Chap. 265.—An ACT to Amend and Re-enact an Act entitled an Act to
Authorize the Circuit Courts of the Commonwealth to Grant Charters
of Incorporation, and to Repeal Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9 and 10 of
Chapter 65, and Section 34 of Chapter 57, of the Code of Virginia
(edition of 1860), approved March 20, 1871.

In force March 21, 1872.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the first section of an act entitled an act to authorize the cir-
cuit courts of the commonwealth to grant charters of incorpo-
ration, and to repeal sections four, five, six, seven, eight, nine
and ten of chapter sixty-five, and section thirty-four of chapter
fifty-seven, of the Code of Virginia (edition of eighteen hun-
dred and sixty), approved March thirtieth, eighteen hundred
and seventy-one, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as
follows:

§ 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
any five or more persons who shall desire to form a joint stock
company for the conduct of any enterprise or business which
may be lawfully conducted by an individual, or by a body
politic or corporate, except to construct a railroad, or turn-
pike, or canal, or to establish a bank of circulation, may make,
sign and acknowledge before any justice of the peace or notary
public, a certificate in writing, setting forth the name of the
company, the purposes for which it is formed, the capital stock
and its division into shares, the amount of real estate proposed
to be held by it, the place in which the principal office is to be
kept, and the chief business to be transacted, and the names
and residences of the officers who, for the first year, are to
manage the affairs of the company. This certificate may be
presented to the circuit court of the county, city or town in
which the principal office of the company is to be located, or
to the judge thereof in vacation. The said court or judge
shall have a discretion to grant or refuse to said persons &
charter of incorporation upon the terms set forth in the said
certificate, or upon such other terms as may be adjudged rea-
sonable. If the charter be granted it shall be recorded by the
clerk of the said court in a book to be provided and kept for
the purpose, and shall be certified by said clerk to the secre-
tary of the commonwealth, to be in like manner recorded in
his office; and thereafter the said court may, upon the motion
of the said company, or on reasonable notice to said company,
alter or amend ‘said charter; and such alteration or amend-
ment shall be recorded by said clerk, and in the office of the
secretary of the commonwealth, as hereinbefore provided for
recording charters, and shall be as effectual from that time as
if originally a part of said charter.

_ 2. This act shall be in force from its passage.