22 A STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



*' vigation of the said river, by boats y craft or vessels with- 

 ^^oiit masts ;^^ "and when the tolls shall exceed fifteen 

 "per cent, nett annual profit; the excess shall compose 

 "a fund, for the redemption of the bridge, soastoren- 

 " der it free, sa^^e that there shall always be a small toll, 

 "or other revenue, for keeping it in repair; this excess 

 "shall be laid out in bridge Stock, or other productive 

 " funds, and the dividends, or annual product, shall be 

 "also added to this fund; and all private donations for 

 "freeing the bridge shall also be received and invested 

 "in like manner; but if by the operation of the fund 

 "herein proposed, there shall be a sufficient sum to free 

 "the bridge, at a period less than the said twenty five 

 "years, then it shall be redeemed and become free, on 

 "the Stockholders being paid the appraised value there- 

 " of, and^'of the profits thereof for the residue of the said 

 "term oi twenty five years which maybe unexpired; 

 "and if the said fund shall not be adequate to the pur- 

 "pose last mentioned, the legislature may, at the expi- 

 " ration of the said twenty five years, declare it a free 

 "bridge, (providing at the same time the means of keep- 

 "ing it in repair) and the Company shall be obliged 

 "to take such sum of money therefor, as shall be allow, 

 "ed on a fair appraisement by indifferent persons; the 

 "like appraisement shall take place, when the sinking 

 "fund is adequate to the redemption of the bridge and 

 "the establishment of a revenue, if a toll be not thought 

 "more eligible, for keeping the bridge in repair; but if 

 "the said bridge shall not be redeemed, and paid for as 

 "a free bridge, before or at the expiration of the said 

 "term of twenty five years, the said corporation may 

 "''and bliall continue to hold the same, on th.e terms of 



