Chap. 327.—An ACT to provide a new charter for the town of Narrows,
Virginia, and to repeal all other acts or parts of acts in conflict
therewith. (H. B. 146.)

Approved March 27, 1914.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the territory embraced and contained in the following boundaries,
namely, beginning at mile post three hundred and seventy-three
from Columbus, Ohio, and three hundred and thirty-four from
Norfolk, Virginia, on the Norfolk and Western railway and run-
ning across New river north eighty-one and one-half east, crossing
county road at fifty-five feet, west bank of New river at six hun-
dred and sixty-five feet, east bank to a rock pile at or near the far
corner of the old cemetery and running south forty-nine and one-
fourth east six hundred and sixty feet, passing one hundred feet
sbove two cherry trees to the far side of old county road with the
line of the French addition to Narrows, Virginia, thence with said
line south eighty-two and one-half, east three hundred and seventy-
one feet, north seventy-five and one-fourth, east two hundred and
five feet, north seventy-four and one-half, east one hundred feet
to the corner of Hopkins brothers, K. S. French and Mistress C. D.
French, leaving said point south ten and one-fourth, east four
thousand and one hundred feet, crossing the Virginia railway, New
river, Norfolk and Western railway, county road leading to Pearis-
burg, to a bunch of locust sprouts on the side of a rocky ridge,
thence south eighty-six and one-fourth, west five thousand, one
hundred and forty feet, passing four feet to the left of a locust on
top of the first ridge near a road running from five chestnut stumps
at three thousand two hundred feet near a poplar in a fence corner
et four thousand seven hundred feet, to a stake near some woods,
thence north thirty-four and one-fourth, west two thousand two
hundred and six feet, crossing county road up Wolf creek at three
hundred and thirty-two feet, creek three hundred and thirty-nine
feet, south bank and north bank at four hundred and sixty-four
feet, and N. R. H. and W. railway at six hundred and forty-one
feet, to the corner of United States Leather Company’s property,
thence north forty-four, east three thousand nine hundred and
sixty feet, to the beginning, be, and is hereby made a town corporate
by the name of the town of Narrows, Virginia, and by that name
shall have and exercise all the rights, powers and privileges con-
ferred, and be subjected to the duties, liabilities and restrictions
imposed by law for the government of towns of less than five thou-
sand inhabitants.

Sec. 2. The officers of said town shall consist of a mayor, eight
councilmen, sergeant, clerk, treasurer or any other officers the
council may deem necessary who shall be elected as hereinafter
provided. The council shall have power and authority to pass and
ordain such laws, by-laws and ordinances for the government of
said town as the council shall deem necessary, provided, the same
are not in conflict with the Constitution of this State or that of the
United States. The mayor and five members of the council or in the
absence of the mayor, six members of the council, one of whom
shall act as chairman, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business.

Sec. 38. An election for mayor and councilmen shall be held on
the second Tuesday in June, nineteen hundred and fourteen and
every two years thereafter. The officers so elected shall take the
oath of office and begin their term of office on the first day of Sep-
tember, succeeding their election, and shall hold their term of office
for two years or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
If any vacancy occurs in any office, the same shall be filled by the
council by electing some one who is qualified to vote in corporation
elections and for members of the general assembly.

Sec. 4. No citizen shall be eligible for membership as a council-
man unless he be entitled to vote in corporate elections or for mem-
bers of the general assembly. Upon the expiration of the term of
office of any officer of the town of Narrows, hereinbefore named, by
death, removal, election of successor, or by any other event, all
books, papers, documents, furniture, vouchers and all other things
whatsoever pertaining to such office, shall be immediately delivered
up and turned over by such officer or his personal representative,
if he be dead, to his successor in office, and any person who shall
violate this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and
upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than fifty nor more
than five hundred dollars.

Sec. 5. All elections for mayor and councilmen shall be held
on the second Tuesday in June and the officers so elected shall take
the oath of office on the first day of September succeeding their elec-
tion and shall be elected for two years. Said elections shall be
held by three judges and two clerks to be appointed by the council,
who shall be sworn to faithfully discharge their duties, and shall
conduct such election as now provided for by law. The returns of
the election shall be made to the mayor, who shall issue certificates
to those elected and countersigned by the clerk of the council. The
mayor shall be required to post a notice ten days before any and
all approaching elections. All election contents shall be tried and
finally determined by the council. There shall be a meeting of the
council on the first Tuesday in September succeeding the election,
at which time the council shall elect or appoint a clerk, sergeant and
treasurer who shall hold office for a term of two years beginning
with the first Tuesday in September. The clerk may be a member
of the council, or the council may elect any person who is qualified
to vote in corporate elections and for members of the general as+
sembly. The sergeant and treasurer must be qualified voters in
corporate elections. The council, if it deem it necessary, may elect
or appoint a commissioner of the revenue and prescribe his duties

