the same

as the old

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the person or persons who shall Rates to be or may contract, agree for, maintain and keep the said ferry, shall be entitled to demand, take ferry. and receive furriage at such rate or rates as that which by law is now demanded, received and taken at the old ferry, which at present supports the communication between John's-Island and the main land.,

&c.ofcom

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the commissioners herein be- Powers, fore nominated and appointed, shall be, and here- missionby are vested with all the powers and authori- ers. ties, and shall be subject to the same penalties as the commissioners of high roads in this state are by law vested with or liable to.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the several persons in whom the Keepers of respective ferries hercin before mentioned ferries to have good during the time for which their respective ferry ferries are established, shall keep and maintain boats, &c. a good a sufficient ferry boat, with one or more abic bodied men to attend the said respective ferries, for transporting passengers, their servants, horses, carriages, cattle, sheep and hogs.

And whereas, several of the rivers and crceks over which ferries and toll bridges have been established in this state, are at certain seasons in the year fordable:

to obstruct

Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That Nokeeper no keeper of any ferry or toll bridge, or other of a ferry person, shall on any pretence whatsoever, stop any fordup or obstruct any fording or crossing place, on ing place. any river or creek within this state, with a view to compel any person or persons to cross over any ferry or toll bridge, under the penalty often shillings, to be recovered before the nearest jus

tice of the peace, for every person or persons so prevented fom pissing over such fording or crossing place.

In the Senate House, the nineteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and in the fifteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America.

DAVID RAMSAY,

President of the Senate.

JACOB READ,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

An ACT for vesting a bridge, to be built by Wade Hampton, Esquire, at his own expense, across the Congaree river; also, a bridge over the Savannah river, opposite to the town of Augusta, in the said Wade Hampton, his heirs and assigns, for the term therein mentioned. Also, vesting a bridge to be built by John Compty, across Broad river, above the confluence of Broad and Saluda rivers.

W

HEREAS, travellers are frequently de

layed in passing the Congaree river, at the place called Fridig's ferry, occasioned by high winds, and the great strength of the current. And whereas, Wade Hampton, Esquire, hath purchased the said ferry, at a considerable price, with a design to build a bridge across the said Congaree river, and hath, by his petition to the legislature, prayed for leave to construct and build a bridge at his own expense, across the said river, and that the said bridge might be vested in him and his assigns for a limited time:

Be it therefore enacted by the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, now met and sitting in general assembly, and by the autho

rized to

rity of the same, That from and immediately af- w. Hampter the passing of this act, it shall and may be ton autholawful to and for the said Wade Hampton, his build a heirs and assigns, and he and they are hereby bridge at Fridig's fully empowered and authorized to build or con- ferry struct a bridge across the said Congaree river, at the said place called Fridig's ferry. Provided, That the said bridge be built of good substantial materials, and be not less than twenty feet wide, and be railed in on each side with good and substantial rails, or otherwise raised and secured so as to prevent any mischief being done in passing the said bridge.

vested in

Wade

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That for and in consideration of the The said great charges that the said Wade Hampton, his bridge heirs or assigns, will sustain in erecting and making the said bridge, and repairing and sup- Hampton. porting the same, the said bridge, when built, shall be and is hereby vested in the said Wade Hampton, his heirs and assigns, for the term of one hundred years, from the time of passing this act, with the same exclusive rights as those now granted by law to the said Fridig's ferry; and it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Rates the Wade Hampton, his heirs or assigns, during the unexpired term of the ferry establishment, to ask, demand, receive, recover and take to and for his and their own proper use and behoof, in respect of his and their charges aforesaid, for portage, or in the name of a toll or duty, before any passage over the said bridge shall be permitted, (except as herein after is provided,) at the same rate or rates, as the ferriage now demanded and taken at Fridig's ferry.

same as

now taken.

be altered

And be it further enacted by the authority Toll may aforesaid, That after the expiration of the pre- by the lesent ferry term, it shall then, and at the expira- gislature.

P

Ferry

be used in

ses.

tion of every twenty-one years afterwards, be lawful to and for the legislature of this state to reconsider and again fix the rates of portage or toll to be taken at the said bridge for the term then unexpired. Provided, That the portage or toll so to be paid and taken, be equal to the average rates allowed and received at the three nearest ferries or bridges over the said river.

And whereas, it may happen that the said bridge may, in time to come, receive much damage by storms, freshes, or other unforeseen accidents, that the passage thereof may, for some time, become dangerous or impracticable:

Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That in all such cases, it shall and may be lawful for boats may the proprietor or proprietors of the said bridge, certain ca- for the time being, from time to time, as often as occasion shall require, to provide a proper and convenient ferry boat or boats to cross the said river, at such place as he or they shall judge to be most proper and convenient, and as near to the said bridge as conveniently may be, and there to take for passage over the said river, by such ferry or ferries, such rates and duties as are granted by this act for the toll or portage aforesaid. Provided, That such ferry or ferries shall not continue for any longer time than shall be necessary to repairing or rebuilding the said bridge; or longer than the passge over the same shall or may be dangerous or impracticable as aforesaid. And provided also, That in case the proprietor or proprietors of the said bridge shall at any time hereafter neglect or refuse to rebuild or repair the said bridge for the space of two years, he or they shall from thence forth forfeit his or their right, title, property and interest, of, in or to the said bridge, and the tolls and duties hereby granted to him or them for portage or

passage over the same, shall cease and determine; any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

to be laid

to work thereon,

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the commissioners for the roads Roads to of the district or districts adjoining the said the bridge bridge, on either side the said Congaree river, out. shall be, and they are hereby obliged and requir ed to lay out and make convenient roads leading to the said bridge, from the present high roads on each side of the said river, and to have such roads compleated as soon as the said bridge shall be finished; and the inhabitants of the said dis- Who are trict or districts, shall be, and they are hereby obliged, enjoined and required to make the said roads, and to keep the same, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, in repair, in like manner as the other high roads of the said districts are made and kept; and the commissioners of the Commisroads for the district or districts aforesaid, for sioners of the time being, shall be supervisors of the appointed said bridge after the same shall be finished and superviscompleated, and shall take care that the said of the bridge. bridge be kept in repair according to the directions and true intent and meaning of this act.

the roads

ors

to be given

number of

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the proprietor or proprietors of Constant the said bridge, for the time being, shall be, and attendance he and they are hereby obliged and required, by a suffrom time to time, and at all times hereafter, to ficient keep a sufficient number of servants, one at least servants. to be a white man, to attend constantly at the said bridge, as well by night as by day, that passage may be had over the said bridge, as occasion may require; and in case any person or Penalty on persons going to the said bridge, in order to pass retarding the same, either by him or themselves, or with any vehicle, carriage or other thing, and tender

passen

gers.