Sec [Section]1 Be it enacted by the People of the state of Illinois represented in the General Assembly, That George M Chambers, James Dunlap, William Conn, Marcus A Chinn[,] Joseph Thompson, Seth M Tinsley, A G Henry, Joshua F Speed, Charles Hardin, Joseph Klein, ^8^ William Butler, Ebenezer T Miller, & Matthew Stacy. ^ Philip Coffman, William Thomas, & Philip C Latham,^ and their assigns are hereby created a body corporate & politic under the name of “the Springfield, Jacksonville and Meredosia Rail Road Company2”, and by that name may be and sue and be sued, plead & be impleaded in all courts of law & equity in this state, and may have a common seal which they may alter at pleasure; and shall be and are hereby vested with all powers, privileges[,] and immunities, which are or may be necessary to carry into effect the3 act purposes and objects of this act as hereinafter set forth.

Sec 2 Said Company shall be and they are hereby authorised and empowered to construct and complete so much of the Northern Cross Rail Road as lies between the depot lot on the City of Springfield, and the Illinois River at Meredosia, on the line and track located by the engineers and Commissioners of thestate. And to enable them to carry into effect the foregoing powers purpose, the said Company

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are hereby authorised and empowered to take possession of, & to have & to hold, all the work of every kind and description already done, and all the materials, of every description, including all the timber ^& stone^ purchased by the state for the use of said Road ^and for so much of the northern Cross Rail Road as lies between Springfield and the Sangamon River.^. Also the Locomotives, Passenger and [Burthen?] Cars, and other things thereto pertaining,. Also all work shops, engine houses, Depots, and other buildings purchased by the state for the use of said road, together with all other fixtures, and property pu purchased by, or donated to the state for the purpose of the construction, or using of said so much of said Raid Road.

Sec 3 Said Company shall commence the work on said Rail Road within one year, and shall complete the same within two & a half.years, or the provisions of this act shall be void,. And in case they complete said Rail Road within the time aforesaid so that Locomotives and Cars, can run on the same from Springfield to the Illinois River, then they shall be entitled to use and occupy the same, with all the articles in the forego and property in the foregoing section mentioned, and shall enjoy all the profits of the same for and during the period of fifteen years from its completion.

Sec 4 Said Company at the expiration of the time [limited?] in the foregoing section shall return ^to the state^ said Rail Road from the depot at the City of Springfield to the Illinois River in such order and condition that it may be safely and usefully used for the purpose of transporting passengers & goods by cars propelled by Locomotive engines. They Said4 Company shall also at the same time, return all the property of every kind & description which they shall receive of the and from the state, except such as may have necessarily been used up, or worn out in the construction or running use of said Road.
(copy amendment)

Sec 5 Said Company shall have so much iron purchased by the state for the use of iron the said Roads, as may be necessary to lay down on said Rail Road, & may take and use for that purpose the Rail Iron, Road Iron [?] if the same be not sufficientto complete the laying down of the Iron on the Road, then the said Company may be permitted to use so much of the Rail Road Iron at Alton belonging to the state as may be necessary for that purpose. And this grant shall be considered as extending to authorising the use of ^so much many^ Iron bar bars, spikes[,] & plates, as may be necessary to complete the

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said Rail Road with all the necessary tunouts[,] double tracks, & other fixtures necessary for the use of the Road.

sec 6 Said Company shall [...?] make and execute a Bond to the Governor of this state & his successors in office, with good & sufficient [?] by him, [conditioned?] for the faithful performance of the duties imposed upon them by this act, & for the return of the property place of the state placed by this Bill in their possession. And said Company shall at all times export transport free of expense all the property of ^this^ state which shall at any time be required to be transported by them on the said Road by any of the officers of this state; And for ^each^ failure so to do said Company shall be liable to a fine of ten times the amount of the freight one hundred dollars to be recovered by action of debt in the name & behalf of the People of the state.