' and the salary thereof. Said commissioner must be entitled to vote

i

in corporate elections. The sergeant and the treasurer shall execute

‘ bond before the mayor with approved sureties, payable to the said
‘ town and in such penalty as the council may prescribe and condi-

ee eS

em

tioned for the faithful discharge of their duties. If any person
elected or appointed to any office shall fail to qualify on or before
the day on which he is to enter upon the duties of his office or the
first Tuesday in September succeeding his election, or shall fail to
execute the bond required of him within ten days thereafter, the
office shall be declared vacant, and the vacancy shall be filled by
the ceuncii. Un the hrst Luesday in oeptember Of each year, tne
council shall be required to elect or appoint a health committee, a
street committee, a by-law committee and building committee and
any other committee which they may deem necessary. AIl com-
mittees so elected or appointed shall be approved by the mayor.
The street committee shall be composed of three members of the
council, the mayor being chairman ex-officio. The health committee
shall be composed of the mavor, two members of the council and a
member of the board of health, the mayor being chairman of said
committee. The by-law committee to be composed of three mem-
bers of the council. The building committee to be composed of five
members, the mayor as chairman ex-officio. Said committee may
be members of the council or any qualified freeholders who reside
in the corporate limits who are qualified to vote in corporate elec-
tions. Said committee to make report to the council at its first
regular meeting in September of each year, or at any time the
council may deem it necessary. The council at its first regular meet-
ing in September of each year, shall elect a mayor pro tempore.
who shall.in the absence of the mayor preside over the meetings of
the council and who shall try the cases in the absence of the mayor.
or the mayor has the power to appoint or designate any member of
the council to try said cases in his absence and shall be vested with
all the powers given by this charter to the mayor. The mayor
shall preside over the meetings of the council, voting only in the
case of a tie, and every ordinance or resolution having the effect of
ony ordinance, shall before it become operative be presented to the
mayor, if he approves, he shall sign it, if not, he may return it with
his objections in writing to the clerk or other recording officer who
shall enter the objections at length upon the minute book or journal
of the council and proceed to reconsider it. If after such considera-
tion, three-fourths of all the members elected to the council shall
agree to passing the ordinance or resolution, it shall become opera-
tive notwithstanding the objections of the mayor. All such vote
shall be by yea and nay and recorded as such upon the minute book
of the council.

Sec. 6. The mayor shall have and exercise all the rights, powers
and privileges now conferred upon a justice of the peace, and shall
have concurrent jurisdiction in all civil cases and exclusive juris-
diction in all criminal cases within and to one mile beyond the cor-
porate limits, and in addition to the salary fixed by the council,
shall receive the like fees for his services as a justice of the peace.

Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the mayor to enforce the laws
and ordinances of the town and all the orders and resolutions of
the council. He shall see that the duties of the various town officers
are faithfully performed, shall have the power to investigate their
acts, and have access to all books and documents in their offices.
He shall also have the right to suspend any municipal officer elected
by the council for misconduct in office or neglect of duty to be spe-
Cinea by the order Of suspension. Yynhenever we Mayor stall
suspend any such officer, he shall report the facts with his reasons
therefor at a called or the next regular meeting of the council, and
the council shall take such action in the case as it may deem proper
by reinstating or removing such officer, the mayor having the power
of veto in any such case. The council shall be required to attend
all meetings of the council in so far as it is possible for them to do,
and said council shall have the power to pass such ordinances and
by-laws, and prescribe the penalties therefor for the non-attendance
of councilmen at any meetings.

Sec. 8. The mayor or any three members of the council shall
have the power to cause the council to assemble at any time. The
mayor, in the absence of ordinances, shall have the power to issue
proclamations governing the spread of contagious diseases, shall
prescribe penalties for the violation thereof, and when the occasion
presents itself, not to allow boys under the age of twenty-one years
to be upon the streets after sundown, and shall prescribe the pen-
alties therefor, and shall exercise all the powers and authority given
under the police powers of the State. It shall be the duty of the
mayor to communicate to the council at the first regular meeting in
July of each year a general statement of the conditions of the town
in relation to its government, finances and improvements with such
recommendations as he may deem proper. The mayor shall have
the power tc suspend any sentence or to remit any fine in whole or
in part. The mayor shall have the power to appoint additional
police when in his judgment may be necessary, and said police are
clothed and vested with the same powers as the sergeant.

Sec. 9. The sergeant shall be vested with all the power and
authority which now belongs to the office of constable, and it shall
be his duty to enforce the laws and ordinances of the town, to use
his best endeavors to prevent the commission within the said town
of offenses against the laws of this town and the Commonwealth,
to observe and enforce all such laws and ordinances and regulations’.
to detect and arrest offenders against the same, to preserve the
peace and good order of the town, and to secure the inhabitants
thereof from violence and the property therein from injury. In
civil matters he shall have no power and authority except to execute
such warrant or summons as may be placed in his hands by a justice
of the peace or the mayor to be served within the corporate limits,
and shall make due return thereof. If it become necessary or ex-
pedient for him to travel beyond the limits of said town in his
capacity as policeman or as a witness, he shall be entitled to his
actual expenses to be allowed and paid as is now provided by law
for other expenses in criminal cases. He shall be entitled to claim
and receive any reward which may be offered for the arrest and
detention of any offender against the criminal laws of this or any
other Commonwealth or nation. It shall be the duty of the ser-
geant to collect all taxes or other revenue belonging to or which
day VO UWS all Payable LY LIC LUWI, 420 Siall BUOY MiSs VUVAS we
accounts in such a manner as the town council may direct, and such
books and accounts shall always be subject to the inspection of the
mayor or any member of the town council. He shall receive
for his services such compensation as the town council may from
time to time allow. He shall make a report to the town council at
the first regular meeting in each month, and shall render a state-
ment showing all moneys collected from fines or other revenue, the
amounts contracted for by work upon the streets or otherwise and
shall not make any contracts except by authority from the mayor
or town council. He shall make a report once a month to the treas-
urer of the town and shall turn over all amounts which have been
collected by him.

