CHAP. 141.—An ACT to provide a new charter for the town of Kenbridge,
in the county of Lunenburg, and to repeal an act approved March
14, 1908, incorporating the town of Kenbridge, Virginia.

Approved March 12, 1912.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the territory contained within the limits set forth and described
in the second section of this act be deemed and taken as the
town of Kenbridge, and the inhabitants of the said town for
all purposes for which towns are incorporated in the Common-
wealth, shall be a body politic, in fact and in name, under the
domination of the town of Kenbridge, and as such shall have
and exercise and enjoy all rights and privileges and power, and
be subject to all the duties and obligations encumbered upon and
pertaining to said town as a municipal corporation, subject
to all the general laws of the State for the government of
towns of less than five thousand inhabitants.

2. The boundaries of the said town shall be as follows: Start
at a point marked by a white oak tree on the line between the
lands of the Kenbridge development company, incorporated,
and A. L. Cralle, which point is the intersection of two lines
as follows:

A line run from the north corner of the Bank of Lunenburg
building of the magnetic readings of north fifty-five degrees
west and a line from the southeast corner of the farmers’
union warehouse of the magnetic bearings of south two degrees
west.

From the above described point running in a northerly di-
rection on a line north one and one-half degrees east, one hun-
dred and seventy-five feet, thence north one degree east seven
hundred and forty-five feet, thence south eighty-eight degrees
east, two thousand and forty-six feet, thence south fifty-two
degrees east, one hundred feet, thence north fifty-four and one-
half degrees east, four hundred feet, thence south thirty-five and
one-half degrees east, five hundred feet, thence south fifty-four
and one-half degrees west, eight hundred feet, thence south
thirty-five degrees east, seven hundred and sixty feet, thence
south thirty-six and one-half degrees east, one thousand nine
hundred and fifty-five feet, thence south forty degrees west,
two hundred and eighty feet, thence south fifty degrees east,
three thousand and ninety feet, thence south forty degrees west,
one thousand one hundred and eighty-four feet, thence north
fifty-two degrees west, five thousand five hundred and seventy
feet, thence south forty degrees west, two thousand two hundred
and seventy feet, thence north fifty degrees west seven hundred
feet, thence north forty degrees east, one thousand one hundred
and fifty feet, thence north fifty-four and one-half degrees west,
three hundred and eighteen feet, thence north ten and one-half
degrees west, eight hundred and forty feet, thence north seventy-
seven and one-half degrees west, nine hundred and eighty-five
feet, thence ten and one-half degrees west, three hundred and
fifty-nine feet, thence north, twenty-six degrees east, one thou-
sand one hundred and forty-six feet, thence south fifty-four de-
grees east, six hundred and fifteen feet, thence a straight line to
the point of starting.

3. The administration and government of said town shall
be vested in one principal officer, to be styled the mayor, and
six councilmen who shall be residents of, and voters in said
town, to be chosen every two years by ballot at an election held
according to law, on the second Tuesday in June; the first elec-
tion to be held in June, nineteen hundred and fourteen, and
enter upon their duties the first day of September, nineteen
hundred and fourteen; and until the regular election and quali-
fication of the said officers as hereinbefore provided for, the
following shall be the officers of the said town: Mayor, I. T.
Wilkinson; councilmen, Doctor W. D. Kendig, F. W. Clarke.
George W. Walthall, Thomas W. Ozlin, W. S. Irby, W. F. Ken-
nedy.

1. The sergeant, clerk of the council and commissioner of
revenue shall be appointed by the council at its first regular
meeting in September, and at the regular September meeting
every alternate vear thereafter. All of said officers shall hold
office until their successors are elected and qualified, subject. to
any provisions hereinafter made for removal from office. Said
election shall be conducted under the provisions of the general
election laws of this State. :

5. The mayor and all other municipal officers of said town
before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall
be sworn in accordance with the laws of the State, by anyone
authorized to administer oaths under the laws of the State.
If any person elected to any office in said town shall neglect to
take such oath before the day on which he is to enter upon the
discharge of the duties of his office, or shall for twenty days
after the beginning of the term of his office, fail to give such
securities as may be required of him by the council of said
town, he shall be considered as having declined office, and the
same shall be declared vacant, and such vacancy shall be filled
by the council of said town. ,

CHAPTER II.

