in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That an Act, passed the twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, entitled, "An Act to establish a military corps for the defence of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," be, and the same is hereby repealed. [Feb. 28, 1815.]

Act repealed.

An ACT in addition to the several. Acts, regulating the building and repairing of Chap. 142. 1799 ch.66,&c.

School-Houses.

If

a majority of fuse to build or

a district re

repair a school

house, the town may

shall be asses

BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That whenever a meeting of the inhabitants of any school district within this Commonwealth, shall be called conformable to the Act to which this is in addition, for the purpose of building or repairing any school-house in the said district, and a majority of the voters present are opposed to the building or repairing grant money necessary to be made, as stated in the warrant by which the therefor, which said meeting was called, it shall be lawful for any five or more sed on the disof the freeholders, who are inhabitants of said school district, trict. to make application in writing to the selectmen of the town in which such school district is situated, requesting them to insert in their warrant for calling the next town meeting an article, requiring the opinion of the town relative to the building or repairing, or the procurement of any utensils for the schoolhouse, as proposed in the meeting of said school district; and if a majority of the voters present in said town meeting shall think the building or repairing necessary and expedient, they shall then grant such a sum of money as they shall think necessary for defraying the expense of such building or repairing, and the same shall be assessed on the polls and estates of the inhabitants of said district, and collected in manner and form as is provided in the Act, entitled, "An Act in addition to an Act, entitled an Act to provide for the instruction of youth, and 1799 ch. 66. for the promotion of good education." [Feb. 28, 1815.] Further add. acts-1817 ch. 14: 1821 ch. 99.

An ACT to annex a gore of Land to the Town of Industry. [Feb. 28, 1815.|

Chap. 143.

An ACT to establish a Ministerial Fund, in the Town of East Sudbury. [Feb. 28, Chap. 144. 1815.]

An ACT in addition to an Act, entitled, "An Act to incorporate the President, Chap. 145. Directors and Company of the Lynn Mechanic's Bank." [Feb. 28, 1815.] Fur- 1813 ch. 193.

ther acts-1816 ch. 36: 1817 ch. 153.

An ACT to establish The Union Cotton Factory Company. [Feb. 28, 1815.] Chap. 146.

Name altered to The Monson Manufacturing Company-1820 ch. 76. See

1821 ch. 5.

An Act in addition to an Act, entitled, "An Act to incorporate the President, Chap. 147. Directors and Company of the Dedham Bank.” [Feb. 28, 1815.] Further add. 1813 ch. 175. act-1815 ch. 80.

An Act to incorporate The Cheshire Crown Glass Company. [Feb. 28, 1815.] Chap. 148.

1

An ACT relating to Loans made to defray expenses incurred by the Common- Chap. 149. wealth during the late war, and for other purposes. [Feb. 28, 1815.] Add. act -1815 ch. 21.

Chap. 150. An ACT to prevent damage to Bridges and Dams across Connecticut River in this

Timber to be formed into

rafts, and put under care of sufficient num

ber of per

Commonwealth.

BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this Act, it shall not be lawful for any person to drive or float down, or cause to be driven or floated down Connecticut River, within this Commonwealth, any masts, spars, logs, or other timber, unless the same shall be formed and bound into rafts, and placed under the care of a sufficient number of persons to govern and manage the same, so as to prevent damage being done thereby; and if any person shall drive or float down, or cause to be driven or floated down said river, within this Commonwealth, any masts, spars, logs, or other timber, without the same being formed and bound together, and under the care of sufficient number of persons as aforesaid, every such person and every other person, having any right or interest in any timber, bound together as aforesaid, or otherwise in any manner floating or passing down said river, --on penalty. shall be liable for any damage which may be done to any bridges or dams, over or across said river, or any part thereof within this Commonwealth, by means of any timber so driven, floated or in any manner passing down said river as aforesaid; and all persons or corporations, owning or interested in any such bridges, or dams, may have and maintain a special action of the case for the recovery thereof, in any court proper to try the same, any law, usage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. [March 1, 1815.]

Chap. 151. An ACT to incorporate The Duxbury South-River Manufacturing Company. [March 1, 1815.]

Chap. 152.

1811 ch. 125.

Chap. 153.

An ACT for establishing the westerly line of the town of Kingville, and for altering the name thereof. [March 1, 1815.]

An ACT to incorporate The Stratton Cotton Manufacturing Company. [March 1, 1815.]

Chap. 154. An ACT to incorporate The Phillipston Cotton and Woollen Manufacturing Company. [March 1, 1815.]

Chap. 155.

