Chap. 44.—An ACT to incorporate the Colored Agricultural and In-
dustrial Association of Virginia.

Approved January 21, 1886.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly. of Virginia, That
Samuel P. Bolling, Robert W. Whiting, P. S. Bolling, George
W. Matthews, Thomas Scott, S. H. Bolling, W. H. Jordan,
W. F. Jackson, A, W. Harris, M. N. Lewis, William Faulcon,
W. W. Evans, J. M. Smith, R. H. Lewis, George Thornton,
P. B. Ramsay, W. H. H. Parker, W. A. Scott, Robert Nor-
ton, A. A. Dodson, Alfred Green, Carter Crawford, Charles
Woomble, Benjamin Hargrave, E. A. Randolph, W. J. Scott,
Christopher Wilkerson, R. T. Hill, Robert, Johnson, P. F.
Physics, J. H. Hayes, and such others as are now or who may
hereafter be associated with them, are hereby declared a body
corporate and politic, under the name and style of the Colored
Agricultural Association of Virginia, and as such shall have
perpetual succession and a common seal, which it may renew
or alter at pleasure; and it may sue and be sued, plead and be
impleaded, contract and be contracted with.

2.. The object of the said association shall be for the purpose
of annually holding a meeting, at which the agricultural and
industrial products of the colored people of this state may ex-
hibit, under such rules and regulations as the board of direc-
tors, to be hereinafter made, shall provide, and for the purpose
of such other amusements and entertainments as are generally
had at fairs of this kind: provided, that such amusements or
entertainments shall not be of immoral character, or in viola-
tion of the general laws of Virginia.

.3. For excellence in industrial and agricultural products, and
breeding of fine stock, poultry, et cetera, such prizes shall
be given as the board of directors or their agents shall, by rules
and regulations, provide; and such prizes for excellence in speed
of horses, et cetera, as the said board of directors or their
agents may provide.

4. The capital stock of this association shall not be less than
one thousand dollars, nor more than ten thousand dollars,
divided into shares of ten dollars each, and shall be payable by
each subscriber at such time or times, and in such proportions,
as it may be called for by the president and directors; and if
any such subscriber shall fail to pay the same, so called for,
upon each and every share so held, within twenty days after
the same has been called for, then he shall forfeit the amount
already paid in. 7

5. The general office shall be in the city of Petersburg, or
such other city or town of not less than two thousand five hun-
dred inhabitants, as the board of directors may decide. For
the purposes of .this association they shall not hold more than
twenty-five acres of land.

6. The officers of this association shall be a president, five
vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer, general manager, and a
board of fifteen directors; all of whom shall be elected annually
by the stockholders of the association, each stockholder cast-
ing one vote for each share of stock on which he has paid
twenty per cent. —

7. The duties of the president shall be such as are usually
incumbent on the executive officer of such an association.

8. It shall be the duty of the vice-president to assist the pre-
sident in the execution of the duties of his office, whenever
called upon so to do; or in case of the inability of the president
to perform the duties of his office, it shall devolve upon the
vice-president next in order. |

g. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep a record of
the proceedings of the association and of the board of direc-
tors, and to perform such other duties as the president may
direct him to perform.

10. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to keep all the mo-
neys coming into his hands, and disburse the same upon the
order of the president, attested by the secretary.

11. The treasurer shall give a bond, with good and sufficient
sureties, of three thousand dollars, for the faithful performance
of his duties, or for such greater sum as the board of directors
may require. The president shall give a bond, with good and
sufficient sureties, of three thousand dollars. The secretary
shall give a bond, with good and sufficient sureties, of three
thousand dollars. The said bonds to be made payable as the
board of directors may prescribe.

12. For the purpose of encouraging the people whom this
association is designed to benefit, the premises which they shall
occupy shall be relieved of all stafe and county taxes for the
term of six years.

13. It shall be the duty of the board of directors to meet
upon the call of the president, and they shall have the general
management of the affairs of this association; they shall make
and establish all necessary by-laws, rules and regulations, not
inconsistent with the laws of this state, and shall fix the day
for the annual meeting of the association.

14. This association may open books for subscription to its
capital stock when and wherever in this state any five of the
incorporators above named may designate; and when the
amount of its capital stock shall have been subscribed for, the
stockholders, or their proxies, shall hold their first meeting,
at such time and place as the above five incorporators shall de-
signate, and effect a permanent organization by the election of
the above named officers, who shall hold their offices until the
first annual meeting fixed by the board of directors, at which
meeting they shall be re-elected, or their successors chosen,
who shall thereafter be elected annually by ballot.

15. The association may borrow money, provided the sum
borrowed shall not exceed three thousand dollars at any one
time, and pledge its’ property, real and personal, for the re-
demption of its bonds or other securities issued or made for
this purpose.

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