1. Mayor.—The mayor shall be elected by the qualified
voters of the town of Kenbridge for the term of two years.
His salary shall be fixed by the council of said town, and his
salary shall not be diminished during his term of office.

2. He shall, by virtue of his office, preside over the meet-
ings of the council, try and determine all causes arising under
this charter, or any ordinance or regulation passed by the coun-
cil, voting only in case of a tie, and possess all the jurisdiction
and exercise all the power and authority in criminal cases of
a justice of the peace of said town, in addition to the powers
given him by virtue of this act.

3. It shall be his duty to communicate to the town council
annually, at the beginning of each fiscal vear, or oftener, if he
shall be required by said council, a general statement of the
condition of the town in relation to its government, finances and
improvements, with such recommendations as he may deem
proper.

4. He shall exercise a constant supervision over the conduct
of all officers of the town other than the council; have power
and authority to investigate their acts; have access to all books
and documents in their offices, and may examine said officers and
their subordinates under oath. He shall have power to sus-
pend or remove such officers for misconduct in office or neglect
of duty, but no such removal shall be made without reasonable
notice to the officer complained of, and an opportunity afforded
him to be heard in his defense. On the removal or suspension
of such officer, the mayor shall report the same to the town
council at their next stated meeting for their consideration;
but in no case shall such removal or suspension be final until
ratified by two-thirds of the whole council.

5. In case of the absence or inability of the mayor, the
president pro tempore of the council, to be chosen by a majority
of the council present at a legal meeting, or, in his absence or
inability, some other member, chosen in the same manner, shall
possess the same power and discharge the municipal duties of
the mayor during such absence or inability.

6. In case a vacancy shall occur in the office of mayor, the
town council shall elect a qualified person to fill such office dur-
ing the unexpired term.

7. The mayor or any three members of the council may call
a meeting of the council.
1. Town council.—The council of the town shall be com-
posed of six members. They shall be elected by the popular
vote of the qualified voters of the town.

2. The town shall, by ordinance, fix the time of their stated
meetings, and no business shall be transacted at a special meet-
ing but that for which it shall be called.

3. The town council shall have authority to appoint police-
men, and to adopt such rules and appoint such officers and
committee as they may deem proper for the regulation of their
proceedings, and for the convenient transaction of business; to
compel the attendance of absent members; to punish its mem-
bers for disorderly behavior, and by a vote of three-fourths of
the whole council, to expel a member for malfeasance or mis-
feasance in office. They shall keep a minute book, in which
their clerks shali note the proceedings of the council, and shall
record such proceedings at large on the record books, and keep
the same properly indexed. The meetings of the council shall
be open to the public, except when the public welfare shall re-
quire secrecy.

4. A majority of the members of the council or three of
them and the mayor, shall constitute a quorum for the trans-
action of business; but no ordinances shall be passed or resolu-
tion adopted, having for its object the appropriation of money,
except by the concurrence of at least four members. No vote
or question decided at a stated meeting shall be reconsidered at
special meeting, unless there shall be at least five members pres-
ent and four of them concur.

5. The town council shall have, subject to the provisions of
this act, the control and management of the fiscal and muni-
cipal affairs of the town, and of all property, real and personal
belonging to said town; and may make such ordinances and
by-laws relating to the same as they shall deem proper; and
they shall likewise have power to make such ordinances, orders,
by-laws and regulations as they may deem proper and neces-
sary to carry out the following powers, which are hereby vested
in them, and all other powers vested in them by this act or by
the general laws of Virginia.

First. To establish a market or markets in and for said town
and appoint proper officers therefor; prescribe the time and
places for holding same, provide suitable buildings and grounds
therefor, and enforce such regulations as may be necessary and
proper to prevent huckstering, forestalling and rebating.

Second. To establish water-works, gas-works, and electric-
works within or without the limits of said town; to contract and
agree with the owners of any land for the use and purchase
thereof, or have the same condemned according to law, for the
location, extension or enlargement of their said works, the pipes
connected therewith, or any of the fixtures or appurtenances
thereof ;,,and.,<hai have authority to protect from. injury by
ordinance, prescribing adequate penalties, the said works,
pipes, fixtures and land, or anything connected therewith,
whether within or without said town.

