Chap. 484.—An ACT to authorize the mayor and council of the city of Williams-
burg, in the county of James City, Virginia, to issue bonds and borrow money
for the purpose of establishing a system of water works and fire department for
said city.

Approved December 24, 1903.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the mayor
and council of the city of Williamsburg be, and they are hereby, au-
thorized and empowered to issue bonds of the said city and to borrow
money, not to exceed in the aggregate the sum of thirty thousand dollars
as hereinafter provided; the proceeds from the sale of said bonds, or so
much thereof as may be necessary, to be expended in the establishment
of a system of water works for fire extinguishing purposes and for do-
mestic uses, and for the equipment of a fire department for said city, or
such of the above purposes as may be prescribed by the said council, and
to meet all expenses connected therewith as may be determined upon by
the said council.

2. The said bonds shall be coupon bonds, and shall be issued in de-
nominations of five hundred dollars, and shall bear interest at a rate not
to exceed five per centum per annum. The interest on said bonds shall
be paid semi-annually on the first day of February and August of each
year, and shall be payable at the office of the treasurer of the county of
James City and the city of Williamsburg, or at such bank or banking
house in said city as may be selected and designated by the said council.
The principal of said bonds shall be payable in thirty years from date of
issue. The said bonds shall be signed by the mayor and countersigned
by the clerk of the council, and shall be sold and negotiated in such man-
mer as may be prescribed by the said mayor and council: provided, that
the said bonds shall not be sold or negotiated for less than their par value.

3. The council of the said city shall have full and unlimited control
of the expenditure of the funds derived from the sale of said bonds: pro-
vided, that said bonds shall not be issued or negotiated until the ques-
tion has been submitted to a vote of the people of said city, by an election
ordered by the circuit court for the city of Williamsburg and the county
of James City, who shall appoint three judges (freeholders) to hold said
election, the same to constitute the board of commissioners, from whose
report it shall appear that a majority of the qualified voters of the said
city voting upon the question are in favor of issuing the said bonds, and
that said majority include a majority of the freeholders of said city vot-
ing at such election. The vote shall be taken by ballot, on which shall
be printed the words “for bond issue” and “against bond issue.” There
shall be provided separate boxes, the one for freeholders’ ballots and the
other for non-freeholders’ ballots, as the case may be. Notice of the time,
place, and object of said election shall be given by publication for at least
once a week for four consecutive weeks in the “Virginia Gazette,” a news-
paper published in the city of Williamsburg, said notice to be ordered by
the circuit court for city of Williamsburg and the county of James City;
the expenses of said election shall be paid out of the treasury of said city.

4. The result of said election, as reported by the commissioners re-
ferred to in section three of this act, shall be admitted to record in the
circuit court for the city of Williamsburg and the county of James City,
and it shall be the duty of the judge of the said court to cause to be made
and transmitted to the mayor and council of the said city a certified copy
of the report of the said board of commissioners, which report shall be
recorded upon the minutes of the said council, and shall constitute a
basis for the issuance of the said bonds of the said city. It shall be the
duty of the judge of the said court to order an election as provided for
herein, upon a resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members
TIS ACTS OF ASSEMBLY.

elected to the council of said city and properly certified by the clerk
the said council.

5. The council of the said city shall, at each annual levy, lay a-i:
for the thirty years the bonds have to run a sufficient amount to cov:
the interest on the said bonds, and such further sum as may be det:-
mined upon each year to be placed to the credit of the sinking fund, 10°
created for-the redemption of the said bonds, before any portion of 2
revenue of the said city is appropriated to anv other purposes: and x
the maturity of the said bonds, upon the expiration of the said thir:
years, the council of the said city shall make lawful provision for tlie
payment.

6. The council] may provide, by resolution passed by two-thirds «
the entire council, that no corporation tax shall be levied or assessed ny.
said bonds.

7. Should any balance or excess remain to the credit of the sar wate
works and fire department fund, realized from the sale of said bonds, afte-
the completion and equipment of the said systems of water works av
fire department, the council of the said city is hereby authorized aml ev-
powered to make such disposition of said balance or excess as to then
may seem best for the public good.

8. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are herehy r-
pealed.

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