Chap. 156.

1811 ch. 32.

Chaplain to be appointed.

His duty.

An ACT to establish The South Congregational Parish, in the town of Prospect. [March 1, 1815.]

An ACT in further addition to an Act, entitled, "An Act providing for the government and regulation of the State Prison."

SECT. 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That His Excellency the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, be, and he is hereby authoriz. ed to appoint and commission, during pleasure, a chaplain for the State Prison, whose duty it shall be to perform divine service therein on the sabbath, and on other days appointed for public worship, and also to visit the sick, and instruct the convicts in their moral and religious duties.

SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That His Excellency the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, be appointed. be, and he is hereby authorized to appoint and commission,

Physician to

during pleasure, a physician for said prison, whose duty it shall be to prescribe for the sick convicts, as occasion may require, and also to attend to the regimen, clothing and cleanliness of the prisoners, and whose order for supplies in the medical department shall authorize the warden to procure the same.

SECT. 3. Be it further enacted, That the chaplain shall receive one hundred Repealedand fifty dollars, the physician shall receive two hundred and fifty dollars, and the 1817 ch. 176: directors shall receive one hundred dollars each, annually, payable in quarterly 1818 ch. 19. payments, in full compensation for their services.

SECT. 4. Be it further enacted, That all acts and parts of Acts repealed. acts, heretofore passed, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this act, be, and the same are hereby repealed. [March 1, 1815.] Further add. acts-1817 ch. 47. 176: 1818 ch. 19:

1821 ch. 108.

An ACT repealing an Act regulating Stables.

Chap. 157.

BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in 1814 ch. 74. General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That an act, passed on the nineteenth day of October last, entitled, "An Act repealed. act for regulating public stables throughout the Commonwealth," be, and the same is hereby repealed.

1815.]

[March 1,

An Act in addition to an Act, entitled, "An Act to establish The Bluehill Turn- Chap. 158. pike Corporation." [March 1, 1815.]

1803 ch. 130.

An ACT to repeal an Act, entitled, "An Act limiting the period, during which any Chap. 159. person shall be eligible to the office of County Treasurer."

1811 ch. 49.

BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That an Act repealed. act, passed the twenty-second day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven, entitled, "An act limiting the period during which any person shall be eligible to the office of County Treasurer," be, and the same is hereby repealed. [March 1, 1815.]

An ACT in addition to an Act, entitled, "An Act to incorporate William Bartlet Chap. 160. and others into a company, by the name of The Merrimack Insurance Company." [March 1, 1815.] Further add. act-1814 ch. 177.

1813 ch. 82.

An Act in addition to an Act, entitled, "An Act to divide the town of Poland, Chap. 161. and to incorporate the northerly part thereof into a separate town, by the name of Minot.' [March 1, 1815.]

1801 ch. 35.

An ACT to regulate the Shad and Alewive Fishery in the town of Brighton. Chap. 162. [March 1, 1815.]

An ACT to incorporate The Protestant Methodist Society in Alna and New-Castle. Chap. 163. [March 1, 1815.]

An ACT altering the Boundary Line between Hadley and Amherst. [March 1, Chap. 164. 1815.]

An ACT for regulating the proceedings in suits upon Constables' Bonds in the town of Boston. [March 1, 1815.]

Chap. 165.

An ACT to incorporate The First Calvinistic Baptist Society in Parsonsfield. Chap. 166. [March 2, 1815.]

An ACT in further addition to an Act, entitled, "An Act in addition to an Act, Chap. 167. entitled an Act in addition to an Act, granting a Lottery for the purpose of com

pleting the Locks and Canals at Amoskeag Falls, in the State of New Hamp- 1803 ch. 157. shire." [March 2, 1815.]

Chap. 168. An ACT to alter and change the Names of certain persons therein mentioned, [March 2, 1815.]

of shipwrecked property.

ventory

to deliver to the owner.

Compensation.

their owners.