Sec. 10. It shall be the duty of the building committee to re-
ceive applications and grant permits for any and all buildings to
be erected within the corporate limits, to specify what shall and
what shall not be built, the mode of building, material, et cetera.
The council having power to accept or rescind an order made by
said committee.

Sec. 11. It shall be the duty of the clerk to attend regularly as
near as possible all the meetings of the council and to keep a record
of all the proceedings of the council by keeping a journal properly
indexed; he shall keep a record of all the ordinances, by-laws or
resolutions having the effect of an ordinance in a separate book
properly indexed, which shall be called the ordinance book; he shall
act as clerk of any committee in the discharge of its duties; he shall
act as clerk of the council when the same has been resolved in a court
of justice for hearing and determining condemnation proceedings,
and shall at any time the mayor or council shall demand, make a cer-
tified copy of any records of any meetings or procedure or by-laws,
rules or regulations, as the case may be; he shall act as clerk of any
board or committee in condemnation proceedings and when so
ordered by the mayor or council, shall certify all the records and
reports of committee to the circuit court or the judge thereof, as the
ease may be; he shall likewise transmit to the treasurer a transcript
of all ordinances, resolutions or orders appropriating money or the
issue of the bonds or notes and to the chairman of all the different
committees of all ordinances, resolutions or orders relating to their
respective committees or departments; he shall also publish such
repcrts as the council is required to publish, and such other reports
or ordinances as the council may direct, and in general shall per-
form such other acts and duties as the council shall require of him
by ordinance or otherwise. He shall receive such compensation as
the council from time to time shall see fit or deem proper.

Sec. 12. -All moneys belonging to the said town from taxes on
persons and property, fines, water and light rents, licenses and
from all sources whatsoever, shall be paid to the treasurer who
annually at the first regular meeting in July shall make a settle-
ment with the council for the year ending on the preceding thir-
tieth day of June, and when his term of office expires, or if he die
or resign or be removed from office, he, upon the expiration of his
term of office, resignation or removal, or his personal representa-
tive, upon his death, shall immediately make such settlement show-
ing the amount in his hands to be accounted for, the fund to which
the same belongs and deliver to his successor all bonds, books and
papers belonging to his office, and all money belonging to the town.
The treasurer shall keep a correct itemized account of all money
received and disbursed by him for the town in books provided fer
that purpose, and shall quarterly, at regular council meetings until
his settlement with the council at the end of the year as above
stated, make up a sworn statement of his receipts and disburse-
ments, and file with said statement a list of all warrants paid by
him during the last preceding quarter, the number of each warrant.
and to whom paid; the amount of cash on hand, with a certificate
from the bank or banks as to the amount deposited in each, and
the clerk of said council shall file said report and preserve the
same for inspection of any person having an interest therein. The
treasurer shall pay no money except as the same shall have been
ordered to be paid by the council and shall pay the same only upon
warrants drawn upon him, which are signed by the mayor and
countersigned by the clerk of the council. Should the person to
whom any warrant is made payable, be indebted to tne town for
taxes or otherwise, then such indebtedness shall be deducted from
said warrant. The council in their annual settlement .with said
treasurer, after inspecting the warrants, if approved, shall cancel
the same. The treasurer shall receive such compensation for his
services as the council from time to time may deem proper and
expedient.

Sec. 138. No person shall be entitled to vote in any general or
special election unless he be a resident of the corporation and qual-
ified to vote for members of the general assembly.

Sec. 14. The town council shall have and exercise all the rights,
powers, privileges and immunities vested by chapter two hundred
and sixty-nine of the acts of the general assembly of nineteen hun-
dred and two, three and four and chapter two hundred and fifty-
nine of the acts of the general assembly of nineteen hundred and
six and other general statutes of this Commonwealth now in force
in a municipal corporation of like character, and such other powers
as are granted by this charter.

Sec. 15. The town council shall have the power to prohibit by
ordinances or by-laws within said town, any misdemeanor pro-
hibited by the laws of this Commonwealth, and enforce said ordi-
nances or by-laws by a penalty or penalties not exceeding double
the penalties fixed by the laws of the Commonwealth for like
offenses, and where the statute is silent, shall have the power to
pass ordinances, by-laws, rules and regulations for the betterment
of the town and the general welfare of its subjects therein, and
shall prescribe penalties for the violations thereof. Said penalty
or penalties whether by fine or imprisonment, to be for the use
and benefit of said town of Narrows, and shall have power to alter.
amend or repeal any by-laws, ordinances or resolutions and to
remit any fine, sentence or corporation taxes, water or light rents
that may to the council seem proper to be remitted.

