Chap. 794.—An ACT to incorporate the town of Potomac, in Prince William
county.

Approved March 4, 1896.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That so
much of the land as lies and is contained within the following
boundaries—namely: Beginning at a point midway between North
Point and the island in Chappawansic creek; thence up the south
bank or shore of said creek to the telegraph road ; thence along said
telegraph road to the waters of Little creek ; thence down the centre
of said creek to the line dividing the lands of Misters Groves and
Ennis; thence northerly along said line to the channel of Quantico
bay; thence to the north bank of said Quantico; thence alongside
north bank to the middle of Potomac river; thence along said line
to a point opposite the place of beginning; thence westerly to the
initial point, shall be, and is hereby, made a town corporate by the
name and style of the town of Potomac, and by that name may sue
and be sued, and by that name and style shall have and exercise the
powers hereinafter granted or conferred upon towns by all the laws
now in force or that may hereafter be enacted for the government of
towns containing less than five thousand inhabitants.

2. The municipal authorities of said town shall consist of one
mayor and four councilmen, who shall be chosen annually by ballot
on the first Tuesday in May. Any qualified voter of the county of
Prince William and residing within the corporate limits of the town
of Potomac shal] be entitled to vote at all elections under this act of
incorporation. C. E. Nash, of said town, is hereby authorized and
empowered to hold said election between the hours of two and six
o’clock post meridian, and shall call in two qualified voters of said
town to aid him in deciding any contest in reference to the right to
vote of any individual and to witness the counting of the ballots.
In case it is impossibie to decide the persons slected councilmen by
reason of a tie, the said C. E. Nash shall determine, in the pres-
ence of two such said qualified voters of said town, by lot every
case of the kind arising. A contest between two persons voted
for as mayor, on the ground of each having received the same
number of votes, shall likewise be decided by lot by the said
C. E. Nash in the presence of the said qualified voters. The
said C. E. Nash shall immediately thereafter, and the clerk of
said council after each election thereafter held, make out and deliver
to the mayor and each one of the councilmen-elect a certificate of his
election, and shall administer to said mayor and councilmen the
oaths of office required by the constitution and laws of Virginia. The
term of office of said mayor and councilmen shall commence on the
first day of July succeeding their election and continue for the space
of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. On
the first Monday in July of each year the said councilmen, or a ma:-
jority of them, shall elect by ballot a clerk and sergeant from among
the residents of the corporate limits, which officers shall hold their
terms of office for the space of one year or until their successors have
been elected and qualified. The said clerk and sergeant shall qual-
ify by taking the oath of office before the clerk or other person au-
thorized to administer oaths, and may be removed from office by the
unanimous vote of the council. All the officers of the corporation
shall serve without compensation except as hereinafter provided.
The said council shall appoint its own time of meeting; a quorum to
consist of a majority of the councilmen qualified; in no case, how-
ever, to be less than two to constitute a quorum. Vacancies in the
offices of clerk and sergeant, from any cause, shall be filled by the
council of said town. The mayor shall be the presiding officer of
the council, but shall have no vote except in a case ofatie. He
shall be ex-officio a justice of the peace of Prince William county,
and shall be charged specially with the power and jurisdiction to
enforce the ordinances and by-laws of said town, and shal! receive
as compensation therefor the fees now allowed by law for such ser-
vices and no other or further compensation whatever. He may call
special meetings of the council by giving notice to each member
thereof. The clerk of said council shall keep a correct record of the
proceedings of the council, shall provide the books and stationery
ordered by the council, make out a list of all property, real and per-
sonal, within the corporate limits for assessment, taking as a basis
of valuation of the property, both real and personal, and con-
forming in every respect thereto, the assessor’s and commissioner’s
books in district number two of Prince William county, and shall
issue tickets for the taxes levied by the council, and shal! deliver said
tickets to the sergeant for collection ; shall draw warrants on the ser-
geant ordered by the council; shall have power to administer any oath
required under this act or under‘any ordinance of the council, and he
shall be paid annually such sums as the council may determine and
direct, not, however, to exceed the sum of fifty dollars for any one
year. The sergeant shall collect the taxes voted by the council, and
for collecting and paying out the same shal] be allowed two and one-
half per centum. He shall have the same power and authority of
any constable or collector of Prince William county, and shall be
entitled to the same fees, except as herein provided. He shall pay
out the money of the corporation in his hands on the warrants of
the mayor and clerk certifying that it is drawn by order of the coun-
cil. He shall perform all the duties of overseer of roads or streets
within the corporate limits in accordance with the laws of Virginia
and the ordinances of the town. .

3. The corporate limits of said town of Potomac, is hereby, created
and declared to be a separate and distinct road district of Prince
William county, and no road tax shall be levied on any property
within said limits except by the council of Potomac, to be expended
within said limits on the streets and roads therein by the sergeant
of the town under the direction and supervision of the council. For

is services as overseer of roads and streets the sergeant shall be en-
titled to the same compensation allowed by law to overseers of roads
under the genera] road law of Virginia. The council shall have con-
trol of all streets and roads within the corporate limits of the town.
4. The town sergeant shall, before entering upon the discharge of
the duties of his office, execute a bond in the penalty of one thov-
sand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of all his duties.
The sureties of said sergeant shall justify as to their sufficiency be-
fore the mayor, and said bond shall receive the written approval of
the mayor certifying as to its validity and sufficiency and then be
filed with the clerk.

5. The council shall have the power to regulate and prohibit the
running at large of animals, to prohibit the obstruction of streets
and sidewalks; to provide for order and quiet and the observance of
the sabbath within the corporation; to regulate the sale of intoxi-
cating liquors; to pass ordinances carrying into effect the objects of
incorporation, the said ordinances not to be in contravention of any
laws of the state, and to punish the violation of said ordinances by
fine and imprisonment; provided that any fine imposed upon a minor
shall be paid by his parent or guardian. The officers of said town
and the council thereof shall have all the powers granted to officers
and to the councils of towns corporate under existing general laws
not inconsistent with this act.

6. The schools within said corporate limits shall remain under the
management of the school officers and be subject to the laws of the
Dumfries district governing the same, and in nowise to be madea
separate district therefrom.

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