In force, Feb.[February] 19, 1839.
AN ACT to authorize the building of a bridge across the Des Plaines river.
1G. W. Smith may build toll-bridge.
Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That George W. Smith, his associates and their assigns, are hereby authorized to build a toll-bridge across
the Des Plaines river, on the northeast quarter of section eleven, in township thirty-nine, of range twelve,
east of the third principal meridian; and, also, on the southeast quarter of section
two, in the same township and range.
Rates of toll.
Sec. 2. The rates of toll for passing over said bridge shall be as follows: For every four-wheeled
carriage, wagon, or sleigh, with four or more horses, oxen, or mules, fifty cents;
for every like wagon, or carriage, or sleigh, with (two) horses, oxen, or mules, thirty-seven
and a-half cents; for every other description of carriage, wagon, cart, or vehicle,
drawn by one animal, twenty-five cents; for a man and horse, twelve and a half cents;
for a person on foot, six cents; for each horse, mule, ass, or head of neat cattle,
two cents, and for each head of hogs, sheep, goats, or other animals not enumerated,
one cent.
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Time of commencement & completion.
Sec. 3. The said bridge shall be be[be] begun and completed within three years, from and after the passage of this act, and
shall at all times, after the completion thereof, be kept in good and substantial
repair, and admit a safe passage of all persons and their property over it, on the
payment of the toll herein specified.
Fine for damage to bridge.
Sec. 4. If any person shall do, or cause to be done, any injury or damage to the said bridge,
by design, the person so doing or causing such injury shall forfeit and pay to the
owners of the said bridge a sum of double the value of the amount of such injury or
damage; which may be recovered before a justice of the peace, and, if over one hundred
dollars, before the circuit court of the county in which such bridge shall be erected.
If bridge shall be destroyed.
Sec. 5. That in case the bridge shall be destroyed by high water, fire, or other casualty,
it shall not create a forfeiture of the rights conferred by this act; but one year
shall be allowed for the re-erection thereof, after the happening of such destruction
by any of the casualties named.
Approved, February 19, 1839.
1On February 5, 1839, Senator Ebenezer Peck introduced SB 185 in the Senate. On February 7, the Senate passed the bill. On February 14, the House of Representatives passed the bill. On February 19, 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), 367, 406-407, 428;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), 276, 293, 337, 348, 370.
Printed Document, 2 page(s), Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Eleventh General Assembly (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1839), 132-33, GA Session: 11-1,