ty to keep a ferry across the Illinois river, on section twenty-five (25) or twenty-six, (26,) in township thirty-three, (33,) range five (5) east of the third principal meridian, in LaSalle county, approved February 12th, A. D. 1851, be and they are hereby extended for the term of ten years from and after the passage of this act. APPROVED February 8, 1861. AN ACT to legalize the proceedings of the County Commissioners' Courts In force February of the counties of Fulton and Mason, in relation to a ferry francise at Havana. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That all license that may have been heretofore issued by either of the said counties of Mason and Fulton to the heirs of O. M. Ross or to Lewis W. Ross, George M. Walker, to keep a ferry across the Illinois, at Havana, be and the same are hereby legalized, and to have the same force and effect as though the same had been enacted by the legislature of this state at the time of issuing said license; and that all the conveyances from the said heirs of the said O. M. Ross or the said Lewis W. Ross of the said ferry franchise to William Phelps or George V. Walker, to have the same force and effect as was intended by the said grantors, according to the covenants in said conveyances: Provided, that the corporate powers of such company shall not extend beyond twenty-five (25) years from the passage of this act. 22, 1861. § 2. There shall be allowed to the said William Phelps Rates of ferriage. and George V. Walker, their heirs and assigns, to collect the same rates of ferriage as are now allowed by the said counties of Mason and Fulton. § 3. The said William Phelps and George V. Walker, or either of them, shall, annually, pay into the county treasury of the said counties such tax or license as shall be fixed by the said counties, not exceeding the sum of fifty dollars, annually, for each of said counties. $4. That the said William Phelps and George V. Walker, or either of them, shall enter into bond, in each of the said counties, to be approved by the clerk of the county court, conditioned to pay all damages that may accrue by reason of noncompliance with this act. 5. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage. APPROVED February 22, 1861. in force February AN ACT to grant a ferry franchise across the Illinois river at the town of 22, 1861. Havana. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That William Phelps, of the county of Fulton, and state of Illinois, and George N. Walker, of the county of Mason, and state of Illinois, and their heirs and assigns, be and they are hereby authorized and empowered to have the exclusive right and privilege to keep a ferry across the Illinois river, between the town of Havana, in Mason county, Illinois, and the mouth of Spoon river, in Fulton county, Illinois, for the term and period of twenty-five years, from and after the passage of this grant. § 2. That the said Phelps and Walker, and their heirs and assigns, shall cause the said ferry to be furnished with good and sufficient boats, worked by men, horses or steam power, so as to furnish a safe and speedy transportation of all teams, wagons, horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, merchandise and other property, which may be brought or come for transportation. 83. That the said Phelps and Walker shall be and they are hereby authorized to charge the same rates of ferriage as now established and authorized to be charged at said ferry by the counties of Mason and Fulton. § 4. That the said Phelps and Walker have the exclusive right, for the term aforesaid, to do all ferrying across said river, for the space of one mile above and below the present ferry landing at Havana, and for one mile above and below the mouth of Spoon river, and for that purpose, may land their boat or boats at the public ferry landing or at any public street or road, on either side of the river, or on any land or reservation of land belonging to the said Phelps and Walker, or either of them, within the distance aforesaid. 5. That the said Phelps and Walker, or their heirs or assigns, shall pay to the counties of Mason and Fulton such an annual tax or license as may, from time to time, be fixed by said counties, not to exceed the annual sum of fifty dollars, to each of said counties. 6. That if any person or persons shall obstruct the said ferry landing, on either side of the river, within the distance aforesaid, by running in or leaving any boat in the way of said ferry, each and every person, so offending, shall be liable to the said Phelps and Walker five dollars, for each offense, together with all such damages as may be sustained by reason of such obstructions. 7. The said Phelps and Walker, or either of them, shall, within six months from the passage of this act, enter into bond, with good and sufficient security, to be approved by the circuit clerk of each of said counties, payable to said counties, in the penal sum of one thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of all the duties required by this act, and to pay all damages sustained by the nonperformance of the same. § 8. The justices of the peace for the counties of Mason and Fulton shall have jurisdiction for all violations of this act, to the amount of one hundred dollars, with the right of appeal, as in other cases. APPROVED February 22, 1861. AN ACT to incorporate the Niota Dyke and Ferry Company. In force February 20, 1861. and powers. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That John H. Knapp, George P. Eaton, William D. Knapp and William Adams, and their associates, successors and assigns, be and they are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of "The Niota Dyke and Ferry Corporate Company;" that by such name and style the said company shall have perpetual succession; may have a common seal, and alter or change the same at pleasure; may receive, by gift, devise or purchase, all the real and personal property, and hold or convey the same, which shall be necessary to the operations and business of said company; that they may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, in all courts and places; contract and be contracted with, the same as natural persons; and may make all needful by-laws, rules and regulations for the management of said company, and appoint agents and attorneys for the same. 2. The said company shall be managed by not less Directors. than three nor more than five directors, who shall be elected by the stockholders of said company, each share entitling the owner to one vote; and the directore shall elect from their own number a president, and may appoint such other officers as they may deem necessary. The president to hold his office for the term of one year, and until his successor is elected and qualified. The first election of officers to be held at such time and place as the by-laws of said company shall specify. 