In force Feb.[February] 27, 1841.
Person authorized to build dam.
Heighth.
Proviso.
Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That William Lewis, be, and he is hereby authorized to build and continue a mill-dam across the Big Muddy
fork of the Little Wabash river, on the north-west quarter of the south-east quarter of section twenty, township
five, range eight, east of the third principal meridian, in the county of Jasper.2 The said dam shall not exceed eight feet in height from the bed of the stream where said dam shall be built: Provided, Said Lewis shall be the owner of the lands on both sides of said stream, where said dam is to
be built.
Person authorized to build dam.
Proviso.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That John Ditter, be, and he is hereby authorized to build and continue a mill-dam across the Big Muddy
fork of the Little Wabash river, on the north-east quarter of section seven, township four north, range eight east
in the county of Clay.3 The said dam shall not exceed eight and a half feet from the bed of the stream; and
shall be constructed with a down stream slope, with a base of at least two horizontal
to each perpendicular foot, and shall be well and sufficiently planked and kept in
repair: Provided, The said John Ditter, his heirs and assigns, shall be the owners of the land on both sides of said river.
Noah Levett may build dam.
Heighth.
Proviso.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That Noah Levett be, and he is hereby authorized to build and continue a mill-dam across the Big Muddy
fork of Little Wabash river, in section twenty-two, township four, range eight east of the third principal meridian,
in the county of Clay.4 The said dam shall not exceed seven feet in height from the bed of the stream, and
shall be constructed with a down stream slope, with a base of at least two horizontal
to each perpendicular foot, and shall be well and sufficiently planked and kept in
repair: Provided, The said Noah Levett, his heirs or assigns shall be the owner of the land on both sides of the river where said dam shall be built.
H. Yates may build dam
Location
Heighth
Proviso.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That Howard Yates be, and he is hereby authorized to build and continue a mill-
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dam across the Big Muddy Fork of Little Wabash river, on the south-west quarter of the south east quarter of section number two, township
number three north, of range number eight east, of the third principal meridian, in
the county of Clay.5 The said dam shall not exceed six feet in heighth from the bed of the stream, and
shall be constructed with a down stream slope, with a base of at least two horizontal
to each perpendicular foot, and shall be well and sufficiently planked and kept in
repair: Provided, The said Yates, his heirs or assigns, shall be the owner of the lands on both sides of the stream where such dam shall be built.6Approved, February 27, 1841.
1Peter Green of a select committee, to which the House of Representatives referred several petitions, introduced HB 177 in the House on February 3, 1841. The House passed the bill on February 10. The
Senate concurred on February 24. On February 27, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 317-18, 336, 358, 503, 546, 552, 564; Illinois Senate Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 291, 396-97.
4Located in the eastern portion of Clay County, southeast of Ingraham and southeast of the location for the mill-dam to be built
by John Ditter.
6In January 1840, the General Assembly considered but took no final action on a bill authorizing Yates to build a mill-dam at the exact same location.
Printed Document, 2 page(s), Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Twelfth General Assembly (Springfield, IL: William Walters, 1841), 188-89, GA Session 12-2,