Chap. 520.—An ACT to incorporate the Nelson telephone company.

Approved February 28, 1898.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That H. K.
Hawthorne, W. H, Goodwin, Doctor F. A. Williams, J. E. Hall,
junior, D. McGregor, J. R. Goodloe, B. H. Goodloe and William
McGregor, and such other persons as they may associate with them and
their successors be, and they hereby are, incorporated and created and
made a body corporate under the name of the Nelson telephone com-
pany, for the purpose of constructing, equipping, maintaining and ope-
rating a line or lines of telephones with the necessary and convenient ex-
changes and appliances, in the county of Nelson, in the state of Virginia,
and to connect Afton and Onan, with the privilege of extending its line
or lines to any other places in Nelson county, including any or all inter-
mediate points, postoflices or villages, and as such corporation, the said
company shall have all general powers and be subject to all general re-
strictions composed and imposed by the laws of Virginia, now or here-
after in force as to corporations and chartered companies and including
all rights and privileges given by the said laws of Virginia to telephone
companies.

2. The said company shall have power to acquire by purchase, lease.
condemnation or otherwise, in accordance with the general laws of the
state of Virginia on that subject, all real estate or easements necessary
for the convenient erection and maintenance of its lines, offices and ex-
changes and for the general conduct of its business, the real estate to he
held by the said company, however, in fee simple, not to exceed fifty
acres In the said county of Nelson.

3. The capital stock of the said company shall be not less than five
hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, divided into shares
of ten dollars each. It shall not be necessary to give any notice of the
opening of subscriptions to said stock, but the same may be subscribed
in such manner and at such times as a majority of said corporators may
determine.

4. When the minimum amount of capital stock shall have been sub-
scribed, the subscribers may meet upon such notice as the said corpora-
tors or a majority of them shall determine, and elect a president and
board of directors, and such other officers as they may deem best. At
such meeting each subscriber may in person or by proxy cast one vote
for each share of stock subscribed for by him. The board of directors
may consist of any number that the subscribers or stockholders mav
from time to timedetermine. After such election the said company shall
be thereupon deemed duly organized, and the board may proceed to
adopt by-laws for the conduct of the company and take such further
action as the interest of the company may in their judgment require.
General or annual meetings of the stockholders may be held on such
notice as may from time to time be prescribed by the board of directors.
such notice to be published for the length of time fixed by said board
in one or more newspapers published in the county of Nelson.

5. This company is incorporated for the conduct of the telephone
business, and to that end authority is hereby granted to it to erect all
poles, wires, cables, conduits and lines, and to establish all offices and
exchanges necessary and proper for the conduct of such a business.

6. The said company may acquire by purchase or lease any of the
property or rights of any other telephone company and make any con-
tract with any other telephone company, and make any contract with
any other such company consistent with the laws of the state.

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7. The said company shall have power to connect or make traflic ar-
rangements for the interchange of business with any other telephone or
telegraph company or companies heretofore or hereafter incorporated,
and may acquire and hold the necessary and convenient patents and
property.

8. The said company shall have power to borrow money for its pur-
poses, and to issue its notes or bonds therefor, and to secure the same
by mortgage or deed of trust upon its property, works, and franchises
or otherwise.

9. This act is subject to the proviso that work hereunder shall be
commenced within two years, and the said company be in operation
within three years from and after the passage of this act; and all taxes
or demands due, or to become due to the state of Virginia, must be
paid in lawful currency of the United States and not in coupons. The
general assembly reserves the right to amend, alter, or repeal this
charter.

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