Chap. 249.—An ACT to incorporate the Lexington Gas Company.
Approved April 27, 1874.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That

'C. W. Antrim, John C. Boude, W. A. Anderson, C. M. Figgat

and Charles A. Davidson, and their associates and successors,
are hereby created and constituted a body politic and cogpo-
rate, by the name and style of the “Lexington Gas Com-
pany,” for the purpose of lighting the town of Lexington
with gas, and by that name and style shall have perpetual
succession; may suc and be sued, contract and be contracted
with, plead and be impleaded, have a common seal and change
the same at pleasure; and shall have all the righte and privi-
leges of a corporation, and be subject to all the rules, regu-
lations and restrictions, imposed by the Code of Virginia, in
relation to joint stock companies, so far as they are applica-
ble to and not inconsistent with the provisions of this act.

2. The capital stock of said company shall not be less than
five thousand dollars, divided into shares of twenty-five dol-
lars each, with the privilege to increase the same, from time
to time, by a vote of the stockholders, at annual or special
meetings, to a sum not exceeding fifty thousand dollars.

3. The said company shall have power to construct suita-
ble works for manufacturing and distributing gas through
said town, and to sell and dispose of the same for public and
private uses; and shall have power to acquire and hold, for
the purposes aforesaid, real estate not exceeding three acres.

4. The said company is hereby authorized to open the
streets, lanes, alleys, and public squares of said town, for the
purpose of distributing gas; but the said company shall re-
pair any injury done thereby, at its own cost, in such man-
ner as may be prescribed by the mayor and council of said
town. °

6. Any person who shall wilfully open a communication
with the street gas main, or other gas pipe, of said company,
without authority from the president and directors thereof,
or who shall wilfully let on the gas after it has been stopped
by order of their president and directors, for repair or any
other purpose, or who shall put up any pipes or burners, in
addition to’ the pipes or burners originally put up and in-
spected, or introduce gas into any of them, without authority
as aforesaid, or shall wilfully do or cause to be done, any act
whereby the works of said company, or any portion of its
machinery or apparatus, shall be obstructed, injured or de-
stroyed, such person shall forfeit, for each offence, not less
than ten nor more than thirty dollars, to be recovered before
thé mayor or any councilman, one half to the informer and >
the other half to the treasurer of the said town, for the use
of said town; and shall, moreover, forfeit and pay to the said
company double the amount of damages sustained by reason
of such offence or injury, to be recovered by action, on mo-
tion, in any court of record.

6. The mayor and council of said town shall have power F
to pass ordinances to prevent injury to the works and pro- °
perty of the said company, and to punish any person who p
shall violate the same, by fine, not exceeding thirty dollars ”
for any one offence.

. Any incorporated body, located or doing business in the c
county of Rockbridge, shall be authorized to subscribe for >
and hold stock in this company. 0

@ The said company shall have power to make, from time E
to time, such by-laws and regulations, as it may deem neces- *
sary and @roper for the management of the affairs; may fix |
the number of its directors and other officers, and prescribe
the manner of their election or appointment, their several
terms of service, and their powers, duties and compensation.
In all general or special meetings of the company, the stock.
holders present, in person or by proxy, shall be entitled to a °
vote on each share of their stock.

9. The said company shall have power to borrow money, E
and to execute a deed of trust or mortgage, upon the pro-?*
perty and frachises, to secure the same.

10. The personal liability of any and every stockholder, F
shall be limited to the amount due and unpaid upon the shares §
of stock owned and held by such stockholder.

11. This act shall be in force from its passage. c