Sec. 16. The said council may establish a chain-yang and re-
quire offenders under sentence for violation of the laws and ordi-
nances of said town, to work therein on the public streets, side-
walks, roads or public buildings of said town.

Sec. 17. The council of said town in addition to the authority
conferred upcn it by the general laws of the Commonwealth, is
hereby authorized to pass ordinances regulating the building and
maintenance of all depots of any steam railway passing through
the corporation and to require an agent to be kept on duty for the
purpose of selling tickets at least thirty minutes before trains
which are scheduled to stop at Narrows or due to arrive; the keep-
ing of a competent employee for the purpose of handling freight
and express, and to provide for convenient, suitable and separate
waiting rooms for white and colored passengers; to designate the
location of any steam railway, switch, side-track or spur siding of
same or other public service corporations passing through or using
the streets of said town, and regulating the construction thereof.
and shall make ordinances requiring the owners thereof to main-
tain and-keep in good repair that part of the street or streets so
occupied by it, and to require the said owner or owners, operator cr
operators of any such public service corporations operating over.
through or upon the streets of said town, to maintain proper grade.
underground or overhead crossings or landings, and to require any
street railway to provide shelters at convenient and designated
points designated by the council, and to pass ordinances governing
the convenience and safety in the discharge of passengers of anv
steam or electric railway within or running through the corpora-
tion. For the enforcement of these provisions, the town council
is hereby empowered to prescribe penalties for the violations
thereof. All ordinances passed under this section to be ratified
by the corporation commission of Virginia.

Sec. 18. The council shall have the power to prevent horses.
hogs, and other animals from running at large in said town, and to
regulate the keeping of hogs in said town and to subject the same
to regulations and confiscations and taxes as they may deem proper:
to prevent fast riding or driving through the streets of said town:
{o prevent the throwing of stones, balls, snow balls, playing of
marbles or other sperts of employment on the streets or alleys of
said town which may seem dangerous or annoying to citizens or
passengers of said streets and alleys, and to prevent gambling
within said town and to one mile beyond the limits thereof, as well as
to punish the abuse and cruel treatment of horses or other animals
in said town, and to arrest and punish drunkards, beggars and
vagrants; to arrest and punish perscns for using profane and
abusive language in said town; to prevent vice and immorality;
to preserve the public peace and good order; to prevent and quell
riots, disturbances and discrderly assemblages; to prevent boys
and others from jumping on moving trains in said town; to sup-
press houses of ill fame and game houses; to prevent and punish
lewd and indecent conduct and exhibitions in said town; to prevent
and punish trespassing upon any person cr public service corpora-
tion within the town; to prevent any injury to public buildings,
monuments or property of said town, and for any violation of any
such ordinances, may impose fines in additicn to those prescribed
by the laws of this Commonwealth.

Sec. 19. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to sell
by retail or wholesale any ardent spirits or intoxicating liquors,
as defined by the general laws of this State, or any mixture of
them within the ccrporate limits of the town of Narrows, or within
ene mile thereof. And any person found guilty of such offense
upon trial duly had before the mayor, shall be fined not less than
fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, and may be im-
prisoned until said fine and costs attending such trial are paid by
labor in the chain-gang of said town cr in cash, or until he may
be otherwise discharged by law. And for the purpose of making
this section effective in suppressing the illicit sale of intoxicating
liquors in the said town, the sergeant and any officer of said town
who is a conservator of the peace, are hereby empowered, when
they have just cause to suspect that any person is selling such
liquors within the said town in violation of this section, to appear
before the mayor of said town and make complaint on oath that
he has just cause to suspect, and does suspect that..............
is selling ardent spirits and intoxicating liquors within the said
town in violation of the charter of said town, and pray that the
Said sseexswinmis may be apprehended and held to answer the said
complaint; and upen said complaint being made to him, the mayor
shall forthwith issue a warrant for the person complained of. re-
citing the charge, and by whom made, and upon the apprehension
of the accused under said warrant. the said mayor shall proceed
to try him according to law. The town council shall also have
the power to pass ordinances regulating and bringing into and
the distribution thereof of any ardent spirits or intoxicating
liquors, and prescribe penalties fer the violations thereof.

Sec. 20. The town council shall exercise all the rights, powers
and privileges granted by chapter two hundred and twenty-nine
of the acts of the general assembly of nineteen hundred and ten,
and in addition thereto, the council shall have the power to pass
ordinances requiring inspecticns to be made by appointing a board
to be composed of the mayor and two members of the board of
health of the town, the mayor being chairman of said board, and
to require said board at any time the council may deem it neces-
sary, upon a verified complaint signed by three or more patrons,
and upon receipt of such ccmplaint, to inspect or cause to be in-
spected and make examinaticn of matters so complained of as soon
as possible after said complaint has been made. Upon the com-
plaint being verified by said beard, and upen notification in writ-
ing being made by chairman of said board to the manager or pro-
prietor to comply with chapter two hundred and twenty-nine of
the acts of the general assembly of nineteen hundred and ten, and
said proprietor or manager failing to comply with same shall be
fined not more than one hundred dollars, and upon recommenda-
tion of said board, the council shall require said manager or pro-
prietor to surrender his or their licenses. The said board as herein
referred to shall not receive any compensation for services so
rendered.