Third. To erect and keep in order all public buildings in
and for said town, and appoint proper officers therefor; to
erect within the town a town prison, and said prison shall con-
tain such apartments as shall be necessary for the safe-keep-
ing of all persons confined therein, and to establish a chain gang,
and to require offenders to work therein.

Fourth. To open, close, improve, widen, or narrow streets,
avenues or alleys, and have them kept in good condition and
properly lighted; and over any street or alley in the town which
has been or may be ceded or conveyed to the town by proper
deed they shall have like power and authority as over other
streets and alleys. They may prevent the building of any struc-
ture, obstruction or encroachment over, under or in any street,
sidewalk or alley in said town; and may plant or may permit
shade trees to be planted along said streets; but no company
or individual shall occupy with its or his works, or any appurte-
nances thereof, the streets, sidewalks, or alleys of the said town
without the consent of the council of said town duly entered
upon its record books.

Fifth. To prevent the cumbering of streets, sidewalks, alleys,
lanes or bridges in the town in any manner whatever.

Sixth. To determine and designate the route and grade of
any railroad to be laid out in said town, and to restrain and
regulate the rate of speed of locomotive engines and cars upon
railroads within the said town.

Seventh. To secure the inhabitants from contagious diseases;
to establish, erect and regulate hospitals; to provide for and
enforce the removal of patients to said hospitals; to appoint
and organize a board of health for said town, with the authority
necessary for the prompt and efficient performance of its duties.

Eighth. To declare what are and to require and compel the
abatement and removal of all nuisances within said town at the
expense of the person or persons causing the same, or the owner
or owners of the ground whereon the same may be; to prevent
and regulate slaughter houses, soap and candle factories within
said town, or the exercise of any dangerous, offensive or un-
healthy business, trade or employment therein, and to regulate
the transportation of coal and other articles through the streets
of said town.

Tenth. If any ground in said town shall be subject to be
covered with stagnant water, or if the owner or owners, occupier
or occupiers thereof, shall permit any offensive or unwholesome
substance to remain or accumulate thereon, the council may
cause such substance to be removed therefrom, and may collect
the expense of so doing from the said owner or owners, occupier
or occupiers or any of them, except in case where such nuisance
is caused by the action of the town authorities or their agents,
in which case the town shall pay the expense of abating the
same, by distress and sale in the same manner in which taxes
levied upon real estate for the benefit of said town are author-
ized to be collected; provided that reasonable notice shall be
first given to said owners or their agent. In case of non-resi-
dent owners, who have no agents in said town, such notice shall
be given by publication for not less than two weeks in any
newspaper published in said town.

Eleventh. To direct the location of buildings for the storage
of gunpowder and other combustible substance, and to regu-
late the sale and use of gunpowder, fire-crackers or fireworks
manufactured therefrom, kerosene oil, nitro-glycerine, camphene,
burning fluid or other combustible material, to regulate the
exhibition of fireworks, the discharge of firearms, the use of
lights or candles in barns and stables and other buildings, and
to restrict the making of bonfires in streets and yards.

Twelfth. To prevent hogs, dogs and other animals from
running at large in said town, and may subject the said ani-
mals to such confiscation, regulations and taxes as they may
deem proper.

Thirteenth. To prevent the riding or driving of horses or
other animals at an improper speed, throwing stones or en-
gaging in any employment or sport on the streets, sidewalks or
or public alleys, dangerous or annoying to passengers, and to
prohibit and punish the abuse or cruel treatment of horses and
other animals in said town.

Fourteenth. To restrain and punish drunkards, vagrants and
street beggars; to prevent vice and immorality; to preserve the
public peace and good order; to prevent and quell riots, dis-
turbances and disorderly assemblages; to suppress houses of
ill-fame and gambling houses; to prevent and punish lewd or
indecedent conduct in said town and to expel therefrom persons
guilty of such conduct, who have not resided therein as much
as one year; and for any violation of such ordinances may
impose fines in addition to those prescribed by the laws of the
State.

Fifteenth. To prevent the coming into town of persons hav-
ing no ostensible means of support, and of persons who may
be dangerous to the peace and safety of the town.

6. Any member of said council being voluntarily absent
from its meetings consecutively for three months, his seat shall
pe deemed vacant, and the unexpired term filled according to
aw.

