Chap. 190.—An ACT authorizing the Formation of District Coluniza-
tion Boards throughout the Commonwealth.

Approved March 20, 1875.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
upon the petition of any twenty freeholders of any township
or magisterial district, in any county of the state, presented
at least sixty days before the date of election hereinafter pro-
vided for, it shall be lawful for the judge of the county court
for such county, to issue a writ of election at least twenty
days before any election held in May, of any year, authoriz-
ing the qualified voters of such district to vote for five per-
sons to form and be designated The Colonization Board of
District Number , in County, Virginia.

2. The mode of electing such board and the manner of
their qualification shall be the same as may be prescribed by
law, for the election of justices of the peace.

3. Any board elected under the provisions of this act, shall
hold office for the term of three years from the first day of
July next succeeding their election, and until their succes-
sors shall be elected and qualified.

4. The persons so elected shall, on the first Monday in
Jaly after their qualification, meet at the voting place of the
district in which they reside, and proceed tg organize for the
election of a president from their own number, and a secre-
tary and treasurer, either from their number or otherwise,
as they may deem best. The amount of bond to be given by
the treasurer, shall be fixed by the board, and taken before
the board, and shall be kept by the secretary.

5. The said board, in any district, shall have the power to
contract with the holders ef real estate within the limits of
the district, to take and hold any tract of land lying within
said district, in parcels of not less than twenty-five acres:
provided, that said board shall not so take a greater quan-
tity of land than five thousand acres. The contract shall set
forth that the owner agrees to and with the board that they
shall have the right, during the period of one year, to dis-
pose of the same or any part thereof, in parcels of not less
than twenty-five nor more than one hundre acres, at an ad-
vance of not exceeding one dollar per acre over and above
the price the landholder, in his contract, agrees to take for
the same.

6. In payment for such lands, as the board may, within
the period of one year, dispose ‘of, the board shall issue
bonds of the value of not exceeding one hundred dollars each,
bearing interest at the rate of six per centum from the
date of the termination of the said one year.* The bonds
thus issued shall be payable as follows: At the end of every

ear, from the date of the issue of the bonds, the colonization

oard shall summon a meeting of the bondholders, when the
amount in the hands of the treasurer (less the amount pro-
vided herein to be applied to the payment of expenses), shall
be distributed ratably among the bondholders: provided, that
when a purchaser makes full payment for his land, the board
shall forthwith make settlement with the vendor of the same.

7. The lands sold by the board shall be disposed of on the
following terms:

First. Each purchaser shall have immediate possession of
his land on depositing with the treasurer five hundred dol-
lars in currency or giving substantial security, approved by
the board, to the amount of five hundred dollars, that in one
year from the date of his purchase he will place on his land
Wy provements to the extent of five hundred dollars in value.
Whenever the surveyor of the board shall certify that the
said five hundred dollars of improvements have been put on
the land, the board shall return the money deposited, if any.

Second. Each purchaser shall pay all costs of survey and
necessary legal expenses, in accordance with a scale to be
fixed by the board, and shall bind himself to keep the pro-
perty insured to the extent of the improvements.

Third. Each purchaser shall pay for his land in ten annual
equal instalments, together with interest at the rate of six
per centum on the deferred payments.

Fourth. In case of the default in payment of instalments
on the part of any purchaser, the board shall notify him
that at the end of six months from the date of the notice,
the board will proceed to offer the land for sale, and the person
buying the land at euch sale, shall on payment of arrears to
the board, stand in the position of the original purchaser in
respect of further payments. Any sum realized beyond the
payments due and deferred shall, after deducting the ex-
penses of transfer, be paid to the original purchaser.

Fifth. The interest in lands purchased of the board may,
at any time, be transferred, subject to the board’s approval
of the transfer.

Sixth. Purchasers shall bind themselves to pay a regular
scale of fines, to be fixed by the board, on instalments in
arrears.

8. An abstract of title certified by counsel of all lands
offered by the board, shall be filed with the secretary before
the same shall be offered for.sale.

9. The necessary expenses of the board shall be paid out
of the one dollar per acre above cost charged to purchasers.

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