, Bill, to Nauvoo City Council, , Hancock Co., IL, ca. 31 May 1843; handwriting of ; JS signature in unidentified handwriting; endorsement in handwriting of ; two pages; Nauvoo, IL, Records, 1841–1845, CHL.
An ordinance to establish a Ferry across the at the City of .
Sec 1 Be it ordained by the city council of the City of , that Joseph Smith and his successors are is authorized and licenced to keep a ferry for the term of perpetual succesion across the , within the limits of said , on said , bounded north on <near> the north West corner of section No thirty one, Township seven North, of Range eight West, of the fourth principal Meridian, and south, on <near> the South East corner of fractional section No twelve, in township six north, of Range nine west, of the fourth principal Meridian, according to the Charter of said City of , (which charter was granted by the state of , on the 16th. day of December, A. D. 1840,) embracing are all Ferry Ferries heretofore authorized by the State of toEdwardWhite,byanAct passedJanuary12th.A. D.1839,andallothers, if any there be, within the aforesaid limits.
Sec 2. And be it further ordained, that the said Smith andhissuccessors shall furnish said ferry with a good flat boat, or a good boat to be worked by steam or horse power, and skiff or yawl in such case, sufficient for the speedy and safe transportation of all passengers, together with their teams, animals, goods and effects; and further, that said boat or boats shall be furnished with a suitable number of men, to manage them with skill and ability.
Sec 3 And be it further ordained, that if any person or persons, except those whose ferry is established and confirmed by this ordinance, shall, at any time, run any boat, or boats, or other craft, for the purpose of conveying passengers or their property across said as aforesaid, within said boundaries as aforesaid, he, she, or they, so offending, shall forfeit every such boat, or boats, or other craft, to the owner or proprietor of the Ferry; and the owner or proprietor of the ferry aforesaid, <may,> at any time, after such forfeiture shall have accrued, enter upon and take possession of such boat, or boats, or other craft, to his or her own use, without [p. [1]]