7. The council is empowered to acquire lands to be used as
a place of burial for the dead. The said council shall also
have the power to prescribe and enforce all needful rules and
regulations not inconsistent with the laws of the State, for the
use, protection and ornamentation of the cemetery; to set aside,
at their discretion, by metes and bounds, a portion thereof for
the interment of strangers and the indigent poor: to divide the
remainder into burial lots and sell or lease the same, and to
execute all proper deeds or other writings in evidence of such
sale or lease, and to prescribe what class or condition of persons
shall be admitted to interment in the cemetery. The money
from such sale or lease of burial lots shall be invested, used and
employed for the use, protection, preservation and ornamenta-
tion of said cemetery. The cemetery, when established and en-
closed, shall be exempt from all State, county and municipal
taxation.

8. The police force shall be under the control of the mayor
for the purpose of enforcing peace and order and executing the
laws of the State and ordinances of the town. They shall also
perform such other duties as the council may prescribe. For
the purpose of enabling them to execute their duties and powers,
each policeman is hereby made a conservator of the peace and
endowed with all the powers of a constable in criminal cases,
and all other powers, which under the laws of the State may
be necessary to enable him to discharge the duties of his office.
Their pay, uniforms, and the rules and regulations for said
police shall be prescribed by the council.

9. Where, by the provisions of this act, the council have
authority to pass ordinances on any subject, they may pre-
scribe any penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars for a
violation thereof and confinement in jail not exceeding six
months, or either; and may provide that the offender, on fail-
ing to pay the penalty recovered and costs, shall be imprisoned
in the prison of the town for a term of not exceeding ninety
days, which penalties may be prosecuted and recovered with
costs, in the name of the town of Kenbridge, or shall compel
them to work on the streets or other public improvements of
the said town.

10. The town council shall not take or use any private prop-
erty for streets or other public purposes without making to the
owner thereof, just compensation for the same, but in cases
where the council cannot, by agreement, obtain title to the
ground for such purpose, it shall be lawful for said council to
apply to and obtain from the circuit court of Lunenburg county,
authority to condemn the same, which shall be applied for and
proceeded with according to law.

11. In every case where a street in said town has been or
shall be encroached upon by any fence, building or otherwise, the
council may require the owner (if known, or if unknown, the
occupant of the premises encroaching) to remove the same, and
if such removal be not made within the time prescribed by the
council, they shall impose a penalty of five dollars for each and
every day it is allowed to continue thereafter, and may cause
the encroachment to be removed, and collect from the owner
all reasonable charges therefor, with cost, by the same process
that they are hereinafter empowered to collect taxes. No en-
croachment upon any street, however long continued, shall con-
stitute any adverse possession to or confer any rights upon the
person claiming thereunder as against said town.

12. Whenever any street, alley or lane in said town shall
have been opened and used as such by the public for the period
of five years, the same shall thereby become a street, alley or
lane for public purposes, and the council shall have the same
authority and jurisdiction over and right and interest therein, as
they have by law over the streets, alleys and lanes laid out by
them; and any street or alley reserved in the division or sub-
division into lots of any portion of the territory within the
corporate limits of said town, by a plan or plat of record shall
be deemed and held to be dedicated to public use, unless it ap-
pears by said record that the street or alley so reserved is de-
signed for private use.

13. Whenever any new street shall be laid out, a street graded
or paved, a culvert built or any public improvements whatever
made, the council shall determine what portion, if any, of the
expense thereof shall be paid out of the town treasury and
what portion by the owners of the real estate benefited thereby ;
but no such public improvement shall be made, the cost of which
is to be defrayed in whole or in part by a local assessment, un-
til first requested by a petition signed by at least a majority
of the owners of property to be assessed for such improvements,
or unless the entire council shall concur in voting such improve-
ments to be expedient, or in determining to make the same
after allegation has been heard, in which case no petition or
request shall be necessary. The council shall have the same
power to collect such local assessments for improvements as are
hereinafter invested in it for the collection of taxes.

14. The town council shall grant and pay to all town officers
elected or appointed in pursuance of this act, such salaries or
compensation as the said council may from time to time deem
just and proper.
CHAPTER IV.

1. Town officers.—The sergeant of the town shall have and
exercise the powers of a constable, and the mayor, sergeant and
policeman in criminal and police matters, shall have jurisdic-
tion for one mile beyond the corporate limits of said town.

