Chap. 318.—An ACT to Incorporate the Brock’s Gap, Hardy and Hamp-
shire Railroad Company.

. Approved March 31, 1873.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
‘John Q. Winfield, Urich Witting, Jacob N. Liggett, John G.
Coats, J. F. Branner, P. Pugh, J. W. Basore, S. C. Williams,
Dr. Burke Chrisman, S. M. Yost and M. G. Harman, of Vir-
ginia, and Angus M. Wood, John Hawes, Bennett Bran, Oscar
Barr, James C. Poland, J. Chapline, A. H. Pownall, Isaac
Hanes, Andrew W. Kercheval, John C. Heiskell and Robert
W. Gilkeson, of West Virginia, or such of them as may accept
the provisions of this act, and such persons and incorporations
as may become associated with them in the manner hereinafter
provided, shall be and they are hereby constituted a body
politic and corporate, by the name of the Brock’s Gap, Hardy
,and Hampshire Railroad Company; and by that name, shall
have all the powers, rights and franchises necessary and proper
to locate, construct and maintain a narrow-gauge railroad, not
exceeding three feet between rails, to be known as the Brock’s.
Gap, Hardy and Hampshire Railroad; to begin at Broadway,
on the Washington City, Virginia Midland and Great Southern
railroad, in Rockingham county, in the state of Virginia, and
to run thence by the most practicable route to some point on
the Virginia and West Virginia state line, in the said county of
Rockingham.

2. That the capital stock of said company shall not exceed
the sum of five millions of dollars, to be divided into shares of
one hundred dollars ; and when two hundred shares shall have
been subscribed by persons or corporations, under the direc-
tion of any three of the corporators hereinbefore named, the
subscribers shall assemble in Broadway, Rockingham county,
Virginia, upon the call of the first seven named corporators, or
a majority of the same, to organize the company under this
act, to ele:t a president and board of directors, whose term of
office shall be three years. Subsequent elections of president
shall be made by the board of directors, and of the board of
directors by the stockholders, and for the transaction of all
business which should appertain to a regular meeting of stock-
holders. Any vacancy during the term of office of the presi-
dent or directors shall be filled by the board of directors.

3. The board of directors shall fix the salary of the presi-
dent, and all officers of the company, and a maximum amount
of stock to be subscribed for by any individual or company.

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 the maximum capital stock prescribed in this act;
and the board of directors of said company, to fully construct
and equip said railway, shall have the power to issue bonds to
an amount not exceeding its capital stock, 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 mortgages on the road, fran-
chises, income, and the real and personal property of the com-
pany, or such parts thereof as may be designated in the mort-
gage or mortgages.

5. That it shall be lawful for the said company to acquire by
purchase, or in subscription to the capital stock of said com-
pany, or by donation, lands, mines, property, materials or
labor, and to receive subscriptions from other companies, asso-
ciations and corporations, and to make such arrangements as
shall be mutually agreed upon by the respective boards of di-
rectors of such companies, associations and corporations, for
the endorsement, sale and exchange of stock and bonds, as to
increase facilities for a speedy completion of said road; and
the said company may sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any
lands or other property acquired under this section, at their
pleasure.

6. The said company shall have power to build additional
branches and lateral roads, not exceeding twenty miles each,
from their main line.

7. This company shall be subject to the general laws now in
force in relation to railroad companies, except as otherwise pro-.
vided in this charter.

8. That any county, city, town or township along the lines of
said road, or of any connecting roads, is hereby authorized to
subscribe to the capital stock of said company, in the manner and
under the rules and regulations prescribed by law, approved
March twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and seventy-one, by the
general assembly of Virginia.

9. The work on the road herein authorized to be constructed
shall be commenced within two years and completed within
five years from the passage of this act.

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