Chap. 195.—An ACT to provide for the Working of Penitentiary Con-
victs on the Danville and New River Railroad.

Approved March 27, 1876.

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1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That the governor be and he is hereby authorized to hire to
the president and directors of the Danville and New river
railroad company, such able-bodied convicts in the peniten-
tiary whose terms of service at the time of hiring do not
exceed ten years, as can be spared from the workshops
therein, to work on the construction of said railroad; and
he shall provide for the sate-keeping and return to qe peni-
tentiary of the convicts so hired, by requiring from the presi-
dent of said railroad, bond with good security, in such penalty
as he may deem sufficient: provided however, that nothing
herein shall be so construed as to interfere with any con-
tracts heretofore made for the hire of convicts.

2. In discharge of the hire agreed upon, the governor may
accept the bonds of said railroad company, payable on such
time, as may be agreed upon with the president of said com-
pany, to be secured by a mortgage on the works and fran-
chises of said company.

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