An act to incorporate the Missisippi bridge C^o

Sec [Section]1

Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois represented in the general assembly

That Daniel D Page[,] A. H Evans[,] Ge^o E Walker[,] Calvin Case[,] Miron Leslie[,] A. R. Corbin[,] Hugh Oneil[,] Geo Mourton[,] and Charles Collins with their associates be and they are hereby created a body politic and corporate by the name and style of the Missisippi bridge Company for the purpose of erecting a bridge over the missisippi river at or near S^t Louis and they and their associates[,] successors and the stockholders in the company hereby created shall have perpetual succession and by that name and style are hereby made as capable in law as natural persons to contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued, to plad and be impleaded in all courts of law and equity shall have all the power[,] priviledge[,] and franchise incident to a publick corporation to make and use a common seal and the same to alter and amend at pleasure, and generally to do and execute all acts matters and things which a corporation, body politic, or an individual could or may lawfully do, provided that the construction of said bridge shall not in any manner obstruct the free navigation of said river

Sec 2

The capital stock of said company shall be one million of dollars which shall be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each, and the persons before named or a majority of them shall cause books to be opened for the subscription of the stock of the said company at such times and places as they may direct until the whole stock is taken up

Sec 3 As soon as half the amount of the capital stock shall be subscribed the said persons or a majority of them shall advertise a meeting of the stockholders giveing ten days notice of the time and place of such meeting, when they shall procede to the election of a president and six directors from among the stock holders of said company, and such of the persons mentioned in the first section of this act, as shall not hold any of said stock shall cease to be members of said corporation All officers so elected shall hold their office one year and until their successors ^are^ chosen each share of stock shall entitle the holder to one vote all vacancies shall be filled by a majority of the directors

Sec 4

The said company may enter upon purchase and take possession of somutch of the land at and near the eastern termination of said birdge as may be necessary for the erection of the same also for a toll house and ^necessary^ roads leading to said bridge and in case of a disagreement between the parties as to the value of said land the same shall be determined by a jury of twelve men, freeholders of the county of Saint clair who shall be appointed for that purpose by the county commissioners court of said county on application of either party and the company shall pay the award of said jury (which jury shall be sworn to make a just valuation) to the owner or owners of said land and receive a title therefor in fee simple, and in case of a refusal on the part of the owners to recieve the valuation and make the conveyance as aforesaid the same may be paid into the county treasury for the use of the owners of said land whereupon the treasurer of said county shall by deed in fee simple convey said land to said company which conveyance shall pass to said company all ^such^ the estate of said owners both in law and equity

Sec 5 The company shall have power by the president and directors thereof to make such ordinancies and by-laws as they may deem proper for the carrying on and regulating the business of said company, not inconsistant with the laws of the state ^ and the united States ^

Sec 6

The company shall have power to purchase any quantity of land not excedeing in value thirty thousand dollars and erect a saw mill and other manufactoring establishments, they shall have power to manufactor their own lumber and all other materials necessary for the construction of said bridge and to do all acts that they may deem ^be^ proper and necessary to forward the interest of said company and the speedy completion of said bridge

Sec 7 It shall and may be lawful for said company to erect toll gates at the end of said bridge and to demand and receive the following rates of toll viz. one half of the rates now received by the S^t Louis ferry company2

This act shall be a publick act of the State of Illinois and shall be construed liberally for the benefit of said company

Sec 8

If the legislature of this State shall after the expiration of Twenty years from the completion of said bridge make provision by law and pay over to said company the their value of the same with the fixtures and appertinances 3 thereunto belonging then and in that case the said bridge with all its fixtures and appurtinances shall vest in and become the property of the StateThis act to be in force from and after its passage

Sec 9

The company shall not be required to commence said bridge ^within^ until two years after ^the passage of this act^ [?] of obtain a charter similar to this from the legislature of Missouri but ^&^ they shall be required to complete the same within ten years thereafter or the legislature may declare this charter forfeited And when said bridge shall have been completed the company shall at all times keep the same in good passible condition or be subject to such fines and penalties as the legislature may deem proper to remedy the evil. This act to be in force from and after its passage.