Chap. 178.—An ACT to Amend and Re-enact sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of
the Charter of the Town of Ashland.

Approved April 9, 1874.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
sections one, two, three and four, of the act passed March
twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and seventy-one, entitled an
act to amend and re-enact an act approved February nine-
teenth, eighteen hundred and fifty-eight, entitled an act to
incorporate the town of Ashland, in the county of Hanover,
and the act amendatory thereto, approved January eleventh,
eighteen hundred and sixty-four, be amended and re-enacted
so as to read as follows:

Ҥ 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That the corporate limits of the town of Ashland be extended
from the present exterior lines of said town to the following
lines, to-wit: Commencing at a point of intersection of Rail-
road street and the southeast. corner of P. H. Russell’s land,
about fifty yards from the town stone, in front of Col. C. St.
Geo. Noland’s, and running thence in a westerly direction
until it reaches Boundary street; thence in a southerly direc-
tion along the line of said Boundary street to Stony creek,
to county road near Langford’s crossing; thence along the

said road to its intersection with the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac railroad at Langford’s crossing; thence
along the said railroad north fifteen and one-half degrees
east to present corporation line; thence northeasterly along
the present corporation line to the southwestern corner of
the Oakland tract, and thence along the southern line of said
tract to the old telegraph road; thence in a northerly direc-
tion up said road to Dr. N. R. James’s line; thence along
said line in a westerly direction to corporation line at Dr.
H. C. Scott’s; thence along the line of Dr. H. C. Scott's
fence to its lower corner on land held by T. H. Fox,
trustee, and now occupied by Dr. H. C. Scott; thence from
said corner in a northwesterly direction until it intersects
the northeastern corner of E. C. Howard’s line fence; thence
long the line of said fence in a direct westerly course to
the place of beginning, and that the same, as it has been
heretofore and may be hereafter laid off into lots, streets and
alleys, be and the same is hereby made a town corporate by
the name of Ashland, and by that name shall, have and exer-
cise the powers conferred by the fifty-fourth chapter of the
Code of Virginia (eighteen hundred and seventy-three), so
far as the same may be applicable to the government of towns
of less than five thousand inhabitants, and not inconsistent
with the provisions of this act.

Ҥ 2. The officers of said town shall consist of seven trus-
tees, who shall compose the council (four of whom shall con-
stitute a quorum to transact business), and a sergeant, who
shall hold their offices for two years, and until their successors
are elected or appointed and qualify. The said council shall
have power to pass all by-laws and ordinances for the gov-
ernment of said town, that they mtay deem proper, not in
conflict with the constitution of the state, or of the United
States, and prescribe penalties for the violation of the same
not exceeding ten dollars for any one offence; and may sub-
ject the parent of any minor for any such penalty or fine for
any such offence committed by such minor. Which penalties
may be prosecuted and recovered with costs in the name of
the council of said town. The council shall also have power
to provide for keeping the streets in order, and paving the
same, and for other necessary improvements; for which pur-
pose they may levy such a tax on all the taxable property
in said town, as they may deem proper, not exceeding fifty
cents on the hundred dollars; and may also require labor
from all male citizens of said town between the ages of six-
teen and sixty years, not exceeding two days in each year,
to aid in keeping said streets in order: provided, however,
that the said citizens may pay eighty cents per day, for each
day they may be so required to labor, in lieu of rendering
the said service. In consideration whereof, the citizens of
said town are hereby exempted from the payment of the
township taxes, and from working on the county roads of
Hanover county.
Ҥ 3. The council shall elect from their number one person
_ to preside at their meetings, who shall be the mayor of the
said town, and when they are equally divided, shall, in addi-
tion to his individual vote, give the casting vote; and in case
of the absence of said mayor, the said council may select
some other member thereof to act as president pro tempore,
who shall have all the powers of the mayor himself while
presiding over the meetings of said council, and in other
matters pertaining to the government of sajd town in the
absence of said mayor. The mayor shall have power, at any
time, to call a meeting of said council, and in case of his ab-
sence from sickness, inability, or refusal, the council may be
convened by the order in writing of any three members
,. thereof. The person so elected president of said council and
mayor of said town as aforesaid, shall be and is hereby in-
vested with the power and authority of a justice of the peace
» Within the corporate limits of said town, to have and exer-
cise the like jurisdiction in all cases whatsoever originating
within said limits, as ajustice of the peace now, or may here-
after have, but acting under and upon the by-laws and ordi-
nances of said town, not contrary to the laws of this state or
of the United States, and in accordance with the general
laws of the land, particularly such as concern the duties and
powers of justices of the peace. And it is hereby made the
duty of the said mayor, acting as a justice of the peace, as
aforesaid, to suppress all disturbances, riots, and disorderly.
conduct within the bounds of said town, and the more effec-
tually to do this, he is hereby clothed with power to appoint
such police force to aid the sergeant of said town (who shall
have control of the same), whenever and as he may deem
necessary. He shall have power to issue process, hear and
determine all prosecutions, cases, and controversies, civil and
criminal, arising within the limits of said town, with like
jurisdiction as justices of the peace now have. In all cases
whatsoever wherein the fine or other matter or thing shall.
exceed the sum of ten dollars, appeals shall be had to the
county court of Hanover county in the same time and man-
ner, and upon the same terms as appeals are now taken by.
law from judgments of a justice of the peace.

“84. The sergeant of the said town shall be a conservator.
of the peace, and for that purpose be invested with all the
power of a constable within the limits of the town; . also

+ Shall have the power to arrest offenders any where within
said county for offences committed within the limits of said
town, and convey any person to the county jail who may be
ordered by the mayor or president pro tempore of the said
council to be so committed, charged with any offence against
the laws of the commonwealth, there to be dealt with as if
committed by a warrant of a justice of the peace, and shall
be entitled to the same compensation as a constable would

be entitled to for the like service. He shall also have control
of any special police force that the mayor or president pro
tempore may at any time appoint. He shall collect the town

(oogle
taxes and all fines imposed for the violation of the by-law
or ordinances made for the government pf said town, an
for this purpose shall be clothed with like powers to enfore
the same as a sheriff or constable now has. He shall als
perform such other ministerial duties as may be imposer
upon him by said council, and for his services shall receive |
reasonable compensation, to be fixed by the council. Th
said sergeant shall give bond, payable to the council of th
said town and to their successors, with good security, in th
penalty of one thousand dollars, for the faithful discharg
of the duties of his office.”
2. This act shall be in force from its passage.