Chap. 60.—An ACT to incorporate the town of Stuart, in the county
of Patrick.

Approved November 22, 1884.

1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the town of Stuart, in the county of Patrick, as the same has
been or may be laid off into lots, streets and alleys, shall be and
the same is hereby made a town corporate, by the name of the
town of Stuart, and by that name shall have and exercise all
the powers conferred upon towns of less than five thousand
inhabitants by, and be subject to the provisions of the fifty-
fourth chapter of the Code of eighteen hundred and seventy-
three, and acts amendatory thereof, so far as the provisions
of the same are not inconsistent with the provisions of this
act.
2. The boundaries of said town shall be as follows: Begin-
ning at a walnut tree on Mayo river, near where Staples and
Williams’ mill stood; thence down the river as it meanders
to the crossing in Judge Lybrook’s bottom; thence a straight
line to Mill branch at a point below Bishop’s turning-lathe;
thence up the branch as it meanders to the fork of the said
branch near Nowlin’s spring; thence a straight line to the
northeast corner of M. Turner’s orchard; thence with the
road by Colonel A. Staples’ to a cherry tree on the road lead-
ing to the Rye cove; thence a straight line to the beginning.

3. The officers of said town shall consist of five trustees,
who shall compose the council, three of whom shall consti-
tute a quorum to transact business, and a sergeant, who shall
hold their offices for the term of two years, and until their
successors are elected and qualified. The said council shall
have power to pass all by-laws and ordinances necessary for
the proper government of said town, not in conflict with the
constitution and laws of the estate, or of the United States;
and also to provide for keeping the streets, walks and alleys
in order, and paving the same, and other necessary improve-
ments.

4, The council shall elect from their own number a presi-
dent, who shall preside at all meetings of the council, and
when they are equally divided, shall, in addition to his indi-
vidual vote, give the casting vote; and he shall be invested
with all the powers of a justice of the peace within the limits
of said town, and during his absence or inability to act,
then his power shall be invested in any one of said trustees.

5. C. KE. Smith, W. D. Via, James H. Rangely, A. J. Bishop
and P. Bouldin, junior, are hereby appointed trustees of said
town, and shall have and exercise all the power herein granted
to said officers, and remain in office until the fourth Thursday
in May, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, and until their
successors shall be elected and qualified according to law.

6. The said council shall when organized, and every two
years thereafter, appoint a sergeant, who shall be invested
with the full power of a constable within the limits of said
town, and also have power to arrest offenders within one mile
of said limits for offences committed therein. He shall col-
lect town taxes and have power to distrain and sell therefor,
in like manner as a county treasurer may distrain and sell
for state taxes; to pay out the money in his hands on the
warrant of the mayor. and clerk, certifying that it is done by
order of the council.

7. The said council shall have power to impose a tax not
exceeding twenty cents on the bundred dollars for all pur-
poses: provided however, that said council may impose a
further tax not excecding fifty cents on the hundred dollars,
when authorized by a two-thirds vote of all the legally quali-
fied voters of said town.

8. Thesaid council shall also have power to fillany vacancies
in the offices of said town from whatever cause the same may
originate; the officer so elected shall hold the office for the
unexpired term of their predecessor; said council for good
cause and by its unanimous vote may remove from office any
officer of said corporation.

9. Said council shall have power to pass ordinances to carry
into effect the object of this incorporation, and to punish the
violation of the same by fine or imprisonment or both; to
provide for order and quiet, and the observance of the Sab-
bath within the corporation; to provide suitable burial places
for the dead, either within or without the corporation, and to
regulate and govern the same.

10. The clerk of the council shall keep a correct record of
all the proceedings of the council, shall provide the books and
stationery therefor at the cost of the town; make out the
certificates of election; make out a list of property to be
assessed, real and personal, within the limits of the corpora-
tion, and assess the same according to the best information
obtained by him; and shall issue tickets for taxes voted by
the council, which tickets he shall deliver to the sergeant
when ordered by the council; and for said services he shall
be allowed annually a certain sum to be fixed by the council.

11. No road tax shall be assessed upon the property with-
in the corporation, nor shall the citizens of the same be liable
to work the county roads, except by the council.

12. The council may use the Patrick county jail, and may
establish a chain-gang composed of the prisoners of said cor-
poration in said jail, who are there in default of payment of
their fine.

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