The Middle Period in the United States. 
189 
persons or bodies politic.” The most common of all franchises 
came to be the grant of corporate existence, with which were 
coupled other rights, such as the right to take tolls on high¬ 
ways, and similar privileges. In the United States most of the 
other franchises dropped out of sight, and to the popular mind 
the word usually means a privilege to use highways, or streets 
for some purpose or other. It is thus clear, that it is a last 
remnant of a large number of grants which were formerly made 
by sovereignty. The first American franchises were granted 
to turnpike, bridge, and ferry companies, usually by special 
charters. No charges or fees were collected for the earlier ones, 
and even after the applications for charters became numerous, 
charges or payments of any kind were rare. 
But with the increasing value and earning capacity of these 
corporations, whose activities the charters made possible, the 
tendency becomes general to impose charges, which are virtually 
payments for the right to exercise those privileges. A careful 
study of conditions will show that the special benefit conferred 
on individuals through these various charters, were at first so 
small that the grant might well be made for nothing ; 1 especially 
since the public was oftentimes largely benefited by the enter¬ 
prises which were thus put into operation. Later on, however, 
the special benefits conferred by the charters were very valua¬ 
ble, and a moderate payment was simply a slight remuneration 
for the privilege given. 
There are a few general causes which may be said to have 
led up to, and brought about the general incorporation laws of 
this period as contrasted with the early special laws. In the 
first place, the grant of charters and other corporation privi¬ 
leges degenerated into acts and laws which were passed by 
means of political chicanery and intrigues. Indeed, to such an 
extent was this carried that politicians made it a business to 
obtain charters of such a general character, that they could be 
1 The early charters for water companies in the state of Connecticut, 
known as acqueduct companies, were in reality for co-operative corpora¬ 
tions of farmers secured for the purpose of supplying themselves with 
water. No fees were paid for these charters. These are in one sense the 
precursors of the modern water-supply companies. 