Sec. 21. No street railway, gas, water, steam or electric heat-
ing, or electric light or power, cold storage, compressed air, viaduct,
conduit, telephone or bridge company, nor any corporation, asso-
ciation, person or partnership engaged in these or like enterprises
shall be granted an exclusive franchise by the town of Narrows,
nor shall the town grant any franchise whatsoever without first
paying a just compensation therefor. Said compensation to be
regulated by a recorded three-fourths vote of all the members
elected to the council, and no franchise shall be granted for
a longer period than twenty years, and no speculation whatso-
ever shall be allowed upon any franchise so granted. No prop-
erty, either real or personal, belonging to the town shall be sold
except by a recorded three-fourths vote of all the. members
elected to the council. The council, before granting any franchise
cr privilege except for a trunk railway, shall advertise for four
successive weeks in the county newspaper or some other paper
having a general circulation therein, and the ordinance may also
be advertised as many times in such other newspaper or news-
papers published in or out of the State as the council may select
and determine upon, and shall be governed by all the laws which
are embodied in the acts of the assembly of nineteen hundred and
two, three and four, chapter five hundred and fifty-six, governing
cities and towns, and all other general laws of this Commonwealth
relating to the granting of franchising.

Sec. 22. The town council by a recorded affirmative three-
fourths vote, may pass an ordinance to borrow monev by issuing
certificates of indebtedness, revenue bonds or other obligations to
be issued in anticipation of the collection of the revenue of the
town for the then current year, provided that such certificates.
bonds or other obligations shall mature within one year from date
of their issue, and be not past due and do not exceed the revenue
for such year. Said certificate of indebtedness, revenue bonds or
other obligations to be signed by the clerk of the council and coun-
tersigned by the mayor of the town, and such certificates of in-
debtedness, revenue bonds or other obligations shall carry with
them a lien upon the revenue of said town for the then current
year, and no personal liability shall rest upon the mayor or any
member of the council thereof.

Sec. 23. The council of said town in addition to the authority
conferred upon it by the general laws of this Commonwealth, is
hereby authorized to pass ordinances, regulating the rate of speed
of all railway trains, street cars, motor cycles, automobiles or other
conveyances of any kind, within and passing through the cor-
porate limits of said town, and shall prescribe penalties for the
violation of said ordinances.

Sec. 24. In addition to the authority conferred by the general
laws of this Commonwealth, the town council shall have the power
to require any regularly scheduled passenger train, which is oper-
ated by any railway passing through the corporation to make
Narrows a stop or a flag stop, for the accommodation of passengers
and shall pass ordinances governing same. Said ordinances to be
ratified by the State corporation commission of Virginia.

Sec. 25. The council shall pass ordinances governing any trade,
occupation calling or any other thing is to be done within the town
of Narrows for which a State license is or may under the Consti-
tution of this State and that of the United States, and may require
a town license to be had for doing the same, and may impose a tax
thereupon for the use of the town before any person, firm or
occupation shall be permitted to pursue such business, trade, occupa-
tion, calling, or any other thing within the corporate limits of said
town. Said license to be paid once a year and to date from the
first day of May of each and every year.

Sec. 26. The town council shall have the power to lay and levy
« tax not exceeding seventy-five cents on the one hundred dollars
value of property, real and personal, of said town for general pur-
poses of the said town, including the pay of officers, the working
and keeping of its streets, roads and bridges, except the bridges
built by the county and any such bridges as aforesaid mentioned
which have been, or will be built by said county to be maintarmed
and kept in good repair by the board of supervisors or other
officials of Giles county having the same in charge; to pay the in-
terest on its public debts, to provide a sinking fund for the re-
demption of same, and in addition thereto, the said council is
hereby authorized and empowered to lay and levy a poll tax not
exceeding one dollar on each male citizen thereof over twenty-one
years of age, to be used the same as taxes on real and personal
property, and the said town shall have like powers of distress, levy
and sale for the collection of such taxes as are now given to the
State officers for the collection of State taxes.

Sec. 27. The said town of Narrows shall have the right to
collect three-fourths (34) of all the road tax levied by the county
on the inhabitants of Narrows. Said amount shall be expended
within the limits of the corporation on the streets and roads therein
under the direction and supervisicn of said council.

Sec. 28. The council of the town shall have the power to regu-
late the keeping of dogs within the town, and may, in order to do
So, impose a tax not to exceed one dollar on each male uog, and five
dollars on each female dog found or kept within the limits of said
town, said tax to be paid on or before the first day of July, nine-
teen hundred and fourteen, and on the same day of each succeeding
year, and in case it is not so paid, the council shall have the power
to impose a fine of not less than one nor more than ten dollars upon
the owner of the dog for the non-payment of said tax, and in addi-
tion thereto, the mayor of the town shall order the sergeant to kill
every dog kept in the town for which the said tax has not been
paid after the fifteenth day of July of each year.

Sec. 29. All lots within the town of Narrows shall be listed for
taxation both by section and number.