3. The said company are hereby authorized to build a Dyke or bridge. bridge or dyke across the slough between island number fifteen, in the Mississippi river, and the town of Niota, in Hancock county, Illinois; and also to extend said dyke or embankment across said island number fifteen, and into the Mississippi river, to such extent and at such point as they may deem most expedient for the purpose of creating a road and a ferry and steamboat landing, wharf or levee; Capital stock. Election of directors. Construction reads, &c. Warsaw of and may use, lease or otherwise dispose of the same, and may construct such other works, buildings and machinery as may be deemed necessary or proper; to use the same, and prosecute the interest and objects of said company: Provided, said company shall in no wise obstruct the navigation of the main channel of the Mississippi river. 84. The capital stock of said company shall be fifty thousand dollars, and may be from time to time increased to any sum not exceeding in all two hundred thousand dollars, to be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each. 5. The persons named in the first section of this act shall constitute said company until the capital stock is fully subscribed, and twenty-five per cent. thereon paid in, when there shall be an election of officers; and until such election is held, and the officers qualified, the incorporators shall constitute the board of directors provided for in the second section of this act. § 6. The capital stock of said company shall be deemed personal property, and be transferable; but no transfer shall be made except on the books of said company, nor until all assessments then called for or made shall be paid. 7. The said company may take all necessary steps and streets, action by them deemed expedient in the construction of roads, streets, bridges, bridges across sloughs, dykes, landings, wharves and levees, and otherwise improve their islands, lands and landings now owned, or that may be hereafter acquired or purchased by them—all of which improvements and acquisitions they may enjoy, control and appropriate as they may find proper and expedient for the future management and best interest of the company. road company. and § 8. The said company shall have power to unite their rail improvements and objects with the Warsaw and Rockford railroad company, and shall be competent to take stock in said railroad company, or dispose of their stock to any other company, or consolidate the same, in whole or in part, with said Warsaw and Rockford railroad company. Ferry privileges. Ferry landing. 9. The incorporators named in the first section of this act, being now the owners of the ferry privilege and franchise heretofore granted to James Gray, his heirs and assigns, by an act of the legislature of this state, approved January fifteenth, A.D. eighteen hundred and fifty-three, and now running said ferry, the company hereby incorporated shall have and enjoy all the rights, privileges and immunities granted to the said James Gray, his heirs and assigns, by the said act of January 15th, A.D. 1853, for the balance of said term granted as aforesaid to the said Gray, his heirs and assigns, and for the term of twenty years after the expiration of said term granted to the said Gray by the said act of January 15th, 1853, with the further privilege of landing their ferry at such place or places within the specified privileged limits of the said charter granted to the said Gray, as the said company shall deem expedient for its best interests; and also, shall have the exclusive privilege of running said ferry from Niota aforesaid, and for three miles each way up and down the said Mississippi river, from the said town of Niota, for the term of twenty years, as hereinbefore granted. 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. APPROVED February 20, 1861. AN ACT to establish a Ferry across the Illinois River at Phillips' Ferry. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That Abbey P. Stanford, wife of Horace Stanford, Celia May, the only surviving heirs of Ebenezer May, deceased, their heirs and assigns, be and are hereby authorized to establish and keep a ferry across the Illinois river, at any point on fractional section twenty, in township number four south, range number two west of the fourth principal meridian, in the township of Flint, Pike county, Illinois, and any point on the opposite side, in Scott county, within a distance of one half mile north and one half mile south, on the banks of the Illinois river, of the present Phillips' ferry road, during the period of twenty years from the passage of this act. In force February 22, 1861. Possession and management of 82. The said Abbey P. Stanford and Celia May shall, at all times, keep good and sufficient boats for the speedy boats. passage and safe transportation of passengers, teams, horses, cattle and other animals, as well as goods and effects belonging to passengers, and shall furnish such boats with men of sufficient skill and strength to manage them, and shall charge and receive such rates of ferriage as are allowed to other ferries on the Illinois river. § 3. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. APPROVED February 22, 1861. 22, 1561. AN ACT to repeal an act entitled "An act to establish a ferry across the In force February Mississippi River in Randolph county," approved February 14, 1855, in favor of William Henry, and to authorize John W. Brewer, of said county, to maintain and keep a ferry under same title. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That John W. Brewer, his heirs and assigns, be and they are hereby Location of ferry. authorized and empowered to maintain and keep a ferry |