the capital stock shall be subscribed the Commissioners shall give notice thereof in like maner and appoint the time and place designating the same . . .