Sec. 30. The town council by recorded affirmative three-fourths
vote of all the members elected to the council may pass an ordi-
nance to issue bonds for any public improvements of said town.
After the adoption of such ordinance, a certified copy thereof shall
be forthwith presented to the circuit court of Giles county or to
the judge thereof in vacation, which court or judge shall, by an
order entered in term time or vacation, direct the election officers
of said town to take such steps and prepare such means as may be
necessary to submit to the qualified voters of the town of Narrows
tor determining the question whether such bonds as shall be issued,
and the court or judge shal] make such order as may be proper to
give due publicity to such election. Such election may be held at a
general election or by special election, and in the manner prescribed
by law for the conduct of all regular elections, and shall be con-
ducted by the regular election officers of said town. The election
shall be by secret ballot, and the ballots used shall contain the
following: On one line the words “For bond issue” and on another
line, the words “Against bond issue.” Returns of such election shall
be forthwith made to the court having jurisdiction over such city
or town, or to the judge thereof in vacation, and if it shall appear
that a majority of the qualified voters, voting at such election, shall
be against such proposed bond issue, an order shall be entered of
record accordingly and no other election for a similar purpose shall
be held within one year after such election. But if a majority of
the qualified voters at such election shall be for such bond issue
the court or judge thereof, shall enter an order accordingly, a copy
of which shall be forthwith certified by the clerk of such court to
the council, and the said council shall be thereupon fully authorized
and empowered to prepare and issue and to sell or negotiate bonds
upon the faith, credit and property of the said town of Narrows
to the amount as authorized. Such bonds may be negotiated or
sold for the purpose, or purposes, of said town in constructing,
purchasing, acquiring or otherwise controlling a work or works,
plant or plants, system or systems of a public utility character
whether wholly within, or partly within and partly without said
town in such manner and upon such terms as may be determined by
a recorded affirmative three-fourths vote of all the members elected
to the council; provided, that no such bond shall be sold for less
than par. All bonds shall be registered or coupon bonds, and shall
be issued in denominations not exceeding five hundred dollars, and
shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed six percentum per annum.
The interest on said bonds shall be paid annually by the treasurer
of the town of Narrows. No bonds shall be issued for a longer per-
iod than twenty years. The said bonds shall be signed by the mayor
and countersigned by the clerk of the council, and shall be sold
and negotiated in such manner as the council may prescribe.

The council of said town shall have full and unlimited control
of the expenditure of the funds derived frem the sale of said bonds;
provided, however, the amount be expended in the manner and for
the purpose for which said bonds were voted. No corporation tax
shall be levied or assessed upon said bonds by the town of Narrows.
The town council shall provide a sinking fund for the redemption
of said bonds. No bonds shall be issued for a greater amount
which including existing indebtedness shall at any time exceed
eighteen percentum of the assessed valuation of the real estate in
the said town of Narrows, subject to taxation as shown by the last
preceding assessment of taxes.

Sec. 31. The town ccuncil shall pass ordinances for imposing
and collecting a license tax on all shows, performances and exhibi-
tions within the corporate limits and to one mile beyond same, and
may levy and cause to be collected a license tax of not exceeding
five dollars per day on all peddlers or itinerant salesman who may
offer their goods or wares for sale within the corporate limits of
said town, and may require a license tax of any agent of any fer-
tilizer, owners or keepers of wagons, drays, carts, hacks or other
wheel carriages kept or employed in said town for hire or carriers
for the public, and subject the same to such regulations as they may
deem proper. The mayor shall have the right to remit any license
tax upon any performance, exhibition or shows where the proceeds
or a part thereof from same is for the benefit of any charitable,
benevolent, public or educational institution.

Sec. 32. The council of said town, if it deems proper, shall
have the power to elect a general manager of public utilities whose
salary shall be regulated by the council, whose duty shall be to
give general supervision in the event the town shall acquire such
over the electric light and power plant, water works, sewer, streets,
ground, buildings, cemeteries or any other public property belong-
ing to the town, or which said town may acquire, and do such other
things as the council may direct or the necessity of the town may
require, whether said duties be specifically mentioned herein or
not. ,

Said council to regulate the salary of such officer as they may
deem proper.

Sec. 83. The council shall have the authority to adopt such
rules and to appoint such committees as it shall deem proper for
the regulation of its proceedings and the convenient transactions
of its business. It shall keep a journal in which the clerk shall
record the proceedings of each session and the same shall be prop-
erly indexed. All resolutions and ordinances shall be recorded
by the clerk in a separate book to be called the “Ordinance Book,”
which shall be properly indexed. No ordinance shall become a
law except where an emergency exists until it has been posted upon
the bulletin board of the town or in three conspicuous places
therein.

But no ordinance passed under sections seventeen, twenty-three
and twenty-four of this act affecting steam railroads shall be effec-
tive or operative unless and until the State corporation commis-
sion, after hearing of all parties in interest, shall adjudicate that
the public necessity or the public convenience so requires.

