Chap. 195.—An ACT to incorporate the Chicago, Parkersburg and
Norfolk Railroad Company.

Approved February 24, 1886.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
Isaac Scott, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, W. W. Lucas and
William M. Morse, of Marietta, Ohio, G. B. Gibbens, of Par-
kersburg, West Virginia, S. F. Shaw, of Parkersburg, West
Virginia, John L. Eubank and A. H. Sitlington, of Bath county,
Robert L. Parish and A. T. Fudge, of Alleghany county, their
associates, successors and assigns, be and are hereby created a
body politic and corporate, by the name and style of the
Chicago, Parkersburg and Norfolk railroad company, for the
purpose of constructing and operating a railroad from a point
near the West Virginia line, in Bath county, Virginia, through
the counties of Bath and Alleghany, to Clifton Forge, by such
route as may be deemed most suitable by said incorporators.
The principal office of said company shall be at Covington,
Alleghany county, Virginia. ,

2. Said company shall have perpetual succession and a com-
mon seal, which it may renew or alter at pleasure; may sue
and be sued, plead and be impleaded, contract and be contracted
wh, and make all ordinances, by-laws and regulations not in-
consistent with this act and the laws of this state.

3. It shall be lawful for said company to accept and acquire,
in subscriptions to its capital stock, or by donations, lands,
mines, money, materials or labor. It may, moreover, receive
subscriptions for stock from other companies, associations and
corporations of this or any bordering state, to facilitate the
speedy completion and successful operation of its road, as may
be mutually agreed upon; and said company may lease, sell,
or otherwise dispose of, all lands, mines, and other property
acquired under this act, at its pleasure.

4. Any county through or near the lines of which this rail-
road shall run, and any incorporated city or town in any such
counties, may subscribe to the capital stock of said company;
and to this end the county court of such counties, or the cor-

oration court of such towns or cities may, in its discretion,
if requested to do so by a majority of the incorporators of this
road, to order a vote of the qualified voters of such counties or
corporations, to be taken at such time and for such amounts
as the said court may deem proper. And whenever such vote
shall have been taken, after due notice, it shall appear by the
returns thereof, that three-fifths of the qualified voters of the
county, city or town, voting upon the question, are in favor of
subscription, and that said three-fifths includes a majority of
votes cast by freeholders at such election, and a majority of
the registered voters of the county, city or town, the same
shall be made; and, thereupon, the county or corporation
court of such cqunty, town or city shall make all necessary or-
ders for the issuance and delivery to said company of the bonds
of such county, town or city to the amount of subscription so
made, and payable in thirty years, with interest at the rate of
six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, and said
bonds shall be received by said company at par in payment of
said subscription: and the expenses attending such election
shall be paid by said company in the event the result of said
election is against said subscription.

5. The capital stock of the company shall not be less than
ten thousand dollars, nor more than one million dollars, unless
said amount shall be found inadequate to construct and ope-
rate said road, in which case, by a concurrent vote of stock-
holders representing at least two-thirds of all the stock, it may
increase the capital sufficiently to raise the amount of money
necessary for the purpose aforesaid.

6. The shares of stock of said company shall be one hun-
dred dollars each, allowing one vote, either in person or by
proxy, at the meeting of the stockholders for any share upon
_ all assessments due at the time of meeting have been
made. .

7. Said road to be either broad or narrow gauge, as the in-
corporators may elect, with such number of tracks as may be
desired, with all necessary depots and other conveniences, and
for that purpose said company shall be entitled to acquire title
to a continuous line of one hundred feet in width of land, with
such additional land as may be necessary for the use of said
railroad company.

8. It shall be lawful for said company to construct and ope-
rate lateral or branch railways or tramways of any desired
gauge, not exceeding thirty miles in length, which shall have
all the rights and powers, and be subject to all the restrictions
of the main line, and also to erect and operate telegraph lines
along its line of road.

g. The said company shall be required to commence the
construction of said road within two years from the passage of
this act, and shall complete the same within ten years there-
after; otherwise, the powers, privileges and franchises hereby
granted, shall be zpso facto void.

10. Thecorporators herein mentioned shall have the powers
and authorities of a president and board of directors, for the
purpose of organization of said company, and for all other
purposes, until a president and board of directors shall be
elected at a meeting of stockholders, and such meeting shall
be held upon such notice as the corporators may deem proper.
When ten per centum of the capital stock shall have been sub-
scribed, the said corporators shall elect one of their number
chairman, who shall have the power and authority of president
of said company, and in all matters a majority of said corpo-
rators shall control and constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business.

© 11. This act shall be subject to repeal, amendment, or modi-
fication, by any future legislature, as may seem to it proper;
and all taxes or debts due or to become due to this common-
wealth, shall be paid in lawful currency of the United States,
and not in coupons.

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