Ordinance, 1 June 1843–A, as Published in Nauvoo Neighbor
Source Note
Nauvoo City Council, Ordinance, , Hancock Co., IL, 1 June 1843. Version published in “An Ordinance to establish a Ferry across the Mississippi river at the City of Nauvoo,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 7 June 1843, [3].
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 is authorized and licensed to keep a Ferry for the term of perpetual succession across the , within the limits of said , on said , bounded north, near the north west corner of section No. thirty-one, township seven north, of range eight west of the fou[r]th principal meridian; and south 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 all ferries heretofore authorized by the State of , if any there be, within the aforesaid limits.
Sec. 2. And be it further ordained, that the said Smith 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 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 the other craft, to his or her own use, without precept; and such offender shall, moreover, pay to the owner or proprietor of the ferry aforesaid, who may be aggrieved as aforesaid, the sum of fifteen dollars for each person who may be thus unlawfully carried or conveyed across said ferry as aforesaid, to be recovered on motion, before any Alderman, or any Magistrate within said competent to try the same, upon giving to such offender five days notice of the time and place of making such motion, which notice may be served on such person or persons, either in or out of the , by delivering or tendering a copy thereof, or leaving a copy at their last residence: Provided, That nothing herein contained, shall be so construed as to prevent any person crossing said at said ferry as aforesaid, on his or her own boat or other craft, on his or her own business; and also to take in and cross his or her neighbors, when the same is done without fee, and not with intention to injure said ferry as aforesaid.
Sec. 4. And be it further ordained, that the said Smith shall be governed in his rates of toll, and in the general management of said ferry, by ordinance of said City Council.
Sec. 5 This ordinance to take effect, and be in force, from and after its passage.