Chap. 129.—An ACT to Incorporate the GordonsviNe and Chester's Gap
Railroad Company.

Approved March 15, 1871.

1, Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
James L. KXemper, George W. Reedy, M. C. Strickler, James
W. Walker, Jr., L. Y. Menefee, James F. Strother, Marcus B.
Buck, J. H. Turner, or such of them as may accept the provi-
sions of this act, and such persons and corporations as may be-
come associated with them, in the manner hereinafter provided,
shall be and they are hereby constituted a body politic and cor-
porate, by the name of The Gordonsville and Chester’s Gap
Railroad Company; and by that name shall have all the pow-
ers, rights, and franchises, necessary and proper to locate, con-
struct, and maintain a railroad, beginning at Gordonsville, or
the most eligible point on the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad,
in the county of Orange, and to run thence by the most direct
route through the counties of Madison and Rappahannock, as
near the villages of Madison, in Madison county, and Washing-
ton, in Rappahannock county, as is practicable, through or by
Chester’s gap, in the Blue Ridge mountains, to some point in
connection with the Shenandoah valley railroad, as near the
town of Front Royal as may be practicable; and the above
named corporators are authorized, either in person or by agent
or agents by them appointed, to open books and receive sub-
scriptions to the capital stock of said Gordonsville and Ches-
ter’s gap railroad company.

2. That the capital stock of said company shall not exceed
the sum of three million dollars, to be divided into shares of
one hundred dollars each; and whenever five hundred shares
shall have been subscribed, the subscribers may organize the
company by electing a president and board of directors, and
electing or appointing such other officers as may be necessary
for the management of the affairs of the company; and there-
upon they shall have and exercise all the general powers and
functions of a corporation, and be subject to all restrictions im-
posed by the laws of this state applicable to internal improve-
ment companies, except the same be inconsistent with the
provisions of this act.

3. The capital stock of said company may be increased,
from time to time, by the board of directors, to such amount
as they may deem necessary for the interest of the company,
not exceeding the maximum capital stock prescribed in this
act; and the board of directors, by consent of the stockhold-
ers in general meeting called for the purpose, shall have power
to borrow money and issue bonds in such sums, not less than
one hundred dollars each, and bearing interest not exceeding
the rate now allowed by law, payable, interest and principal, at
such times and places, and in such manner, as may be deemed
most advantageous to said company; and may secure the same
by one or more mortgages on the road, franchises, income, and
the real and personal property of the company, or such part
or all parts thereof, as may be designated in the mortgage or
mortgages.

4, That it shall be lawful for the said company to acquire,
in subscriptions to the capital stock of said company, or by
donations or otherwise, lands, mines, property, materials, or
labor, and to receive subscriptions from other companies, asso-
ciations, and corporations; and to make such arrangements as
shall be mutually agreed upon by the respective boards of di-
rection of such companies, associations, and corporations, for
the endorsement of, sale and exchange of stock and lands, as
to increase facilities for a speedy completion of said road.
And the said company may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of
any lands or other property acquired under this section, at
their pleasure.

d. The said company may enter into arrangements with any
company or companies connecting at either end of the line or
terminus, or at any other point along its line, for the necessary
rolling stock to be furnished to said company, or for a lease of
its road for a term not exceeding twenty years upon any one
contract; or may contract for the sale and transfer of all its
property, rights, charter, franchises, and stock, to any such
connecting company or companies: provided, that such sale
or transfer be confirmed by three-fifths of all the stockholders
of said Gordonsville and Chester’s Gap railroad company.

6. That any county along the line of said road is hereby
authorized, in the manner and under the rules and regulations
prescribed by law, to subscribe to the capital stock of said
company, each, an amount not exceeding two hundred thor-
sand dollars, and to this end, it shall be the duty of the county
courts of such counties, in their discretion, to cause a vote to be
taken, in a manner prescribed by law, at such time as the
president and directors of the said Gordonsville and Chester’s
Gap railroad company may ask; and to issue bonds in such
form; running such lengths of time, and bearing such rates of
interest, and payable at such periods and places, as the county
courts of said counties may determine; and to guarantee the
payment of such bonds so issued, whenever the qualified
voters, in the manner above prescribed, shall authorize.

7. The work on the said Gordonsville and Chester’s Gap
railroad skall be commenced within two years, and the same
be completed within six years from the passage of this act.

&. This act shall be in torce from its passage.