Chap. 2.—An ACT to incorporate the Equitable Gas Company of
Norfolk city.

Approved March 285, 1882.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That John A.
Whitridge, Lewis W. Webb, Robert B. Griffin, James B.
Smallwood, and Ellis A. Butt, and such other persons as may
be hereafter associated with them, shall be and they are
hereby incorporated and made a body politic and corporate,
under the name and style of The Equitable Gas Company of
Norfolk city, with full power to construct suitable works
either in Norfolk city or Norfolk county, for the manufacture,
distribution and sale of gas from bituminous coal or other
substances, for the purpose of public or private heating or
illumination, both within the corporate limits of Norfolk
city and without the same, in Norfolk county, adjacent to
said city. And for the purpose of carrying into full effect
the powers, rights and privileges herein granted and provided
for, the said company shall have power to purchase and hold
such real estate, not exceeding ten acres, located either in the
county or city of Norfolk, as may be necessary for their
works and the proper carrying on of their business, and shall
be invested with all the powers conferred, and subject to all
the provisions prescribed by chapters fifty-six and fifty-seven
of the Code of Virginia, except so far as this act may other-
wise prescribe.
Z. That the capital stock of the Equitable gas company of
Norfolk city shall not be less than seventy-five thousand
dollars, nor more than three hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, to be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each,
to be raised by subscription; for which purpose, if the stock
be not otherwise subscribed, books may be opened under the
superintendence of any two or more of the persons herein-
before named.

3. That each and every share of stock in the said company
shall entitle the owner thereof to one vote thereon in person
or by proxy:

4. That the charge to private and public consumers shall
at no time exceed the sum of two dollars for one thousand
cubic feet of gas.

5. That the said company shall be authorized to open
roads, lanes, streets, alleys and public squares in the county
and city of Norfolk, for the purpose of distributing gas:
provided, that when the same shall have been opened for that
purpose, they shall, as soon as practicable, be repaired by the
said company, at their own cost, in such manner as may be
prescribed by the proper authorities of the said county or city.

6. That said company may purchase the property, in whole
or in part, of any gas-light company of the city of Norfolk
heretofore incorporated; and for that, or other purposes, may
borrow money, and give bond therefor, bearing interest not
exceeding eight per centum per annum, which bonds may be
secured by pledge, mortgage, trust deed, or other conveyance
of the income and property of said company.

7. That any person who shall willfully open a communica-
tion with the street gas mains, or other gas pipe of said com-
pany, without authority from the president and directdérs
thereof, or shall willfully let on the gas after it has been
stopped by order of the president and directors for repair or
any other purpose, or who shall put up any pipes or burners
in addition to the pipes and burners originally put up and
inspected, or introduce gas into any of them without author-
ity, as aforesaid, or shall willfully do, or cause to be done,
any act whereby the works of said company, or portion of
its machinery or apparatus shall be obstructed, injured, or
destroyed, such person shall forfeit for each offence not less
than ten nor more than thirty dollars, to be recovered be-
fore any justice of the peace or the mayor; one-half to
the informer, and the other half to the county or city, as the
case may be; 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 or motion
in any court of record.

8. The councils of the city of Norfolk and the board of
supervisors of Norfolk county, respectively, shall have power
to pass such ordinances and resolutions as to prevent injury
to the works and property of the said company, and to pun-
ish any person who may violate the same by fine not exceed.
ing fifty dollars for each offence.

9. This act shall be in force from its passage.
Chap. 2.—An ACT to incorporate the Equitable Gas Company of
Norfolk city.

Approved March 285, 1882.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That John A.
Whitridge, Lewis W. Webb, Robert B. Griffin, James B.
Smallwood, and Ellis A. Butt, and such other persons as may
be hereafter associated with them, shall be and they are
hereby incorporated and made a body politic and corporate,
under the name and style of The Equitable Gas Company of
Norfolk city, with full power to construct suitable works
either in Norfolk city or Norfolk county, for the manufacture,
distribution and sale of gas from bituminous coal or other
substances, for the purpose of public or private heating or
illumination, both within the corporate limits of Norfolk
city and without the same, in Norfolk county, adjacent to
said city. And for the purpose of carrying into full effect
the powers, rights and privileges herein granted and provided
for, the said company shall have power to purchase and hold
such real estate, not exceeding ten acres, located either in the
county or city of Norfolk, as may be necessary for their
works and the proper carrying on of their business, and shall
be invested with all the powers conferred, and subject to all
the provisions prescribed by chapters fifty-six and fifty-seven
of the Code of Virginia, except so far as this act may other-
wise prescribe.
Z. That the capital stock of the Equitable gas company of
Norfolk city shall not be less than seventy-five thousand
dollars, nor more than three hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, to be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each,
to be raised by subscription; for which purpose, if the stock
be not otherwise subscribed, books may be opened under the
superintendence of any two or more of the persons herein-
before named.

3. That each and every share of stock in the said company
shall entitle the owner thereof to one vote thereon in person
or by proxy:

4. That the charge to private and public consumers shall
at no time exceed the sum of two dollars for one thousand
cubic feet of gas.

5. That the said company shall be authorized to open
roads, lanes, streets, alleys and public squares in the county
and city of Norfolk, for the purpose of distributing gas:
provided, that when the same shall have been opened for that
purpose, they shall, as soon as practicable, be repaired by the
said company, at their own cost, in such manner as may be
prescribed by the proper authorities of the said county or city.

6. That said company may purchase the property, in whole
or in part, of any gas-light company of the city of Norfolk
heretofore incorporated; and for that, or other purposes, may
borrow money, and give bond therefor, bearing interest not
exceeding eight per centum per annum, which bonds may be
secured by pledge, mortgage, trust deed, or other conveyance
of the income and property of said company.

7. That any person who shall willfully open a communica-
tion with the street gas mains, or other gas pipe of said com-
pany, without authority from the president and directdérs
thereof, or shall willfully let on the gas after it has been
stopped by order of the president and directors for repair or
any other purpose, or who shall put up any pipes or burners
in addition to the pipes and burners originally put up and
inspected, or introduce gas into any of them without author-
ity, as aforesaid, or shall willfully do, or cause to be done,
any act whereby the works of said company, or portion of
its machinery or apparatus shall be obstructed, injured, or
destroyed, such person shall forfeit for each offence not less
than ten nor more than thirty dollars, to be recovered be-
fore any justice of the peace or the mayor; one-half to
the informer, and the other half to the county or city, as the
case may be; 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 or motion
in any court of record.

8. The councils of the city of Norfolk and the board of
supervisors of Norfolk county, respectively, shall have power
to pass such ordinances and resolutions as to prevent injury
to the works and property of the said company, and to pun-
ish any person who may violate the same by fine not exceed.
ing fifty dollars for each offence.

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