In 1813 the Kentucky General Assembly passed an act granting authority to a group of Bullitt Countians to construct a bridge over Floyd's Fork. The text of that act is given below.
We have not yet discovered if the bridge was actually built at this time.
From Acts Passed at the First Session of the Twenty-First General Assembly for The Commonwealth Of Kentucky, Begun and Held in the Capital, in the Town of Frankfort on Monday the Seventh Day of December, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twelve, and of The Commonwealth The Twenty-First. Published February 26, 1813; pages 37-38.
CHAP. XLIII.
AN ACT to authorise the citizens of Bullitt County to build a Bridge across Floyd's Fork of Salt river.
Approved, January 23, 1813.
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the commonwealth of Kentucky, That Guy Phelps, John M'Dowell, Joseph Hough, Joshua Norvell and James Burk, gentlemen, or any three of them, be appointed commissioners - who, or a majority of them, are vested with full power and authority, to build by subscription, or out of their private funds, a bridge across Floyd's fork of Salt river, where the road leading from Shepherdsville to Shelbyville crosses the same.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That when said bridge is completed, the county court of Bullitt shall appoint three commissioners to ascertain and make report to said court, the costs of building said bridge; and in case of death, removal, or resignation of any of the commissioners appointed by the first section of this act, the county court shall appoint from time to time, fit and proper persons to fill their places.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That is shall, and may be lawful for the said commissioners, or their successors, to contract for the building said bridge; and may sue and be impleaded upon any contract, relative to the building and continuing in repair said bridge, for the collection of subscription, or the toll allowed by this act.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That is shall, and may be lawful for said commissioners, to ask, and receive from every person crossing said bridge, the following rates of toll: For every person, six and a fourth cents; for every horse, mare or mule, six and a fourth cents; for every carriage or cart, with two wheels, twenty five cents; for every carriage or waggon, with four wheels, fifty cents; for every head of neat cattle, three cents; and for every hog, one cent.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the said commissiioners, to make out annually upon oath, the report of the nett proceeds of said bridge to the county court of Bullitt. And when it shall appear to the satisfaction of the said court, that the said commissioners have received the original costs of building said bridge, together with fifty per cent upon the amount, they shall, by and order of their court, declare said bridge toll free, and cause the said bridge to be kept in good repair at the proper charge of their county.
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The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 12 Sep 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/floydsforkbridge1813.html