Sec. 34. In every case where a street or alley in said town has
been or shall hereafter be encroached upon by any fence, building,
or otherwise, the council may require the owner or occupier of the
premises to remove the same, and if such removal is not made
within the time prescribed by the council, the council may cause
the encroachment to be removed and collect the expenses thereof
with costs from the owner in the same manner as taxes are collected.
No encroachment which has heretofore been made or which shall
hereafter be made upon any street or alley or roadway however
so long continued, shall constitute any adverse possession or confer
any rights upon the person claiming thereunder as against the said
town. All streets and alleys within said town which have been
laid out and mapped off, and which have been designated by the
property owner to be made a street, which have not been opened
up for the use of the public, by petition presented to the council
of one-third or more property owners residing upon or owning
property upon said street, the council, in their discretion may pass
an ordinance requiring the land owner or the person so in posses-
sion of same to open said street for the use and benefit of the public
at his own expense; and if said street or alley is not opened within
the time prescribed by the council, the council may cause said
street or alley to be opened for the use and benefit of the public.
and the expense of opening same shall be charged against said land
owner or occupier and may be vollected in the same manner in
which taxes are collected.

Sec. 35. The town council of Narrows is hereby authorized to
acquire by gift, grant, purchase, or by condemnation proceedings.
or otherwise, a source of water supply for the town and all neces-
sary and proper lands, water rights and easements, rights-of-way
and appurtenances thereto within or without the corporate limits
of said town for reservoirs, pipes, pipe lines, conduits and for all
other fixtures and appurtenances necessary and incident to a com-
plete water works system. And said town of Narrows shall have
power to protect said water supply and water works system and
all parts thereof, and of all said lands, easements, rights, rights-of-
way and appurtenances whether within or without the corporate
limits of said town by ordinances prescribing penalties for the
violation of same.

Sec. 36. The town council shall regulate the salary of the
mayor, sergeant, treasurer, clerk and any other officers or em-
ployees of said town as they may deem proper. The sergeant of
said town shall have the power to search any person at any time
when he has had sufficient cause to believe that said person has con-
cealed upon his person a pistol, bowie-knife, dirk, blackjack,
knucks, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.

Sec. 37. The town council shall have the power to establish and
regulate markets of said town, and to prevent injury or annoyance
of the public or individual from anything dangerous, offensive or
unwholesome; to protect places of divine worship; to abate or
cause to be abated anything which, in its opinion, shall constitute
a nuisance; shall regulate the keeping of gun-powder or other
combustible; to regulate the exhibition of fireworks, the discharge
of firearms and explosives; the use of lights in barns, stables and
other buildings, and to restrict the making of bon-fires in streets
or yards; to provide for the burial of its paupers; to regulate the
building of houses or other structures; the making of division
fences; the drainage of lots by proper means; make regulations
for preventing danger or damage from fire; to provide for the
poor of the town; to regulate, appoint and publish the places for
holding town elections; to regulate special assessments upon all
taxable real and personal property; to regulate the keeping of fish
ladders in dams within the town; to regulate the organization of
military companies, fire companies; to require citizens to aid in
extinguishing fire; to provide for a town guard; to appoint and
crder out a patrol for the town in like manner, and for like pur-
poses within the same as may be done by the circuit court accord-
ing to the laws of this Commonwealth.

Sec. 38. The town council of said town shall have power of
laying off, opening, curbing and paving streets and alleys, and
building walks and gutters for the public use in said town, and
may alter, improve and light the same, and have them kept in
good order, and may require the abutting land owner to pay such
proportional part of the erection of said walks, curbing, street
paving, et cetera, as the council may deem proper and expedient,
which not to exceed at any time one-half the entire cost of said
walks, paving, curbing, et cetera. Said amount to be collected in
the same manner as taxes are collected. The council shall regulate
the width of streets, alleys, and sidewalks, and may vacate and
discontinue streets, alleys and sidewalks; may lay off public grounds
for the erection of public buildings, parks, monuments, et cetera,
and regulate and contract for and taking care of all parks, monu-
ments and public buildings or any other property belonging to
said town.

Sec. 39. The council shall have the power to prevent the coming
into the town of persons having no ostensible means of support,
and of persons who may be dangercus to the peace and safety of
the town, and may compel said persons to leave the town.

Sec. 40. All laws, by-laws, regulations and ordinances when
certified by the clerk of the council, may be read in evidence in
all eu of justice and in all proceedings before any officer, board
or body.

See, 41. The council of said town is hereby authorized to pass
ordinances and provide penalties to prevent the detlection and
pollution of any of the streams running through the said town,
and the emptying therein of sewerage or other filth to the extent
of one mile above said corporate limits, as well as to prevent any
of the said streams from being obstructed by the placing therein
of trash or refuse matter of any kind, and prescribe penalties for
violations cf said ordinances.

Sec. 42. The town council shall have the power to pass ordi-
nances to prevent the spread of contagious, infectious or other
dangerous diseases amcng the inhabitants of the corporation or all
enimals therein; shall provide penalties for the violation of said
ordinances.

Sec. 48. The town council shall have the power to receive by
purchase, gift or condemnation, any property adjoining its parks.
public buildings, monuments or other property used for public
purposes, or in the vicinity thereof which is used and maintained
in such a manner as to impair the beauty, usefulness or efficiency
of such parks, public buildings, monuments, plats or public prop-
erty, and may likewise acquire property adjacent to any street, the
topography of which and from its proximity thereto impairs con-
venient use of said street. The town council shall have the power
to acquire all such property which by reason of its extraordinary
expense, does not render the same impracticable, and may improve
the same, may subsequently dispose of said property, and may make
limitations as to the use thereof, which will protect the beauty.
usefulness, efficiency or convenience of any such street, or of such
parks, public buildings, monuments, plats or property.

