SCHUYLKILL PERMANEI^T BRIDGE. 23 



" this act, beyond the said term, and until the same shall 

 "be redeemed and paid for in manner herein directed." 



As a general observation and interpretation of this 

 clause, we insert an extract from a report of the building 

 committee, 31st January 1803. "Our stock will bear 

 "a comparison with any other, either inpointof securi- 

 " ty or duration. It is secured to us for twenty five years 

 " after the bridge is finished. A period long enough to 

 " gain a valuable profit. If it is made free, compensa- 

 *'tion must be previously made, by appraisement, for 

 " both the bridge and its revenues. A circumstance, 

 "however desirable, not likely to happen. The Com- 

 " pany are to hold the bridge, after the twenty five years, 

 " until they are amply reimbursed. The duration of 

 " their tenure is therefore sufiicient, and no loss of ca- 

 "pital can occur. The bridge will be elevated above 

 " all floods ; and the piers and abutments of such strength 

 "and solidity, as to place it out of all danger." And 

 this latter promise of that committee has, it is confi- 

 dently believed, been faithfully complied with. 



In pursuance of this law, the then Governor, [Mifflin) 

 on the 27th day of April 1798, incorporated the Com- 

 pany ; the number of subscriptions, previously requir- 

 ed, having been filled. 



The Company was immediately organized ; and the 

 following named persons chosen according to law. 

 President^ Richard Peters. 



Directors, John Perot, William Sheaff", Joseph An- 

 thony, John Dunlap, John Dorsey, John 

 Miller, M. C. Matthew M'Connell, Robert 

 Ralston, David Evans, junr. William Bing- 

 ham, Samuel Blodget, Nathan Sellers. 