2. The council may appoint in addition to those herein pro-
vided for, such officers and clerks as they may deem proper and
necessary, and define their powers and prescribe their duties,
and fix their compensation, and may take from any officer,
whether appointed by them or elected, a bond with sureties, to
be approved by the council, in such penalty as they may deem
proper, payable to the town by its corporate name, with con-
dition for the faithful discharge of said duties. All officers
appointed by the council may be removed from office at its
pleasure. In case of any vacancies occurring in any municipal
office where it is not herein otherwise provided, the town coun-
cil shall elect a qualified person to fill such office during the
unexpired term.

3. The town treasurer shall qualify before the council and
shall give bond, to be approved by the council, in such sum as
that body may prescribe. He shall receive all money belonging
to said town. He shall keep his books and accounts in such
manner as the council may prescribe, and such books and ac-
counts shall always be subject to the inspection of the mayor
or any member cf the council, or any committee thereof.

4. No money shall be paid out by the treasurer, except on a

warrant of the clerk of the council, countersigned by the mayor,
and he shall keep a separate account of each fund and appropria-
tion, and the debits and credits belonging thereto.
_ 5. The treasurer shall also report to the town council at the
end of each fiscal year, and oftener if required, a full and de-
tailed account of all receipts and expenditures during the pre-
ceding fiscal year and the state of the treasury. He shall also
keep a register of all warrants, their date, amount, number and
fund from which paid, and the person to whom paid, specify-
ing also the time of payment; and all such warrants shall be
examined at the time of making such report to the council by
a committee thereof who shall examine and compare the same
with the books of the clerk, and report discrepancies, if any,
to the council.

6. The treasurer shall receive all taxes and assessments
which may be levied by said town and perform such other du-
ties as may herein be prescribed or ordained by the town coun-
cil.

7. All moneys received on special assessments shall be held
by the treasurer as a special fund, to be applied to the payment
of the matter for which the assessment was made, and said
money shall be used for no other purpose whatsoever.

8. The council may, at the request of the treasurer, by ordi-
nances, provide, order, establish or direct that the treasurer keep
all money in his hands belonging to the town in such place, or
places of deposit as in their judgment they may deem proper,
and such money shall be kept separate and distinct from the
treasurer’s own moneys. No person shall be allowed to qualify
as treasurer a second time, unless and until he shall have satis-
factorily settled his account as treasurer for the preceding
term; and if such settlement be not made on or before the regu-
lar time for entering the duties of his office for another term,
the office shall be considered vacant, and the vacancy shall be
filled as hereinbefore provided.

9. The clerk of the council shall attend the meetings of the
council and keep a record of its proceedings, and shall have the
custody of the corporate seal of said town. He shall keep all
papers that by the provisions of this act or the discretion of the
council are required to be filed with or kept by him. It shall
also be his duty, immediately after the close of each session of
the council, to make and present to the mayor a transcript of
every ordinance, resolution or order concerning any public im-
provement, or for the payment of money, and every ordinance,
resolution, order and act of legislative character passed by the
town at such session. He shall, in like manner, transmit to the
treasurer a transcript of all ordinances, resolutions or orders
appropriating money, or authorizing the payment of money, or
the issue of bonds or notes. He shall in like manner give
notice to all parties presenting communications or petitions to
the town council of the final action of the council on such com-
munication or petition. He shall publish such reports and
ordinances as the town council may prescribe and direct, and
shall in general, perform such other acts and duties as the town
council may, from time to time, require of him.

10. The commissioner of the revenue shall perform all the
duties in relation to the assessment of property for the purpose
of levying the town taxes that may be ordered by the town
council. He shall keep his office in some convenient place in
said town, and shall keep therein such books, schedules, and
records, and in such manner as the mayor and town council
may prescribe, which books, records, and other papers shall
be subject to the inspection of the mayor, the members of the
town council, or any committee thereof, and of the collector
of town taxes. He shall receive for his services the fees allowed
by law and such other compensation as the town council may
from time to time direct. The commissioner of the revenue, in
ascertaining the value of real property taxable in said town,
shall fix the same at the actual cash value of said property at
the time of assessment.

