SCHUYLKILL PERMANENT BRIDGE. 21 



difficulties; and operated, in no small degi^ee, to induce 

 a sale, of their ferry franchise, to the company incorpo- 

 rated for erecting the bridge. 



The Act before mentioned was passed the 16th of 

 March 1798. Its principle features are similar to all 

 such incorporating acts. A stock of 8150,000 divided 

 into 15,000 shares, at SIO each, is established. To this 

 have been added 7, 500 new shares, to increase the funds ; 

 the expenditures beingnecessarilyfai' greater, than could 

 have been foreseen. A great proportion of the new 

 shares, yet remain in the hands of the company undis- 

 posed of. 



The usual arrangements for procuring subscriptions 

 prefatory to incoi'poration, are inserted. Three thou- 

 sand of the original shares, are reserved, for the pur- 

 chase of a site, and to establish a fund for freeing the 

 bridge. Sundry clauses relate to the incorporation, or- 

 ganization of the Company and its officers, and mode 

 of management of the funds. Power is given to the 

 Stockholders to fix on the site ; and, if necessary, to add 

 shares, to encrease the funds. There is also a descrip- 

 tion of the kind of bridge to be built. The property 

 of the bridge (and of such other property as they shall 

 acquire for its purposes or convenience,) is vested in 

 the Company for twent}'^ five years, after the same shall 

 be compleated ; and the tolls to be taken are ascertain- 

 ed Avith great encouragement to the transportation of 

 country produce and manure, and to the use of oxen for 

 draft. Penalties are laid on taking illegal tolls, as well 

 as on those who injure the bridge property or works, or 

 impede the passage. The bridge is not to be erected 

 *'in such manner, as to injure, stop, or interrupt the na- 



