Sec[Section] 1 Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly. That Hezekiah H Gear and such other persons as he may associates with him, be and they are hereby declared to be a Body corporate and Politic for twenty Years under the name and Style of the [“]Galena Mining Smelting and Hydraulic Company” and by this title shall be capable of suing and being suid, to plead and be impleaded, of defending and being defended, in all courts and places whatsoever, and may have a common seal, and may change the same at pleasure.

Sec 2 The capital stock of said company shall be divided into not more than three thousand shares of one hundred dollars Each, and the “Diggings of the said H. H. Gear at Tower Hill ridge farm, part of the capital stock, and the saidcompany shall be authorised to purchase and hold and convey any lands in the County of Joe Daviess for the purpose of conducting their mining, smelting[,] and Hydraulic operations. Provided, They shall not hold or possess more than three thousand acres of land, and said operations of mining, smelting, and Hydraulic power, shall be confined to the present limits of the county of Joe Daviess and all Deeds Executed by the President in the name of said company, or to said company by their corporate name, shall be sufficient in law to convey the title to the land therein named, the

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business of said company, shall be managed, by three or more directors. Provided, The2 number of directors shall not Exceed five, who shall be annually Elected on the first Monday in may and shall hold their offices one year and until others are Elected, Provided always that no person shall be Elected as director, of said company or hold such office of director Except he be a stockholder in said company.

Sec 3 The President and Directors of said company shall have power to appoint all such subordinate officers as they may deem Expedient whose duties and compensation shall be determined by the president and directors.

Sec 4 The President and Directors shall have power to transact all business of the company to wit, That of mining and Smelting and conveying water to the town of Galena, and Every thing connected therewith by themselves or their agents, and shall with a majority of the stockholders have power to make such Bye Laws, rules[,] and regulations for the government of said company as they may deem proper. Provided such Bye Laws, rules[,] and regulations are not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the United States or the Laws of this State.

Sec 5 The shares of said company shall be personal property and shall be transferable in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Bye Laws of said company and shall be liable to taxation, to the same Extent and no greater, as other property is, and to be taken in Execution in the same manner as any other personal property is or may hereafter be liable by law to be taken and it shall be competent for the Legislature to prescribe the manner in which Execu[ti]on shall be levied thereon

Sec 6 This act shall be deemed a public act and shall take effect from and after its passage.