An act to Establish a ferry upon the waters of the Mississippi River, within the limits of the City of Alton.

Sec[Section] 1^st

Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois represented in the general Assembly That Isaac Prickett, Benjamin Godfrey, Nathaniel Buckmaster[,] & William Martin, their associates, heirs, and assigns, be and they are hereby authorized to establish a ferry on the waters of the Mississippi River in the City of Alton, in this State, and to run the Same from the Public Landing in the City of Alton^or from such other point, or points, whithin the present limits of the City of Alton, as may be agreed upon by the owners, of the ferry & the owners of the land within said County.^. provided that they shall not use any boat or water craft except such as Shall be propelled or1 urged through the water by steam ^or^ horses ^power^ Oxen, or four footed Animals ^except in cases of emergency when smaller vessels may be temporarily employed for crossing^

Sec 2^d

That no person, or persons except those who have ferries now established within the present limits of the City of Alton, shall establish any ferry of the description, Aforesaid within said limits of the City of Alton; And if any person, or persons shall contrary to the provisions of this act, run, any boat or boats of the description Aforesaid, he, she or they shall forfeit every such boat with its furniture and Apparel, to the said Owners of said Ferry, their, heirs or Assigns, which may be attached, and reserved before any Court having competent Jurisdiction

Sec 3^d

That it shall be lawful for the said Owners of said ferry, their Associates, heirs, and Assigns, to demand and receive the same rates of ferriage as is now of right demandable at either of the two ferries, now crossing said Mississippi River nearest to the ferry authorized to be established by this act

Sec 4^th

That the ferry hereby established shall be subject to the same taxes, as are now or here after may be imposed on the other ferries within this State, and under the same regulations and forfeitures

Sec 5^th That if the company incorporated by this act shall for the space of six months neglect to carry out the provisions hereof the said privileges hereby granted shall cease and determine and if it shall hereafter appear that facilities for crossing said River shall not be provided ^for a space of one^month^ ^ a suit may be instituted against said company by any person desiring the same and the charter hereby granted declared to void

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the same and the said charter declared to be forfeited Provided said person instituting said suit shall enter into Bond and security to indemnify said company for any injury sustained by reason of bringing said suit