Chap. 102.—An ACT to Incorporate the Norfolk and Sopthern Railway
Company. .
In force February 21, 1872.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That it shall be
lawful to open books of subscription in the cities of Richmond
and Norfolk, under the direction of John B. Whitehead, C. W.
Newton, Kader Biggs, W. N. H. Smith, of the city of Norfolk,
Robert Ould, Charles G. Dalgreen, Charles B. Stuart, E. R.
Wiggin, William A. Greenleaf and Beverly Tucker, or any three
of them, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions to an
amount not exceeding one million of dollars, in shares of one
hundred dollars each, to constitute a joint capital stock, for
constructing and maintaining a railroad from the city of Nor-
folk to any point on the southern line of the state of Virginia,
east of the western line of the county of Nansemond, and for
the other purposes named in this act.

2. Whenever two hundred and fifty thousand dollars of the
amount aforesaid shall have been subscribed, the subscribers,
their executors, administrators and assigns, shall be and they
are hereby declared and constituted a body politic and corporate,
under the name and style of the Norfolk and Southern Rail-
way Company; and shall be entitled to all the privileges con-
ferred, and subject to all the restrictions and regulations im-
posed by the Code of Virginia, and acts of the general assem-
bly amendatory thereof, so far as the same are applicable to
and not inconsistent with this act.

3. The said company, after the completion of the railroad
herein authorized to be constructed, may purchase, build,
charter, employ and maintain steam and other vessels for the
purpose of being used for transportation between the ports of
this state and elsewhere.

4. The capital stock of said company may be increased from
time to time by the board of directors, to such an amount as
they may deem necessary for the interest of the company, not
exceeding two millions of dollars; and the board of directors
of said company, for the purpose of fully constructing, equip-
ping and maintaining said road, shall also have the power to
issue bonds to an amount not exceeding the capital stock of
said company, in such sums, not less than one hundred dollars
each, and bearing interest not exceeding the rate now allowed
by law, payable, principal and interest, at such times and places,
and in such manner as may be deemed most advantageous to
said company, and may secure the same by one or more mort-
gages or deeds of trust on the road, franchises, incomes and
real or personal property of said company, or such partsthercof,
as may be designated in the mortgage or deed of trust.

5. It shall be lawful for said company to acquire, in sub-
scriptions to the capital stock of said company, or by donation,
land, property, materials or labor; and the said company may
sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any land or other property
acquired under the provisions of this section.
6. The said company may enter into arrangements with any
company connecting therewith, whether such company connect
at either terminus, or at any other point along its line, for the
use of the necessary rolling stock to be furnished to said com-
pany; or, after the completion of said railroad, for the lease
thereof for a term not exceeding ninety-nine years upon any
one contract of lease; or may contract for the sale and trans-
fer of all its property, mghts, charter, franchises and stock,
to any such connecting company; or, after the completion of
said railroad, may contract for and purchase the property,
rights, charter, franchises and stock of any such connecting
‘company: provided, such sale or transfer be confirmed at any
general meeting by three-fifths of all the stockholders of said
company: provided, further, that the Seaboard and Roanoke
railroad shall in no way be subject to the provision of the sixth
and seventh sections of this act.

7. No discrimination shall be made in the charges of said
company against the trade and travel of any connecting work,
but it shall, jointly with such connecting company, make suit-
able arrangements for the convenient transfer of freights from
one road to the other; and the guage permitting, for a free
interchange of freight cars upon reasonable terms, and no dis-
crimination shall be made in the charges of any connecting
work against the trade and travel of said company. And if
the connecting companies shall not be able to agree upon
terms as to such connection and transfer of cars and freights,
and as to arrangements for a fair pro-rating of charges, the
question shall be referred to the board of public works, whose
determination shall be binding upon the parties.

8. Each stockholder shall be entitled to vote in the meetings
of. the stockholders of said company one vote for every share
of stock held or represented by him.

9. Said company may cross any navigable stream along the
line of its route: provided, however, that the navigation of
such stream be not interfered with.

10. The work on the road herein authorized to be con-
structed, shall be commenced within two years and completed
within five years from the passage of this act.

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