Michigan § 485.11 - Tolls and charges; establishment, lien, evidence.

Any such company shall be authorized to charge, demand, and receive such rates of toll for the use of said canal or harbor, or for the use of any river or stream of this state, improved by said company, or for any dock, wharf, or other improvements, as may be established by 3 commissioners, who shall be appointed by the board of supervisors of the county where the tolls are collected, or in which the greater part of such improvements shall be constructed. Said commissioners, after making a personal examination of such canal or improvement, shall fix and establish the rate of tolls and charges for each boat, vessel, raft, or craft of any description using such canal, or passing through said improved river, or any of the works of said company, and upon the goods, merchandise, or other cargo, on said boat or vessel, which said tolls or charges shall be a lien upon the boat or vessel using any of the improvements of said company, or having such goods or merchandise on board, and may be collected under the provisions of an act entitled "An act to repeal chapter 122 of the Revised Statutes of 1846, and the amendments thereto, and provide for the collection of demands against water-craft," approved February 5, in the year of our Lord 1864, and shall be collected in the distribution of funds, as provided by section 33 of said act, under the fourth specification of said section; and it shall be the duty of the master or clerk of any such boat or vessel, on demand of the collector, or any other person authorized by said company to receive or collect such tolls or charges, to give such collector, or other person so authorized, a true and correct statement of all goods, merchandise, or other cargo, on said boat or vessel, and subject to pay any toll, or charges, which statement shall be verified by the oath of the master, or clerk of such vessel or boat. Said board of commissioners shall deliver a certified copy of such rates of tolls or charges to said company, a printed copy of which shall always be posted up at such place where toll is demanded, and the board shall file another copy with the secretary of state, which shall be duly recorded in his office. A certified copy of such record may be read in evidence in any court of this state, and shall be sufficient proof of the rates of tolls and charges due on any boat or vessel, or any goods, merchandise, or other cargo: Provided, however, That no charge whatever shall be made for the use of any river where such improvement has been made, for any boat, vessel, raft, or craft of any description, which might or could have used said river before said improvements had been made: Provided further, That the said board shall, in determining the rates of toll or charges, declare what boats, or vessels, or rafts are entitled to use said river free of charge.