Chap. 479.—An ACT to incorporate the Old Dominion telephone company.

Approved February 28, 1894.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That J. B.
Gentry, junior, Charles H. Hudspeth, N. W. Harrison, W. T. Gil-
liam and J. W. Maynard, and such other persons as may hereafter be
associated with them, their successors and assigns, be, and they are
hereby, constituted a body politic and corporate, to be known as the
Old Dominion telephone company, and by that name to sue and be
sued, plead and be impleaded in all the courts of law and equity in
this state, and may have, make and use a common seal, and the same
break, alter and renew or change at their pleasure, and may make,
ordain, establish, alter or amend such by-laws, ordinances and regu-
lations concerning all matters of organization and business not here-
in specifically provided for as they may think proper, and generally
may do every act and thing necessary to carry this act into effect, or
to promote the objects and designs of the corporation: provided such
by-laws, ordinances and regulations or acts be not inconsistent with
the laws of this state or of the United States.

The said company shall be, and is hereby, empowered to promote,
establish and maintain the business of a telephone company ; toerect,
establish, maintain and operate or sella plant or plants in the cities,
counties or towns of the state of Virginia for its own use and for sale
or rent to persons desiring to use the same, and may manufacture, use
and sell, distribute, rent or otherwise furnish telephones to all and
any persons, parties and corporations desiring to use the same upon
such terms as may be agreed upon between the contracting parties.
It may build, purchase, rent or otherwise acquire and maintain and
operate in streets, alleys, avenues and public highways, poles, wires,
sub-ways, underground conduits and sub-marine cables, and other
electrical conductors, with the necessary fixtures, stations, terminals
or other facilities connected therewith, such as may be necessary
and suitable for the proper, full and convenient carrying on of the
business of the company in any city, county or town in the state of
Virginia, subject to such terms and conditions as may be agreed on
with the city councils of cities and towns, and boards of supervisors
in the counties or other parties duly accredited under the laws of
the state of Virginia. It may acquire by purchase, lease or other-
wise, and to hold and thereafter to sell or otherwise dispose of such
real ‘estate, not exceeding five acres in any one city, county or town
which may be found necessary and convenient for the establishment,
erection and maintenance of such lines of poles and wires and under-
ground conduits, and sub-ways and sub-marine cables, together with
the necessary fixtures, stations, terminals or other facilities, and for
any other of the purposes and uses of said company.

The capital stock of the said company shall not be less than ten
thousand dollars nor more than two hundred thousand dollars,
divided into shares of twenty-five dollars each.

Subscription to the capital stock may be received by the corpo-
rators herein named, or any three of them, at such time and place
as they may appoint, and with or without public notice, as they may
deem best; and as soon as the minimum capital stock has been sub-
scribed, the said subscribers may organize as a corporation and pro-
ceed to elect a president and board of directors, and adopt such by-
laws and regulations as may be proper for the management of the
affairs of the company, and thereafter further subscriptions to the
capital stock may be received by the board of directors.

Subscriptions to the’capital stock may be payable either in money,
land, labor, services, material, rights or other property, or in the
capital stock of other telephone corporations, upon such terms and
conditions as may be agreed upon between the said company and the
subscriber.

The company hereby incorporated may acquire by lease, purchase,
subscription to its capital stock, or otherwise, and use and operate
the works, property, franchises, rights, privileges and immunities
of any other telephone company or companies, or of any company
or companies incorporated for the purpose of manufacturing or fur-
nishing telephones, or having the power to do 80; and the company
hereby incorporated may unite and consolidate with such other tele-
phone company or companies upon such terms as may be agreed on
between them; and power is hereby conferred on such other tele-
phone company or companies to transfer, by sale or lease, their
works, property, franchises, rights, privileges and immunities to the
company hereby incorporated, or to unite and consolidate with it
upon such terms as may be agreed upon between them,

The principal office of the company shall be in the state of Vir-
ginia, wherever may be convenient or necessary for use of the com-
pany and the conduct of its business.

The company may dispose of the whole or any part of its prop-
erty, however acquired, by sale, lease or otherwise; may borrow
money and may issue bonds, either registered or coupon, and may
secure the payment of the same by mortgage or deed of trust upon
the whole or any part of its property, works, rights, franchises and
privileges.

All taxes due by this company shall be paid in money, and not in
coupons.

2. The general assembly hereby reserves the right to alter, amend
or repeal this charter at any time.

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