An act to establish the “Mississippi Ferry Company, at Savanna” and for other purposes.
Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly. That Luther H. Bowen ^Benjamin Church, Aaron Pierce^ and thier associates, heirs and assigns be and they are hereby constituted a body corporate and politic by the name and style of the “Mississippi ^Ferry^ Company at Savanna” in the County of Carroll and state of Illinois, with power to establish and maintain the Ferry herein granted for and during the term of twenty ^ten^ Years from and after the passage of this act.
Sec. 2. The Boat or Boats necessary for the conducting of said ferry may be so constructed as to be propelled by steam, horse[,] or other power or means as the proprietors may deem expedient.
Sec. 3. The said corporation hereby created shall have succession for the time aforesaid for and during that time shall have power in the name of the corporation of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and being answered unto in all courts of competent Jurisdiction; may have ^and use^ a common seal and may alter and change the same at pleasure; and in their corporate name shall be capable in law to purchase and hold, and convey any estate, real[,] personal[,] or mixed that may be necessary for the use of said Ferry not exceeding ten acres, of Land

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Sec 4. The capital stock of Said Company shall be Twelve Thousand Dollars which shall be divided into Shares of Fifty Dollars each, which shall be taken and held to be personal property. The capital Stock of Said corporation may be increased to any amount not exceeding Twenty Thousand Dollars. When a majority of the stock holders shall deem such increase necessary for the objects herein contemplated
Sec. 5. The Trustees aforesaid shall open books for the subscription of said Stock on the first Monday of ^May^ or as soon thereafter as is convenient, at Savanna and such other places, as they may deem propper by giving at least twenty days ^public^ notice thereof, and like notice shall be given when it is necessary to increase the capital stock.
Sec. 6. At the time of subscribing for sto[ck] Two dollars shall be paid on each share subscribed for and as soon as the whole or one hundred shares of the capital stock is subscribed, the trustees shall close the books and shall order meetings of the stock holders to be held at Savanna, by giving Ten days public notice thereof for the election of Seven Trustees of said Corporation, the election shall be conducted by the trustees named in this act, or a majority of them, and at said election the stock holders shall be
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entitled to one vote for each share of stock owned, (and at every subsequent election, one vote for each share owned at least Ten days before said election) and the persons having a plurality of votes shall be declared duly elected Trustees, the present trustees shall then deliver the books and all papers appertaining to the said corporation to the trustees elect: and
Sec. 7. A Majority of the trustees for the time being shall be a quorum for the transaction of business, and within Ten days after the election they shall meet and organize by electing one of their number President of the board and appointing a Clerk and treasurer and such other officers as they may deem expedient, and require of all or any one such bonds as they may deem the safety of the Corporation to require, and the trustees shall have power to form bye laws and regulations for the government of the corporation not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this state
Sec. 8. When the said ferry is established it shall and may be lawful for the said Company their assigns and successors to demand and receive from all persons crossing said ferry for and during the time aforesaid the following rates of
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Ferriage, vidilicet, For each loaded Wagon drawn by two Horses or oxen one Dollar and fifty cents and for each additional animal by which the same is drawn twenty five Cents for the same without a load one Dollar and twenty five cents; and for each additional animal twenty five cents, for each sulkey[,] Gig or other vehicle drawn by one horse, and driver, seventy five Cents, for each cart, Barroach, or other pleasure carriage drawn by two horses and the driver, one dollar and fifty Cents and twenty five Cents for each additional horse, for each man and horse fifty Cents for each head of neat Cattle twelve and an half Cents, for each head of sheep, hogs[,] or goats six and one fourth Cents for each footman twenty five Cents and for crossing freight twelve and an half cents for each one hundred pound weight.
Sec. 9. The Ferry hereby granted shall be in ^all^ respects governed by the laws regulating Ferries, toll Bridges[,] and turnpike roads except as is herein otherwise provided
Sec. 10. And that Hernan Hoit[,] Charles M Franklin[,] and Henry Hulse shall be trustees for the subscription of the capital stock of the “Pickatonica Toll Bridge Company” hereby created, who or a majority of them shall open Books for subscription at the House of Alva Frask, Frask[]s Ferry in Winnebago County on the first Monday in September next
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by giving Thirty days public notice thereof.
The capital stock of saidcorporation shall be FourThousand Dollars, with power to increase the same to Ten Thousand Dollars, When a majority of the stock holders shall deem such increase necessary, the stock shall be divided in to shares of twenty Dollars each and at the time of subscribing, one dollar shall be paid in on each share subscribed for, and as soon as the capital stock is subscribed, or one hundred shares thereof, the Trustees shall close the books and proceed to organize said Company as is provided in this Bill For the Mississippi Ferry Company.
Sec. 11. The said Bridge shall be so constructed as not to obstruct the free navigation of the said Peckatonica River for Rafts[,] Boats or Steam Boats and when finished the rates of Toll shall be fixed by the County Commissioners Court of Winnebago County. And each corporation shall after the first election as herein provided, cause an election to be held annually thereafter for the election of Trustees, and if at any time such election shall not be held on the Mondays, annually as herein provided the corporate powers shall not be forfeited if the trustees shall cause such election to be held within Sixty days thereafter
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The trustees shall have power to require the payment from time to time of such sums on each share as they may deem necessary, and in their bye laws declare what shall constitute a forfeiture of stock for failure to pay the amounts so required
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No 257
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A Bill for An Act to establish the “Mississippi Ferry Company at Savanna” and for other purposes.
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[02]/[16]/[1839]
to be Engrossed
Clk. H. R