11. There shall be elected by the council for the town of
Kenbridge, at its first annual meeting after the passage of this
act, and at its regular meeting in September of each year there-
after, one town sergeant, who shall perform such duties as may
be prescribed or ordained by the town council and shall receive
such compensation therefor as the council shall determine. He
shall be collector of town delinquent taxes placed in his hands
by the town treasurer, and for that purpose shall have all the
powers and authority, and be subject to the same liabilities and
penalties as are prescribed for county treasurers in the collec-
tion of State taxes and county levies, and may be proceeded
against in the same manner, so far as applicable, and not in-
consistent with the provisions of this act. He shall pay over
to the treasurer weekly, or oftener, if he thinks proper, all
moneys which come into his hands for taxes or otherwise be-
longing to said town. He shall report to the council in writ-
ing, at each stated meeting, the amount of all moneys collected
by him for the town and paid over as herein directed. Before
entering on the duties of his office he shall enter into such bonds
with sureties as the said council may direct, said bond to be
payable to the town of Kenbridge, and conditioned for the
faithful discharge of the duties of said office, and shall be en-
tered on the records of the council, and the original shall be
filed in the office of the clerk of the council.

CHAPTER V.

1. Finances.—The town council may, in the name of and for
the use of the town, contract loans, or cause to be issued certifi-
cates of debts or bonds; provided, that no such certificates of
debts or bonds shall be issued, except by a two-thirds vote of
the council, endorsed by a majority vote of the freehold voters
voting on the question; but such loans, certificates or bonds shall
not be irredeemable for a period greater than thirty-four years;
provided, further, that said council shall not contract such loan
or issue such certificates of debt or bonds for the purpose of
subscribing to the stock of any company incorporated for a
work of internal improvement or other purpose, without being
first authorized so to do by three-fourths of the freehold voters
of the town voting on the question: provided further, that in no
case shall the aggregate debt of the town at any time exceed
fifteen per centum of the assessed value of the property, real
and personal, within the town limits; and provided, further,
that the said council shall not endorse the bonds of any com-
pany whatsoever without the same authority. All contracts for
the erection of public improvements and buildings within the
jurisdiction of the town council shall be let to the lowest re-
sponsible bidder, and notice shall be given at least thirty days
before the work is finally let by advertisement in one or more
newspapers, published in the town; and the party to whom
said contract is let shall give bond as the council may require,
but in no event shall any contract be let to any member of the
town council, nor shall any member have any interest in such
contract.

2. For the execution of its powers and duties, the town coun-
cil may raise taxes annually, by assessments in said town of
all subjects taxable by the State, such sums of money as they
may deem necessary, and in such manner as they shall deem
expedient (in accordance with the laws of this State and the
United States). The council may, if it deem it expedient, pro-
vide, by a resolution passed by three-fourths of the entire coun-
cil, that no corporation tax shall be levied on machinery, im-
plements, money and capital of any manufacturing establish-
ment actually engaged in manufacturing purposes within said
town for a period not exceeding ten years.

3. The council may levy a tax on water and gas, or license
to agents of insurance companies whose principal office is not
located in said town; to auctioneers; to public theatricals or
other performances or shows in said town, or within a mile of
the corporate limits thereof; to keepers of billiard tables and

ten pin alleys; to hawkers and peddlers; to agents for rentins
real estate; to commission merchants, and any other business,
whether a license may be required by the State therefor or not.

4, Any payment of taxes made by the tenant, unless under
an express agreement by which the tenant is bound to pay such
taxes, shall be a credit against the person to whom he owes the
rent.

5. The council may grant or refuse license to owners or
keepers of wagons, drays, carts, hacks, and other wheeled car-
riages kept or employed in the town for hire, and may require
the owners or keepers of wagons, drays and carts, using them
in the town, to take out license therefor, and may assess and
require taxes to be paid thereon, and subject the same to such
regulations as they may deem proper, and may prescribe their
fees and compensation.

6. All goods and chattels wheresoever found, may be dis-
trained and sold for taxes assessed and due thereon, and no
deed of trust or mortgage upon goods and chattels shall pre-
vent the same from being distrained and sold for taxes as-
sessed against the grantor in said deed.

7. There shall be a lien on real estate for the town taxes
assessed thereon from the commencement of the year for which
they were assessed. The council may require real estate in the
town delinquent for the non-payment of taxes to be sold for
said taxes, with interest thereon at the rate of ten per centum
per annum, and such per centum as the council may prescribe
for charges. Such real estate may be sold, and may be re-
deemed in the manner provided by law.