Chap. 169. An ACT to incorporate The Trustees of the Fund for the support of Religious Worship in the Episcopal Society of St. Andrews in Hanover. [March 2, 1815.] Chap. 170. An ACT to regulate the custody of Shipwrecked Goods, and to preserve them for SECT. 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, Commissioners That any commissioner, hereafter to be appointed, in pursuance to take charge of this act, immediately on receiving information of any shipwreck, finding of any goods or shipwrecked property of any kind, to the amount of one hundred dollars or upwards, on any of the shores or waters within this Commonwealth, shall immediately repair to said property, and in case the same is unattended by any owner or agent, shall take charge of the same for the lawful owner, and in the best way and manner in his power, preserve and secure the same; and said commissioner shall have all the power and authority of a fireward to preserve and secure the same and compel assistance for that purpose; and it shall be the duty of said commissioner to take an inTo take an in- ventory of the same, and when required by the owner or agent of said property, or any insurance company or underwriter, or other person interested in said property, shall make oath that the same is the whole property which has come to his custody, and shall immediately deliver the same to the lawful owner, agent, or other person legally authorized to receive it: Provided, he is paid or secured to be paid such reasonable compensation for his services and expense, and such custom house duties, as may be due from said property, or which may have been previously paid by said commissioner; and said commissioner, owner, or agent, shall have power to agree on the proper compensation to be allowed for said services and expenses ; but in case they shall not agree, said commissioner shall receive such sum, as shall be awarded by referees mutually chosen by the parties; said commissioner to choose one referee, the ow chosen, if there ner, agent, or other person interested, another; and the two, is a disagree. thus chosen, shall choose a third; and the referees thus appointed, and the parties thus appointing them, shall proceed in all respects as is required by an act for rendering the decision of civil causes as speedy and as little expensive as possible; and if either of the parties shall be dissatisfied with the award of the referees aforesaid, notice shall be given to the opposite party and an appeal shall lie to the Supreme Judicial Court next to be holden in and for the county in which such property shall be found; and the Supreme Judicial Court shall have power to hear and determine the case in the same manner as if the cause came before them on an appeal from the Circuit Court of Common Pleas; and no owner or agent, or other person interested in said property, shall be holden to pay any charge to any other person for services or expenses, in taking or securing said property, than the commissioners aforesaid, unless it be that property taken and secured before the arrival of said commissioner; in which case said commissioner shall, upon due hear

Referees to be

ment.

1786 ch. 21.

Appeal given from their award.

to determine

his arrival.

ing of all parties interested, determine the compensation to be Commissioners received as aforesaid, and from his award in writing there the charge for shall be no appeal, unless the sum demanded and allowed by securing said commissioner shall exceed the sum of fifty dollars, in which property before case an appeal shall lie to the Supreme Judicial Court, to either party aggrieved by the doings of said commissioner, and similar process shall be had by said court as is had in cases carried by appeal from the Circuit Court of Common Pleas ; and in case any person or persons shall, after the arrival of the commissioner aforesaid, intermeddle with, take, secrete, or detain any property shipwrecked or found as aforesaid, but as he Forfeiture for or they are authorized and directed by the commissioner, intermeddling. owner, or agent, or other persons interested, he or they shall forfeit and pay the sum of one thousand dollars for each and every offence, to be recovered by an action of debt in any court proper to try the same; and the said commissioner, owner, agent, or other person interested, or either of them, are hereby authorized to bring said action and receive said penalty to their own use.

property.

SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the commissioners aforesaid, immediately on their arrival at any wreck or goods found as aforesaid, to publish in the most expeditious manner the facts they shall ascertain, that the knowledge of the event may come to the owner, agent, or persons Commissioners interested as soon as may be; and in all cases they shall pub- to advertise lish the particulars of said shipwreck, or goods found, in the shipwrecked nearest newspaper to said shipwreck, or goods found, on penalty of fifty dollars, to be recovered by an action of debt in any court proper to try the same, at the suit of the owner, agent, or other person interested, who are hereby authorized to bring said action and receive the penalty recovered to their own use; and it shall and may be lawful for said commissioners to dispose of so much of said property at public auction, within thirty days from taking the same into custody, as shall be sufficient May dispose of to pay all duties due for the same to the custom house, and shall property, to forthwith pay or give security to the custom officer for the dis- pay duties. charge of the same; and in case the nature of the property so taken as aforesaid is perishable and cannot be retained in possession for one year, without essentially lessening its value, and no Perishable proowner, agent, or other person interested in the same shall appear perty to be to claim it for the space of sixty days, it shall be the duty of said commissioners to advertise said property in the public newspapers, and sell the same at auction to the most advantage in their power; and if no owner, agent, or other person interested in said property shall appear in one year to claim said property, it shall be the duty of said commissioners

sold.

State

to present an inventory of said property received by him To present an as aforesaid, or, if sold, an account of sales to the Trea- inventory to the surer of this Commonwealth, and shall make oath that treasurer of the the same is the whole property which has come to his possession, duties paid to the custom house excepted, if said duties are paid, and shall pay over to the treasurer aforesaid the whole balance remaining in his hands, for the use of the balance. the Commonwealth; and the treasurer aforesaid is hereby au

and pay him