Chap. 709.—An ACT to incorporate the Manchester light and fuel company.

Approved March 4, 1896.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That Carter
M. Braxton, A. H. Leftwich, Augustine Royall, Herbert D. Owen,
Charles L. Gately and William A. Little, junior, and other such per-
sons as may be now or 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 Manchester light and fuel company,
with power to construct, purchase or lease or to maintain suitable
works, pipes, machinery and all proper and desirable appliances,
either in the city of Manchester or in the county of Chesterfield, or
in both localities, for the manufacture, generation, distribution and
sale of gas or electricity for fuel, motive-power and public and pri-
vate illumination or heating, or both, in the said city of Manchester
or in the said county of Chesterfield, or in both.

And for the purpose of carrying into full effect the powers and
privileges herein granted and provided for, the said company shall
have power to purchase and lease such real estate, not exceeding ten
acres, located either in the city of Manchester or in the county of
Chesterfield, or in both, as may be necesegary for the said works, and
for laying the pipes and for the carrying on of the said business.

And the said company shall have all the general powers and be
subject to all the general restrictions prescribed by chapters forty-
six and forty-seven of the code of Virginia of eighteen hundred and
eighty-seven, except so far as this act may otherwise prescribe.

2. That the capital stock of this company shall not be less than
twenty thousand or more than one hundred thousand dollars, to be
divided into shares of one hundred dollars each, and to be raised by
subscription, for which purpose, if the stock be not otherwise sub-
scribed, books may be opened under the superintendence of any two
or more of the persons hereinbefore named; and the amount of the
capital stock of said company may be increased from time to time by
order of the board of directors; provided the maximum above men-
tioned be not exceeded.

And said company shall have power to make, execute, issue and
sell or negotiate its bonds, and shall have power to secure said bonds
by a mortgage or deed of trust on all its works or property and fran-
chises, or any part thereof; and may hold stock in any other com-
pany or corporation; and it may acquire by purchase, lease or other-
wise, the plant, works or property of any other light company in the
city of Manchester or the county of Chesterfield, either or both.

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

4. That the said company shall be authorized to open, dig up and
excavate the roads, lanes, streets, alleys and public squares in the city
of Manchester or in the county of Chesterfield, either or all, subject to
the fee simple rights by adjacent landowners, for the purpose of laying,
repairing, cementing and tapping their mains and pipes, and generally
for the purpose of doing what may be necessary and proper in the pros-
ecution of its manufacturing, generating and distributing gas or
electricity, as provided for in the first section of this act; provided
that when the same shall have been opened, dug up, or excavated for
such purpose, they shall, as soon as practicable, be repaired by the
said company, at its own cost, under the direction of the proper author-
ities of the said city of Manchester, if the same be done in the said
city, or the county of Chesterfield, if the same be done in the said
county, if the said local authorities may be had, so that the roads,
lanes, streets, alleys and public squares may be restored to their for-
mer condition as nearly as practicable.
do. The general assembly reserves the right to amend alter or repeal
this charter at pleasure.

6. That all taxes due the state shall be paid in money, and not in
coupons.

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