United States Statutes at Large/Volume 2/11th Congress/3rd Session/Chapter 23
Chap. XXIII.—An Act to enable the Georgetown Potomac Bridge Company to levy money for the object of its incorporation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the directors of the Georgetown Potomac Bridge Company be, and they are hereby empowered to call a general meeting of the stockholders of said company, to be held at Georgetown, in the district of Columbia, by causing public notice to be given of the time and place of such meeting, in the National Intelligencer, and in one of the newspapers printed in each of the cities of New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, in four successive weeks, the last time at least thirty days before the day of holding the said general meeting.Bridge to be rebuilt if agreed to by the stockholders. And if at such general meeting, the stockholders present, by themselves or legal representatives, shall determine to rebuild the bridge at or near the little falls of the river river Potomac, (for the purpose of erecting which originally was the object of their incorporation,) the holders of two thirds of the stock represented at the meeting concurring, then it shall and may be lawful for the directors of said company, or any two of them, and they areAssessments on the stockholders. hereby empowered to assess upon and collect from the stockholders of the said company, such sum and sums of money, as shall be necessary to pay its debts already incurred, and to rebuild, make and keep in repair the said bridge, together with the road leading thereto from Georgetown: Provided, That the whole amount of such assessments shall not exceed twenty-five dollars on each share in the stock of said company. And of any such assessment and assessments, the said directors shall give public notice to the said stockholders, by advertising the same in the newspapers aforesaid; and the sum and sums which shall be so assessed, the said stockholders are hereby required to pay to the said directors, within sixty days after such notice; and on failure thereof, for the space of thirty days after the expiration of the said sixty days, the said directors, or any two of them, are hereby authorized to sell the share or shares of any and every delinquent stockholder; every such sale to be made at public auction in Georgetown aforesaid, on the day specified in said advertisement: Provided, That no more shares shall be sold than shall be deemed necessary to levy the sum and sums of money which shall be assessed as aforesaid; and that the surplus, if any arising on any such sales, shall by the directors aforesaid, be deposited in the Bank of Columbia, for the use of the owner or owners of the share or shares so sold. And the said directors, or any two of them, shall transfer on the books of the said company, to the purchaser or purchasers, the share or shares so sold, and if demanded give a certificate or certificates thereof, under their hands and seals, which shall secure to such purchaser or purchasers, a valid title to the same.
Approved, February 22, 1811.