Sec. 44. The town council shall have the power to exercise the
right of eminent domain for opening up and laying off streets,
alleys, side walks, public grounds for the erection of public build-
ings, parks, reservoirs, power and light plants, pipe lines, sewer
pipes or for any other purpose for which the said town may deem
necessary, provided, however, that no private property shall be
taken for public use without a just compensation therefor, and
further provided that all reasonable measures and steps have been
exhausted to bring about an amicable adjustment with the land
or property owner. If the party be a non-resident, before pro-
posing to condemn such property, the town must publish notice
of such intentions in the county newspaper for two consecutive
weeks, or in some other newspaper having a wide circulation. Ten
days’ written notice shall be given or cause to be given by the
mayor to the party or his agent whose property the said town
proposes to condemn, or if the party or parties owning such prop-
erty be dead, then to his or their personal representative, to appear
before the council at a stated time, either in person, by attorney, or
by a representative holding a legal power of attorney, and to then
and there make his or their objection, if there be any, and to show
cause why said property should nct be taken. If after due publica-
tion cr due notice thereof has been given as aforesaid mentioned,
the land owner, his attorney, agent or representative fails to appear
without giving a satisfactory reason, which shall be acceptable or
rejectable by the council, the council shall proceed then and there
to appoint three freeholders residing within the corporate limits,
and to assess the damages if there be any, which shall accrue to the
property owner by reason of the town taking such property, who
shall in a reasonable time make their report to the council. The
council upon receiving said report, shall have the clerk to forward a
certified copy of such report to the property owner, his attorney,
agent or representative, and at the same time giving ten days’
notice, to appear before the council at a stated time and then and
there to make his or their objections why said report should not be
confirmed by the council. And if said property owner, his attorney,
agent or representative fail to appear before the council at .such
stated time, then the council shall have power and is hereby
authorized to confirm said report, and the same shall become final
and binding upon said property owner. If the said property owner,
his attorney, agent or representative appear before the council at
such time as he was noticed to appear and make his objections, the
council shal] have the power to accept or reject such objections,
and may appoint one freeholder residing within the corporate
limits, the property owner, his attorney, agent or representative
may appoint one freeholder residing within the corporate limits,
and the two so appointed shall appoint a third freeholder residing
within the corporate limits, and the three so appointed shall forth-
with assess the damage or damages done or accruing to the prop-
erty owner by reason of the town acquiring said property, and
within a reasonable time to make their report to the council. If
uch report be not satisfactory to either the council or the property
owner, his attorney, agent or representative, the council may then
forthwith proceed:to appoint a second board of commissioners in
the same manner as above prescribed and set forth by the council
appointing one freeholder residing within the said corporate limits,
the land owner, his attorney, agent or representative appointing
one freeholder residing within the corporate limits, and the two so
appointed, to appoint the third freeholder residing within the cor-
porate limits, and the three so appointed shall forthwith assess
the damages as herein referred and within a reasonable time, to
make their report to the council. And if such report be not satis-
factory to the council or the property owner, his attorney, agent or
representative, the party so objecting shall have the right within
ten days to appeal to the circuit court in time, term or vacation,
and if such appeal is not taken by the party so objecting within
the specified time, then the report of said committee becomes final
and binding upon the town and said property owner or personal
representative thereof. If such party so making objections takes
un appeal to the circuit court in the manner so prescribed, the clerk
of the council shall be required to certify up all the records and
proceedings in said case to the circuit court in time, term or vaca-
tion, and such court after receiving same, shall give his opinion in
writing with such limitations, restrictions or recommendations as he
may deem proper and necessary in said case, and return the same
within a reasonable time to the council. After the council receiving
the same they shall forthwith proceed to send a certified copy of
same to the land owner, attorney, agent or representative, as the
case may be, at the same time giving notice to appear before the
council at a specified time, which shall not be under ten days, for
the purpose of appointing a third board. Said third board w be
appointed in the same manner and under the same conditions as
the preceding boards have been appointed, and the council shall
present the instructions given by the court to the board, which
said board shall govern themselves accordingly in assessing said
damages to said property owner, and shall make their report to the
council within a reasonable time, said land owner, attorney, agent
or representative shall be given notice to appear before the council,
at such time said report is to be made, and upon the council re-
ceiving said report, the same becomes final and binding upon all
parties concerned. All persons acting in the capacity as commis-
sioner, shall be duly sworn by the mayor before entering upon his
duty as said commissioner, and no commissioner shall act upon
but one board in any one case. All costs of commissioners in con-
demnation proceedings shall be paid by the town. All such re-
ports and amounts of damages ascertained as described in this sec-
tion which have become final and binding, shall have the effect of
a judgment in favor of the property owner and against the town
as to the date on which such final ascertainment is determined.
which judgment may be enforced bv proper proceedings before a
magistrate or the circuit court of Giles county.
Sec. 45. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with this are
kereby repealed.

Sec. 46. Because of the necessity for immediate revision of this
charter, an emergency is declared to exist and this act shall be in
force from its passage.