Sec 7 If said Company shall purch have purchased any Locomotives or Rail Road Cars ^or shall have erected any buildings^ which may be necessary for the use of said Road, & shall have the same on hand at the time the said Road is to be given up to the state, then they shall be allowed by the state wha ^whatever^ a sum for the same, equ which shall be reasonably worth.

sec 8. The said Corporators shall be & are hereby authorised to ^appoint such officers, and to^ make such rules and by laws, and ordinances for the as they may deem expedient & necessary to accomplish the purposes of, and carry into effect the provisions of this act, and for the regulating & securing the interests and affairs of said Company. And said Corporators or their regularly authorised agents or officers may contract and be contracted with in all things in relation to the effects and business of the Company as fully as natural persons can or may do. And for the purpose of facilitating the construction of said Rail Road as authorised by this act, the said Corporation is hereby authorised to negotiate a loan or loans of money to an amount not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars, and to pledge all its rights, credits, & franchises for the payment thereof.

Sec 9 If said Company shall require for the construction of said Road, any materials of any kind, fo then they shall proceed under the provisions of the laws if the for the right of Way, & after paying the condemnation money shall be authorised to take & use the timber, stone, or other materials [ma?] which may be condemned for the use of said Road

Amend the act

. . . 10. Be t further Enacted, That Royal Moore, James Dunlap, Halloway W. Vansyckle, Ch^s F. [Kimer?], Francis G. Murry, John White, James A. M^cDougal, D. O. Gillett Ira Rowan, John Piper, N. Hickock ^Hicox^ and their associates and successors are hereby constituted a body politick and Corporate with all the powers conferred in the foregoing sections of this act upon the persons named in the first section, and shall have power to take possession the Naples Branch5 of said Northern Cross Rail Road, and all property and fixtures prepared for and appertaining thereto, and to complete said Branch and to unite the same to the main road at any point which said Company may deem most proper, and to have all the powers, facilities[,] and advantages incidental to Corporations and, generally, to have all the authority and advantage in the finishing and using of said ^branch^ road which by Virtue of this act is Conferred upon the Corporate individuals, ^associates, and^ and successors and associates to the main road aforesaid. Said Company shall have authority and the right to run with steam or other powers all kinds of Cars upon said Branch which are run upon the main line, as well as the authority and privilege to run said Cars as aforesaid the whole line, and upon the tract, of said Main Road by paying to said Company of the main line reasonable and usual toll Either by the ton or mile or in any other manner that may be agreed by and between said Companies.

Sec 11 Said last named corporation hereby created to complete said Branch shall be known by the name and style of the “Illinois Rail-Road and Transporting Company6”; and by that name and style may contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered, in all courts and before all and every tribunal which can take cognisance of any cause or controversy whatever. Said Company shall, also, have the power to deposite Money and other funds by giving Cirtificates of such deposits to the Stockholders or others who may make the same, and may appoint such officers and make all necessary By-Laws which may seem proper to them, not inconsistent with the laws of the State and which may be necessary in the purchase of property as well as for holding and conveying the same in order to carry into Effect the powers hereby granted. Said Company shall have the further power and authority to Exist for the term of fifteen years from and after the completion of said Branch and main road as aforesaid and until its surrender up to the state as is provided herein before for the surrender of the main road aforesaid and for One year thereafter for the purpose of closing the business of said Company. ^upon said road^

Sec. 12. In case company first mentioned in this act created hereby for the completion of said main Road, shall not finish said road within the time provided for by this act, then the Company hereby created to complete said Branch, shall have the power, within one year after the Expiration of such time, to give Bond as before provided and Enter upon said Main Line and finish the same and have and Enjoy all the powers conferred hereby upon said main line company denominated the “Springfield, Jacksonville, and Meredocia rail road Company” and shall be bound to surrender said main Road and said Branch as herein provided at the Expiration of fifteen years from and after the completion of the same.

Sec. 13 This act shall be a public act of the state of Illinois and all courts and persons are bound to take notice of it as such7