Sec. [Section]1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That Isaac Prickett, William Montgomery, Thomas G. Hawley, Elias Hibbard, George W. Long, Enoch Long, Sherman W. Robbins, and Benjamin K. Hart, with their associates, be, and they are hereby created a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of ''The Illinois and Missouri Bridge Company," for the purpose of erecting a bridge over the Mississippi river at or near the city of Alton, 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 plead and be impleaded, in all courts of law and equity; shall have all the power, privilege and franchise incident to a public corporation, to make and use a common seal, and the same to alter or amend at pleasure, and generally to do and execute all acts, matters and things which a body corporate or 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 said company, at such times and places as they shall direct until the whole stock is taken up.

Sec. 3. As soon as half of the capital stock shall be subscribed, the said persons, or a majority of them, shall advertise a meeting of the stockholders giving ten days notice of the time and place of such meeting, when they shall provide for the election of a president and six directors from among the stockholders 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 offices for one year, and until their successors are chosen; each share of said

---

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 so much of the land at or near (the) eastern termination of said bridge 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 lands, the same shall be determined by a jury of twelve men, freeholders of the county of Madison, 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; and in case of refusal on the part of the owners of said land to receive 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 convey said land to said company, which conveyance shall pass to said company, all such 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 ordinances and by-laws as they may deem proper for the carrying on and regulating the business of said company, not inconsistent with the laws of the State.

Sec. 6. The company shall have power to purchase any quantity of land not exceeding in value the sum of thirty thousand dollars, and erect a saw mill. They shall have power to manufacture their own lumber and all other materials necessary for the construction of said bridge, and to do all acts that may be necessary to forward the interests 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 same rates of toll as are now received by the Alton Ferry Company. This act shall be a public 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 value of the same, with the fixtures and appurtenances thereunto belonging, then and in that case, the said bridge with all its fixtures and appurtenances, shall vest in and become the property of the State.

Sec. 9. The company shall be required to commence said bridge within two years after the passage of this act, and shall be required to finish the same within ten years there after, or the Legislature may declare this charter forfeited; and when said bridge shall be completed, the company shall at all times keep the same in a good passable 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.

Sec. 10. The Legislature hereby reserves to itself the right to repeal, alter, or amend this charter, if the public good require it: Provided, They cause to be paid to the said company a fair indemnity for damages sustained by said repeal or amendment.

Approved by the Council, February 27, 1841.