|
CHAP. 154.
Bridge to be built
in the most secure
and substantial
manner, &c.
Bridge when
built, vested in
company for ever
—Tolls.
|
pended in the prosecution of said bridge, and shall at least once in
every year submit such accounts to a general meeting of the stock-
holders until the said bridge be completed, and until all the cost,
charges and expenses, for effecting the same, shall be fully paid
and discharged, and the aggregate amount of all such expenses
shall be liquidated and ascertained; and after the said bridge is
completed if it shall be found that more monies shall remain in the
hands of the treasurer than is necessary for the payment of all
charges and expenses incurred in and about erecting the said
bridge, the surplus shall be returned as part of the dividend due
and payable to each stockholder respectively.
11. And be it enacted, That the said bridge shall be built on the
most secure and substantial manner, and shall be secured and sup-
ported at each end by good and sufficient abutments or piers, and
shall be not less than eighteen feet wide, with substantial railing
on each side, at least four feet high, and there shall be a draw in
said bridge, so as to afford a convenient passage to vessels up
and down the said river, of at least twenty-four feet wide, and the
president and directors for the time being shall keep a sufficient
number of hands at all times ready for the purpose of raising said
draw, in order to admit vessels to pass through without delay, they
shall have, buoys fixed on each side of said draw with ropes suf-
ficient to warp vessels through, for which no reward shall be. de-
manded or received; in case of any neglect, the president and di-
rectors may be indicted and fined in Dorchester county court, and
also liable in a special action on the case for any damage that
any person or persons may sustain by reason of such neglect.
12. And be it enacted, That for and in consideration of the great
risque and expense to be incurred by said company, not only for
building the said bridge, but for keeping the same in continual re-
pair, the said bridge, when built and completed according to the
directions of this act, and all its profits, shall be, and the same are
hereby vested in the said company for ever, to be held as tenants in
common, in proportion to their respective shares; and it shall and
may be lawful for the said directors, at all times hereafter, to de-
mand and receive the following tolls, to wit: For every chariot,
or other four wheeled carriage, stage or wagon, twenty-five cents;
for every chaise, gig, cart, or other two wheeled carriage of what-
ever description, twelve and an half cents; for a man and horse six
and one fourth cents; for every mule or horse, three cents; for every
foot passenger two cents; for every head of horned cattle two cents;
for every sheep or hog a half cent; which rates or tolls shall at all
times be made public, and kept in some convenient place, for
the. inspection of all passengers; which rates or tolls shall at all
times be punctually paid at the time of crossing said bridge; and
if the said president and directors, or their successors, or any per-
son by their authority, shall receive any greater rates or tolls for
passing over the said bridge than is hereby before allowed, or shall
neglect to keep the said bridge in good repair for the space of fif-
teen days, at any one time, they so offending shall for every such
offence forfeit and pay the sum of one hundred dollars, one half
to the use of the county and the other half for the use of the per-
son who may sue for the same, provided that no action shall be
brought unless within fifty days after such offence be committed,
|
