Accidents.

Damage.

In force Feb. 8-1863 .

Corporators.

Directors.

§ 5. In case the said bridge shall be destroyed byfreshets or other accident, and the same shall not be re-built or repaired within two years, the charter hereby-granted shall cease and be at an end.

§ 6. Any person passing over said bridge with a horse,carriage or other vehicle in a faster gate than a walk, shallbe subject, for each and every offence, to a fine of fivedollars, to be recovered before any justice of the peace inthe county of La Salle * Provided , that a copy of this sec-tion be placed in a conspicuous place at each end of saidbridge.

§ 7. If any person shall wilfully or negligently do orcause to be done any injury to said bridge, the person orpersons so offending shall forfeit and pay to the proprietoror proprietors three times the amount of such injury, to berecovered by action of debt or action on the case beforeany justice of the peace or other court having jurisdictionof the same.

§ 8. The said bridge shall be deemed a public high-way within the meaning of the laws providing for the pun-ishment of persons injuring, obstructing or destroying pub-lic highways or bridges, in any manner or by any meanswhatever.

§ 9. This act to be in force from and after its passage.

Approved February 11, 1853.

AN ACT to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Kaskaskia

river.

Section 1. Be il enacted by the people of the state ufIllinois , represented in the General Assembly, That WilliamH. Bennett, Charles Dunbach, William Kraft, Isaac John-son and John T. Lemon, and their successors and assigns,be and they are hereby created a body corporate and pol-itic, under the name and style of “The Athens BridgeCompany,” and under such name and style may contractand be contracted with, sue and be sued, plead and be im-pleaded, in all courts and places where legal proceedingsare had; to have and use a common seal, and change thesame at pleasure, and to have and exercise all the powers,privileges necessary to carry into effect the objects ofthis act.

§ 2. The officers of said company shall consist of fivedirectors, who shall have the management and control ofthe affairs of the company, and shall be elected by thestockholders of said company, at such time and place as