8. The town council may organize and maintain a fire de-
partment for the town, and appoint an engineer, assistants and
other officers, with any and all powers which have been, or may
be vested by law in such officers, and they may make rules and
regulations for the government of the officers and men of said
department, may prescribe their respective duties in case of fire
or alarms of fire; may fix their rate of pay and may impose
reasonable fines for the breach of such regulations, and may
make such ordinances as they may deem proper to extinguish
and prevent fire; to prevent property from being stolen, and to
require citizens to render assistance to the fire department in
case of need.

9. For the purpose of guarding against the calamities of
fire, the town council may, from time to time, designate such
portions and parts of the town as they may deem proper within
which buildings of wood may or may not be erected. They may
prohibit the erection of wooden buildings in any portion of the
town without their permission, and shall, on petition of the
owner or owners of at least one-half of the ground included in
any square of the town, prohibit the erection on said square of
any building or buildings, or addition to any building, unless
the outer walls thereof be made of brick and mortar, or stone
and mortar, or metal, and may provide for the removal of such
buildings or addition which shall be erected contrary to such
prohibition at the expense of the builder or owner thereof; and
if any such building shall have been commenced before said peti-
tion can be acted on by the council, or if any building in pro-
cess of erection or already built, or any part thereof, appears
clearly to be unsafe, the council may cause such building to be
taken down after reasonable notice to the owner, or may cause
any part of such building, dangerous from liability to fire,
to be rendered safe, and may prescribe the material to be used
in roofing or repairing roofs, and pass such ordinances and
by-laws as they may deem necessary to carry out this provision,
affixing such penalties as are not in conflict with this act and
which said fines shall be a lien on the property condemned, to
be collected as other taxes or fines.

10. The said council shall, by ordinance, provide for any
irregular elections not herein provided for and appoint the
necessary officers to conduct the same.

11. All officers elected by the people under this act shall enter
upon the discharge of their duties upon the first of September
next succeeding their election, and shall continue in office for
the term of two years, and until their successors are elected and
qualified.

12. The jailer of Lunenburg county, or the person in charge
of the prison of said town, is authorized to receive into the
said jail or prison, without mittimus or warrant, all persons
apprehended by the sergeant or any police officer of the said
town for violation of the rules, regulations, by-laws or ordi-
nances, or disturbing the peace of said town, and shall be
authorized to retain such persons in custody until the morning
of the second day, at which time they shall be discharged unless
regularly committed to his custody by mittimus or warrant, in
which case the officers so receiving said parties shall be entitled
to the fees provided to be paid when a person is committed
under a warrant or mittimus of a justice of the peace.

13. No tax shall be levied or corporation debt contracted,
unless by a resolution passed by a recorded vote of the majority
of the council.

14. All streets, cross streets and alleys which are now al-
ready laid off and open (or which may at any time be located,
surveyed and opened) in said town, or in extending the same
by the authorities of said town, shall be, and they are hereby,
cstablished as public streets and alleys of said town.

15. For the more equal apportionment of the taxes upon the
jots and buildings of said town it shall be Jawful for the coun-
cil thereof, at such time and as often as may be deemed neces-
sary by them, io appoint three freeholders, who, being duly
sworn for the purpose, shall, without delay, proceed to value
the land, lots, buildings and improvements erected or to be
erected within the kimits of said town; which valuation, any
two of such valuers concurring in the same in writing under the
hands and seals of said valuers, or of the two concurring as
aforesaid, shall be returned forthwith to the council of said
town, to be entered of record upon their proceedings. And the
council of said town, when levying tax on the real estate, thereof
for any year, shall be regulated by the valuation so returned,
which valuation shall be taken and considered as the valuation
for the purposes aforesaid, until a new valuation shall be made.
And if any person or persons shall consider themselves ag-
grieved by the valuation of said valuers, he or they shall have
the privilege of appeal (within twenty days after the return
of such valuation) to the council, whose decision shall be final.

18. The town of Kenbridge, and the officers thereof, whether
appointed by this act or hereafter elected or appointed in ac-
cordance with its provisions, shall be clothed with all the powers
and be subject to the provisions of the general laws of the
State, except in so far as the same are in conflict with the pro-
visions of this act.

19. The act approved March fourteenth, nineteen hundred
on ae incorporating the town of Kenbridge, is hereby re-
pealed.