Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That all such persons as shall become subscribers to the stock hereinafter mentioned, shall be, and they are hereby, constituted and declared a body corporate and politic, by the name and style of the “Sangamon Coal Bank Bridge Company,” from and after the passage of this act, and by that name they and their successors shall, in law, be capable of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answer and be answered, in all courts and places whatsoever; and they and their successors may have a common seal, and may alter and change the same at pleasure; and also they and their successors, by that name and style, shall be, in law, capable of purchasing, holding and conveying any estate, real and personal, which may be necessary to enable the said company to carry out the expressed objects for which they are incorporated, and none other. The chartered existence of said company shall cease at the expiration of twenty years from the passage hereof, and the stock thereof shall be deemed and considered personal property.

Sec. 2. That the capital stock of said company shall be three thousand dollars, divided into three hundred shares of ten dollars each; and James F. Reed, Gersham Keys, Thomas J. Knox, William Pickerell and Thomas Simpson, of Sangamon county, and Samuel Nesbit, of Macon county, are hereby appointed commissioners to receive subscription for said stock ; and such subscription shall be opened at such times and places as the commissioners, or a majority of them, shall appoint, by notice to be published in the Journal and Register papers, printed in the town of Springfield, at least twenty days before the time appointed. If the requisite number of shares shall not be subscribed for, at the time and places appointed for such subscription, said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall take such measures for compelling (completing) such subscription as they may deem expedient and proper. Every subscriber shall, at the time of subscribing, pay to said commissioners the sum of one dollar for each share subscribed, and the remainder at such times and in such sums as the interest of said company may require.

Sec. 3. As soon as two-thirds of the shares shall be subscribed, the commissioners shall give notice thereof, in the manner aforesaid, and appoint the time and place in such notice for the subscribers to meet, for the purpose of choosing a treasurer, clerk, and five directors. Every stockholder shall be entitled, at such and all other elections, to one vote for each share to the number of ten, and one vote for every five additional shares, which votes may be given in person or by proxy, at the election to be held as aforesaid; the said commissioners, or such of them as may attend, shall be inspectors, and their certificate of the names of persons elected, shall be con-

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clusive evidence of such election. The first Monday in the month in which such election shall be held, shall be the anniversity day of all subsequent elections of such officers. A majority of the directors, so chosen, shall be a quorum, and shall be capable of transacting the business of the corporation. Any act of the majority shall be binding on the corporation. The said directors, when elected as aforesaid, shall immediately proceed to elect one of their number as president; and the said president and directors may meet from time to time, and shall have power to make such by-laws, rules and regulations, as shall be deemed expedient and proper for the well-ordering of the affairs of the said corporation: Provided, The same be not repugnant to the constitution and laws of the State and the United States.

Sec. 4. The said corporation is hereby authorized and empowered to erect a bridge over the Sangamon river at the coal bank, crossing where the road leading from Springfield to Decatur crosses said river.

Sec. 5. The said president and directors, or other persons employed by them, may enter upon and take possession of the land on each side of the river where such bridge shall be erected; and the said corporation, on taking possession of such land, and on receiving a conveyance thereof, shall pay the value of so much of the same as may be necessary for making and erecting said bridge, and establish a gate, toll-house, and other works necessary for said bridge; and in case of disagreement between the parties as to such value, the same shall and may be ascertained by three disinterested freeholders of the county, who shall be appointed for that purpose, as may be agreed on by the parties, and shall be sworn to make a just valuation thereof.

Sec. 6. As soon as the bridge shall be completed, it shall be lawful for said corporation to erect a gate at the end of said bridge, and demand and receive the same rates of toll as is allowed by the county court of Sangamon county to ferries kept on said river: Provided, That all persons, citizens of Sangamon county, shall have a right to cross said bridge, in going to or returning from any muster or election in said county; and all grand and petit jurors, in going to and returning from courts, shall be permitted to cross said bridge free of toll.

Sec. 7. If any person or persons shall wilfully and maliciously do or cause to be done any act whatsoever whereby the said bridge, or any thing appertaining to the same, shall be impaired, injured or destroyed, the said person or persons so offending, shall forfeit and pay to the said corporation treble the amount of damages occasioned thereby, to be recovered by said corporation, with costs of suit in an action of trespass, in any court having competent jurisdiction thereof.

Sec. 8. If any toll-gatherer shall unreasonably delay or hinder any traveller from passing said bridge, or shall demand or receive more toll than is allowed by this act, he shall for every

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such offence forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding ten dollars, with cost of suit, to be recovered before any justice of the peace of said county for the use of the person hindered or defrauded.

Sec. 9. At any time after the completion of said bridge, the county commissioners of Sangamon county shall have the right to purchase said bridge by making the same free to all persons crossing the same, by paying to said corporation the cost of constructing the same with ten per cent. interest thereon.

Approved, February 3, 1840.