Chap. 45.—An ACT to authorize the Qualified Voters of Halifax County
to vote on the Question of the Purchase or Construction of a Bridge at
South Boston, in that County.

Approved February 7, 1876.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
whenever the sum of three thousand dollars shall have been
subscribed for the purpose of buying or constructing a bridge
at South Boston, in Halifax county, it shall be the duty of
the county court of.said county, upon the petition of fifty or
more of the qualified voters of said county, who are free-
holders, to issue an order to the several officers conducting
elections in the said county, at the time and places for hold-
ing the first general election in the year one thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six, to prepare a separate ballot-box
for each voting precinct, in which shall be deposited the bal-
lots of-the then qualified voters who shall desire to vote
upon the question of the purchase or construction of said
bridge. The said ballots shall be respectively as follows:
“For the purchase or construction of bridge.” ‘‘ Against the
purchase or construction of bridge.” Each ballot so cast
which shall have written or printed thereon, “For the pur-
chase or construction of bridge,” shall be taken and counted
as a vote for the purchase or construction of the said bridge;
and each ballot which shall have written or printed thereon,
“Against the purchase or construction of bridge,” shall be
taken and counted as a vote against the purchase or construc-
tion of said bridge.

2. The manner of receiving and canvassing the ballots
cast at such election on the question of the purchase or con-
struction of said bridge, and making returns and abstracts
of the results thereof shall conform in all respects to the
regulations prescribed by the general election law of this
state, except that the certificate of the judges of election
Shall be as follows:

“We hereby certify; that at the election held ;
votes were cast for the purchase or construction of the bridge,

and votes were cast against the purchase or construction
of bridge.

> § Clerks.”

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And provided further, that the commissioners of election
shall make, on a separate sheet, an abstract of said votes
against, and for the purchase or construction of said bridge;
which abstract shal! be duly signed by said commissioners,
and deposited in the: office of*the clerk of the county court
of said county.

3. If, from such returns and abstracts of votes so cast, for or
against the purchase or construction of said bridge, it shall
appear that three-fifths of the votes were cast for the pur-
chase or construction of said bridge, and that a majority of
the registered voters of said county voted at such election,
it shall be the duty of the county court of said county to ap-
point three commissioners whose duty it shall be to negotiate
with the president, directors and company owning and con-
trolling the toll-bridge over Dan river, at South Boston, in
Halifax county, for the purcbase thereof for the use of the
said county; but if the said commissioners are satisfied upon
investigation, that it would be best for the interest of the
country, to construct a new bridge in lieu of purchasing the
said toll-bridge, then the said commissioners shall adver-
tise for proposals to construct a substantial bridge across the
said river, at or near the said town of South Boston: provi-
ded, that.no contract shall be binding upon the said county,
until it shall have been ratified by the board of supervisors,
who shall have been summoned for the purpose, by order
made by the county court; and that the sum expended for
the purpose of purchasing or constructing the said bridge,
shall not exceed eighteen thousand dollars.

4, If a majority of the board of supervisors shall ratify the
contract made by the said commissioners with the president,
directors and company owning said toll-bridge, or with other
parties for the construction of a new bridge, it shall be law-
ful in the discretion of the said board, to issue bonds of the
said county, to bear interest at a rate not exceeding eight
per centum, payable annually: provided, that no bond issued
under the provisions of this act shall be for a longer period.
than ten years; or the said board may in its discretion levy
upon persons and property in the manner prescribed by law
for other levies for county purposes, a sum not exceeding
one-fifth of the sum agreed upon for the purchase or con-
struction of said bridge, in any one year; which said levy
shall be collected and accounted for in the manner prescribed
by law. for other county levies, and paid out by order of the
board of supervisors as other debts due by counties, &c., are
now audited and paid, in discharge of the debt due for the.
purchase or construction of said bridge.

_ 5. Should a majority of the registered voters of the said
county vote at said election, and should three-fifths of those
so voting vote in favor of the purchase or construction of
said bridge, and the provisions of this act be complied with,
the bridge shall be subject to all the rules and regulations
now prescribe@ by Jaw in regard to county bridges.

6. In the event that the county court of Halifax county
shall for any cause fail to submit the question of the pur-
chase or construction of the said bridge to the qualified
voters of said county at the first general election in the year
eighteen hundred and seventy-six, then it shall be lawful on
the petition of one hundred or more of the qualified voters of
said county, being freeholders, for the county court of said
county to submit the question of the purchase or construc-
tion of the said bridge to the vote of the legally qualjfied
voters of said county, at any regular election to be held at
any time subsequent to the fourth Thursday in May, eigh-
teen hundred and seventy-six, in the manner and form pre-
scribed in this act; and in case’ three-fifths of the voters
voting in such election shall vote in favor of the purchase or
construction of the said bridge, and a majority of the legally
qualified voters of the county vote in said election, the county
court of said county and the board of supervisors of said
county, shall proceed to carry out the will of the people as
herein prescribed.

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