Chap. 404.—An ACT to authorize the board of supervisors of Smyth county to
issue bonds and borrow money for the building and repairing of the roads in
said county, and to authorize the judge of the county court to order an elec-
tion to ascertain the serise of the qualified voters of said county on the question.

Approved March 29, 1902.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the county
court of Smyth county is hereby authorized and empowered, upon the re-
quest of the board of supervisors of said county, to order an election
therein to take the sense of the qualified voters of said county upon the
proposition to borrow money and issue bonds or other evidences of debt
therefor, not in exeess of seventy-five thousand dollars, for the purpose of
building and improving the public roads in said county. The time of
holding said election to be fixed by said court, which election is to be held
in the usual manner of holding special elections.

2. The form of ballots to be used in such election shall be prescribed
by the county court.

3. If the majority of votes cast in said election shall be in favor of issu-
ing said bonds, then they shall be issued in such denominations as the
board of road commissioners hereinafter mentioned shall determine.
Said bonds to run not exceeding thirty years, and to be redeemable at the
pleasure of the board after ten years from the date thereof. Said bonds
shall bear interest not exceeding five per centum, and shall not be sold at
less than par value. The said bonds shall be coupon bonds, and the
coupons shall be receivable for all taxes due said county. The bonds shall
be signed by the president of the board, and countersigned by the clerk
thereof, and shall be negotiable and sold in the manner to be prescribed
by said board of road commissioners.

4. Said board of supervisors shall set apart each year a sum sufficient
to meet the interest on said bonds, and to create a sinking fund for the
redemption of the principal of said bonds. The board of supervisors
shall levy and collect such an amount of taxeS as may be necessary to
comply with the provisions of this act.

5. The board of road commissioners of Smyth county shall consist of
three supervisors of said county and nine freeholders, three from each
magisterial district, to be appointed by the county court, who shall reside
in different sections of said districts. Said freeholders shall execute
bond, with security approved by said court, for the full amount of all
moneys that may go into their hands.

6. The sum of money borrowed shall be pro rated among the three
magisterial districts of said county, as a majority of the board of road
commissioners may direct.

%. The supervisors and the three freeholders of each magisterial dis-
trict shall constitute the board of road commissioners for their respective
districts. They shall elect one of the freeholders to superintend the open-
ing and repairing of roads, who shall receive such compensation as said
district board may prescribe.

8. When the money is apportioned to the respective districts and placed
in the bank to the credit of the district board, it shall be paid out on
checks to be signed by the said superintendent of the district, who shall
make report to the district board as often and in such manner as said
board shall determine.

9. The nine freeholders appointed as hereinbefore mentioned, together
with the three supervisors of said county, shall constitute the county
board of road commissioners. This board shall elect one of their number
president and another member clerk, who shall sign and countersign said
bonds as hereinbefore provided.

10. A majority of said board shall constitute a quorum for the trans-
action of business.

11. Application for opening new roads and changing locations of old
roads shall be made under existing laws, and said roads shall be main-
tained and kept in order in each district in the manner prescribed by the
respective district boards as may not conflict with the laws of the State.

12. All acts or parts of acts in conflict herewith are to that extent
hereby repealed.

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