Chap. 304.—An ACT to Authorize the Counties of King and Queen and
King William to Negotiate a Loan or Loans for the purpose of Pur-
chasing a Steamboat.

Approved April 29, 1874. .

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That Fiecti
it shall be lawful for the county courts of the counties of Xing
King and Queen and King William to make an order requir- King
ing the judges of election at each voting precinct in said coun- fegit
ties to open a poll at the general election on the fourth Thurs- 1s9
day in May, cighteen hundred and seventy-four, and take the
sense of the legal voters of each of said counties whether such
county sball negotiate a loan or loans to an amount not ex- Loan
ceeding ten thousand dollars in each of the aforesaid counties, Wed
and issue county bonds to secure the same, for the purpose obtai
of purchasing a steamboat to ply between the landings on
the Mattaponi and Pamunky rivers and West Point, in the
county of King William.

2.-At said general election, each of said voters who shall
approve the issuing of said county bonds, shall deposit a ticket
or ballot on which shall be written or printed the words,
“For issuing county bonds,” and each of said voters who
shall be opposed to issuing said bonds, shall deposit a ticket
or ballot on which shall be written or printed the words,
“Against issuing county bonds.”

3. That immediately after closing the polls the judges of
election at the several voting precincts shall count the ballots
deposited at such election, and shall make return, within
thirty days after such election, to the judge of the respective
county courts, of the number of votes cast for issuing county
bonds, and the number of votes cast against issuing county
bonds, and shall also return to and deposit with the clerk of
such court, in separate packages, the ballots for and against
issuing said bonds; and it shall be the duty of said judge to
cause the ballots to be counted, to correct the polls, and as-
certain and certify the result of such election, and to cause
the same to be entered in the proper record book of such
county; arid if it shall appear that three-fifths of the votes of
each county cast at such election (embracing a majority of
the freeholders and a majority of the registered voters of the
county) are in favor of issuing the bonds, such judge shall
forthwith enter of record an order requiring the supervisors
of each county to meet in their respective counties at a time
and place named in the order, to carry out the wishes of said

‘voters. The sheriff of each county shall promptly summon
the supervisors of his county in pursuance of said order.

4. If a majority of the supervisors of each county be pre-
sent at the time and place so designated, they shall proceed
to act. Ifnot, they shall adjourn, from time to time, till a
majority be present, The said supervisors (a majority of the
whole number being present and concurring) shall have power
to determine whether the bond or bonds to be issued in ac-
cordance with the provisions of this act shall be either regis- .
tered or with coupons attached ; and the said board of super-
visors (a majority being present and concurring) may appoint
an agent or agents to negotiate a loan or loans. And at the
time the board of supervisors makes its levy for such county,
it shall levy on all the lands and other subjects liable to state
tax or county levy in such county, a sufficient tax to pay the
interest on the bonds of the county so issued, and to create

a sinking fund of not less than three per centum per annum,
to redeem the principal thereof; and from year to year it
shail repeat such assessments till debt and interest be fally

aid.

P 5. The judge of the county courts of King and Queen and
King William shall appoint three persons from each of the
said counties, who are constituted a board of directors to
manage and conduct the affairs of the steamboat line, who
may appoint such officers, agents and employees as they may
deem necessary and proper, and allow them compensation
tor their services; but such compensé@tion shall be subject to
the ap roval of the county courts of said counties.

6. This act shall be in force from its passage.