In force, Mar.[March] 1, 1839.
AN ACT to authorize Narcisse Pensaneau to build a bridge over the Kaskaskia, at Athens, in St. Clair county.
1Toll-bridge.
Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That Narcisse Pensaneau, his heirs and assigns, be, and he is hereby, authorized to build a toll-bridge across the Kaskaskia river, at the town of Athens, in St. Clair county.
Time of commencement & completion.
Sec. 2. The said Narcisse Pensaneau, his heirs and assigns, shall commence the building of said bridge within two years, and complete the same
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.
Sec. 3. After said bridge shall be completed, the said Pensaneau, his heirs and assigns, are hereby authorized to place a toll-gate on either end, or elsewhere, of said bridge,
where they may ask and receive, of all and every person passing said bridge, such
toll as the county commissioners’ court of said county shall fix from time to time.
Proviso.
Sec. 4. If the said bridge shall be out of repair for more than six months at any one
time, said charter shall be forfeited: Provided destruction of said bridge by high water, fire[,] or other casualty, shall not work a forfeiture of the privileges hereby granted;
but the said Pensaneau, his heirs and assigns, shall proceed immediately to repair the same.
Injury done to bridge.
Sec. 5. If any person or persons shall willfully do or cause to be done any injury to said
bridge, the person or persons
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so offending shall forfeit and pay to the said Pensaneau, his heirs and assigns, double the amount of such injury or damages, to be recovered
before any court having jurisdiction, and be liable as in other cases to criminal
prosecution.
Sec. 6. Said bridge is to be so constructed as not in any manner to impede the navigation
of said river.
Sec. 7. This act to be in force from and after its passage.
Approved, March 1, 1839.
1On February 19, John Thomas introduced HB 322 in the House of Representatives. On February 26, the House passed the bill. On February 28, the Senate passed the bill. On March 1, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Journal of the House of Representatives of the Eleventh General Assembly of the State
of Illinois, at their First Session, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, December
3, 1838 (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1838), 437, 458, 516, 562, 568, 574-75; Journal of the Senate of the Eleventh General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at
their First Session, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, December 3, 1838 (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1838), 418, 460-61, 475.
Printed Document, 2 page(s), Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Eleventh General Assembly (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1839), 237-38, GA Session: 11-1,
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