Coles, who, on the 25th of March, 1795, obtained an act of the Legislature authorizing him, his heirs or assigns to build a dam across the Harlem River at that place, to be of stone and to be so built as to answer for the foundations of the bridge as well as to collect the waters of the river for the use of grist and other mills. The act provided for locks and that a man should be in attendance on thehk-k at all times ; that tiie bridge should be completed within fouryears; that Coles and his heirs should keep it in repair for sixty years and collect the tolls, after which it should vest in the people of the State.^

It appears, however, that although Coles erected the bridge in pursuance of the last act, and though the commissioners named in the first act did lay out a road from the bridge to East Chester, yet the damages to the persons through whose hands the road passed were not paid and some part of the road was not opened, though Coleshad expended a considerable sum in making and clearing the road, but that much money would still havetobe expended. Nevertheless, the Legislature in 1797 established the road aa a public highway and directed it to be opened as such, although the damages to the adjoining land-owners were not paid. Coles was authorized at his expense to cause the road to be cleared and rendered convenient for travelers, and for thirty years afterwards to collect an additional toll for passing the bridge, not exceeding fifty per cent, above what was authorized by the other acts, but he was to keep the road in repair for that time.*