Chap. 516.—An ACT to amend an act entitled an act to establish a
ferry or bridge across the Ruppahannock rivor, at or near the town of
Falmouth, approved February 9, 1882.

In force March 18, 1884.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
sections one and four of an act approved February ninth,
eighteen hundred and eighty-two, entitled an act to establish
a bridge or ferry across the Rappahannock river, at or near
the town of Falmouth, be amended and re-enacted s0 as to
read as follows:

§1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
it shall be the duty of the county court of Stafford county,
when petitioned by fifty votcrs of said county, one-half of
whom shall be freebolders, to cause a vote of the voters of
said county to be taken at the next general election upon the
question of authorizing the supervisors of said county to
build a bridge across the Rappahannock river at or near the
town of Fredericksburg, such vote to be taken and canvassed
and returns made in the manner prescribed by section sixty-
three, chapter sixty-one, Code of eighteen hundred and
seventy-three. If it shall appear that three-fifths of the
qualified voters of the county voting upon the question are
in favor of said building of a bridge, and that said three-
fifths includes a majority of the votes cast by frecholders at
such election, then the decision of said majority shall be
carried out as follows, namely: Said bridge shall be managed
and controlled by five commissioners, one to be elected from
each mayisterial district of Stafford, and one from the county
at large, who shall be chosen by a majority of the qualified
voters voting at the next general election aforesaid, each of
whom shall give bond and security before the county court
of Stafford county for the faithful performance of their duty,
and the failure on the part of the judge to require a bond in
sufficient penalty, with good security, shall be deemed mal-
feasance in office; and said commissioners shall, when autho-
rized by said vote, be empowered to locate and build said
bridge, condemn land for landing, and roads necessary for
said bridge ; and shall require collection of tolls from all par-
ties non-residents of the counties, districts or corporations
subscribing to said enterprise, not to exceed for each person
two centsand for each wheel two cents, each horse two cents,
and each head of cattle one cent, and forsheep and hogs one
and one-half cents per head; the said tolls to be applied to
the maintenance and operation of said bridge. But the said
commissioners, should the vote be determined in favor of
such bridge, shall have full power to buy or lease cither or
both of the existing bridges at Fredericksburg and Falmouth
instead of building such bridge.

§4. The council of Fredericksburg and the board of super-
visors of Stafford and King George counties, are hereby em-
powered to borrow the necessary money, not to exceed the
sum of thirty thousand dollars, with which to buy or con-
struct or lease for a term of years said bridge, and the costs
incident thereto, and they are empowered to issue bonds
theretor, reciting the vote of the people, bearing rates of
interest not to exceed six percentum per annum; and forthe
redemption thereof they are hereby authorized to assess the
necessary tax, not to exceed twenty cents in the one hundred
dollars, to be levied on the county, corporation or district
subscribing for said bridge: provided, further, that said bonds
shall not be sold or marketed for less than their par value.

But should the voters of said county decide against the build-
ing of said bridge, it shall be the duty of the supervisors to
cause to be paid any bonds, not exceeding in the aggregate
five hundred dollars, that may have been issued and sold
heretofore under the act of which this act is an amendment.

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