sec[Section] 1 Be it Enacted by the people of the state of Illinois Represented in the General Assembly, That William L May his heirs & assigns, be and they are hereby authorized to Establish a ferry across at the out let of Lake Peoria and to run the same from both sides of said out let on the Illinois River Either from any bublick highway or from any lands or lots owned which are or may be owned by them
sec 2 The said William L May his heirs and assigns shall at all times keep a sufficient number of boats[,] hands[,] oars [,]and poles to afford at all times a safe and speedy transportion of all travelers and other persons who may desire to cross said River with their Horses[,] waggons[,] carriages[,] [ ?] ^and^ other property, And the said ferry shall at all times be subject to all ^the^ rules and regulations which now are or ^may^ hereafter be provided by law to regulate ferries in this state
sec 3 In consideration of the obligations hereinafter imposed the said William L May his heirs and assigns, Shall have the right ^of^ Ferrying and receiving toll therefor at the said outlet for and during the term of fifteen years from the first of February 1840
sec 4 The said Wm L May his heirs and assigns
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Shall be authorized to receive the same tolls as are now allowed or that may hereafter be allowed by the county commissioners court of Peoria county at the ferry Established at the said out let of Lake Peoria
[Sec] 5 The said William L May his heirs and assigns, shall at all ti[mes] during the Existence of the privalege hereby granted afford a free passage to all persons and their ^Horse teams waggons and^ property who are the citizens of what is now Tazewell county, whenever the said citizens of Tazewell county shall be desirous of crossing at the said ferry for the purposes of Trade and for the purpose of consulting or Employing a phisician or Lawyer with any of the inhabitants of the Town of Peoria or for the purpose of consulting or Employing any phisician or Lawyer of said Town
Sec 6 If the said Wm L May his heirs and assigns shall at any time after the provisions of this act takes Effect demand or receive any ^toll^ or ferriage from any citizen of Tazewell county who may desire to cross at said ferry for the purpose afforesaid of trading or transacting business as afforesaid and who shall demand his Exemption as afforesaid, he or they shall forfeit for Every such offence to Every such person the sum of Five Dollars to be recovered with costs before any justice of the peace by action of debt

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Sec 7 The licence and privalege hereby granted shall be liable to be revoked by information in the nature of a quo-warranto to be filed in the circuit courts Either of Tazewell or Peoria county, if at any time hereafter the said William L May his heirs or assigns shall fail to keep at said ferry a sufficient number of boats[,] oars[,] poles[,] and hands to afford a passage to all persons with their property who may desire to cross said ferry with safety and reasonable speed, or if at any time he or they shall knowingly and wilfully fail or neglect to comply with any of the provisions of this act
Sec 8 The said Wm L May his heirs and assigns shall annually on the first day of Sept[September] in Each and Every year pay into the county Treasury of the county of Peoria the sum of fifty Dollars for the use of said county & shall at the same time in Each year pay a like sum of fifty dollars into the Treasury of the Town of Peoria to be Expended under the direction of the Trustees of said town in improving ^so much of^ the state Road leading from Peoria to springfield as lies between the Illinois River and the top of the Bluf, and if at any time the said May his heirs & assigns shall fail to pay the above amounts for the space of one month after the same shall become due, the licence hereby granted may be revoked as afforesaid

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Sec 9 If any person or persons shall by falsly Representing themselves to be citizens of Tazewell county, and going to Peoria for the purposes of Trade or the transaction of business as aforesaid procure a free passage across said River at the ferry aforesaid, Every such person shall forfeit and pay to the said William L May his heirs and assigns the sum of five Dollars for Every such offence to be recovered by action of debt in the name of the party aggrieved, before any justice of the peace having jurisdiction therein
Sec 10 The provisions of this act shall not take Effect unless the said William L May shall on or before the first day of April 1840 file in the office of the clerk of the county commissioners court of Peoria county a bond with one or more securities to be approved by said clerk in the penal sum of One Thousand dollars, payable to the county aaforesaid conditioned to perform all the duties required by this act
Sec 11 The county commissiors courts of the counties of Peoria and Tazewell is hereby inhibited from granting any licence to keep a ferry at the said outlet of Lake Peoria during the Existence of this grant, but nothing in this act shall be construed to interfere or prejudice any rights already obtained

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Sec 12 The Trustees of the Town of Peoria are hereby authorized to Expend under their direction the amount required by this act to be paid into the Treasury of said town by the said William L May upon so much of the state Road leading from Peoria to springfield as lies between the River & the top of the Bluff, also to case to be Expended any further sum or sums of money that they may think proper to Expend from time to time up on that part of the said Road

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[ docketing ]
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A Bill [F]or an act to [E]stablish a Ferry [a]cross the Illinois River
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[01]/[07]/[1840]
2
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[01]/[07]/[1840]
PaTo be Engrossed
B B

Handwritten Document, 6 page(s), Folder 258, SB 63, GA Session 11-S, Illinois State Archives (Springfield, IL) ,