Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That Charles Hayward, Loring Delana, and Allen H. Howland, and their associates, heirs and assigns, be, and they hereby are, constituted a body

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politic and corporate, by the name and style of “The Ottawa Centre Bridge Company,” with the sole power vested in them and their successors, in their corporate name, of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and being answered, defending and being defended, in all courts of law and equity whatsoever; may make, have, and use a common seal, and break, alter, or renew the same at pleasure; may purchase, take, and hold such property, whether real, personal, or mixed, as they shall deem reasonable to carry into effect the object of said company; may exchange, sell, or otherwise dispose of the same; and may also establish, ordain, and put in execution, such ordinances, regulations, and by-laws as may be proper, necessary, or convenient for the government of said company or incorporation, not contrary to the laws or the constitution of this State or the United States: Provided, That the real estate to be owned by said corporation shall not exceed one hundred and sixty acres.

Sec. 2. The capital stock of said company shall not exceed ten thousand dollars, and shall be divided in such number of shares, and of such amount each, as the said Charles Hayward, Loring Delana, and Allen H. Howland, and associates, heirs and assigns, shall think proper.

Sec. 3. A majority of the stockholders of said company shall constitute a quorum to do business, and shall hold their first meeting, for the purpose of choosing such officers to transact the business of the company as shall be proper, at such time and place as the said Charles Hayward, Loring Delana, and Allen H. Howland, or any two of them, shall appoint, by giving thirty days’ notice in one of the nearest public journals to the bridge site; at which meeting each and every stockholder, either in person or by proxy, shall be entitled to one vote for each and every share of the stock he or she may own; and the said officers when duly elected, or a majority of the stockholders, as the company shall determine, shall have power to call for such instalments on each share as may be deemed necessary for the interest of the company; and in case of a failure on the part of any stockholder, his heirs or assigns, to pay said instalment within thirty days after being required, all the interest they may have or possess in said company shall be forfeited to the members thereof: Provided, That four weeks’ notice of such call shall have been given, either in writing or in some newspaper printed in La Salle county. This act shall not be so construed as to interfere with the rights acquired by an act passed at the present session of the General Assembly, authorizing Wm. E. Armstrong to build a bridge across Fox river: Provided, however, the said Armstrong shall make a selection of the point where he intends to erect his bridge, within six months after the passage of this act.

Sec. 4. The said company shall have power, and are hereby authorized, to erect a bridge across the Fox river at any point on section twelve, town thirty-three north, of range three, east of third principal meridian, not interfering with the site for the acqueduct of the Illinois and Michigan canal; said bridge to be so constructed as to afford a safe and free passage to all travel, and be kept in good repair for the purpose intended.

Sec. 5. The said company shall, within one year from the first day of April next, commence the building of said bridge across said Fox river, and shall complete the same within two years thereafter; otherwise this act shall be null and void.

Sec. 6. As soon as the said bridge shall be completed it shall and may be lawful for the said corporation to erect a toll-gate at the end of or on said bridge, and to demand and receive the same rates of toll for passing the same as are now established and received for ferriage across said Fox river in the town of Ottawa.

Sec. 7. The stock of said company shall be deemed personal property, and assignable and transferable on the books of the company; but no stockholder, or his legal representatives, indebted to the corporation, shall have power to make a transfer until such debt be paid, or secured to be paid, to the satisfaction of the officers of said company, or a majority of the stockholders.

Sec. 8. This act of incorporation shall be and continue in force for and during the term of twenty-five years from and after its passage, and no longer.

Sec. 9. This act is hereby declared to be a public act, and shall take effect from and after its passage.

Approved, March 2, 1839.