Chap. 298.—An ACT to incorporate The Old Deminion Telezrar!:
Company.

Approved March 29, 1875.

_ 1, Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
Frederick B. Hubbell, James D. Patton, Courtland Hf. Smith,
Edwin Fitzjerald, R. H. Logan, D. 8S. Pollock, and John A.
McCaul, their associates and successors, are hereby created
and declared a body politic and corporate, under. the name
and style of The Old Dominion Telegraph Company, for the
purpose of constructing, erecting, using, and maintaining
‘telegraph lines and communication from any point on the
waters of the Chesapeake bay, and streams tributary thereto,
to any point or points witbin this state, with all necessary
side ‘and branch lines; and by the same name, style, and
title shall have perpetual succession, and all the privileges
and immunities belonging to a corporation; may sue and be
sued, plead and be impleaded, complain and defend in the
courts of law and equity; may purchase, receive, have, hold,
and enjoy to them, their successors, and assigns, such lands,
tenements, hereditaments, goods, and chattels, and all estate,
real, personal, and mixed, as may be necessary for the pur-
pose of the company; and the same, from time to time, may
sell, convey, mortgage, or dispose of, to make dividend of
such portions of their profits as they may deem proper;
and also may make-and have a common seal, and the same
may alter and renew at pleasure; and also to ordain, estab-
lish, and put in execution such by-laws, or ordinances and
regulations as shall appear necessary and convenient for the
government of said corporation hereby created, not being
contrary to the constitution and laws of the United States
and this commonwealth, and generally may do all and singa-
Jar the matters and things which to them shall lawfally
appertain to do, for the well being of the said corporation,
and the due management and ordering of the affairs and
business of the same: provided, that nothing herein con
tained shall be so construed as to give said corporation bank-
ing privileges, or any other privileges but such as may be
necessary, or belong to the making, using or maintaining
the said telegraph lines, and the connection it may form for
the advancement of its interests. .

2. That the capital stock of said corporation, hereby
created, shall be five hundred thousand dollars, and shall be
divided into two thousand shares, of fifty dollars each; cer-
tificate of which shall be issued to such person or persons
who have now or may hereafter subscribe, and pay money or
other property for the construction of said telegraph lines,
for the number of shares which he or she may have, or shall
subscribe, or hold in the said corporation, signed by the presi-
dent, and countersigned by the treasurer, and sealed with
the common scal of the company, which stock shall be trans-
ferable on the books of the company in person, or by attor-
ney, under such rules and regulations as may be provided by
the by-laws.

3. That the said corporation shall have power to purchase,
make, use and maintain any connecting or side lines, or to
connect, by contract, with other persons or corporations hav-
ing other telegraph lines, within or out of this state, for the
purposes aforesaid. |

4, That the persons named in the first section of this act,
or’any three of them, shall call a meeting within one year
from the passage of this act, ot the corporate body hereby
created, viving three weeks’ notice of the time and place of
holding the same, in at least one newspaper in Richmond,
for the purpose of choosing a president and seven directors,
which seven directors, with the president, shall constitute
the board of directors for the management of the affairs of
the corporation; and said board shall elect a secretary and
treasurer, cither or both of whom may be chosen from their
own number. Said board shall hold their offices for the
term of one year, and until their successors shall be elected,
and shall exercise all the powers pertaining to the making,
maintaining, use and management of said telegraph lines,
and the affairs, interest and business of the said corporation.

5. That the annual meeting of said corporation shall be
held on the fourth Wednesday of October, in each and every
year, unless the stockholders, at annual meetings, shall oth-
erwise direct, that the place of holding the first election shall
be fixed in the call for the same, and thereafter it shall be
determined by the stockholders at their annual meetings.
Special meetings may be called by the directors whenever,
in their opinion, the interest of the company may require
it, or when requested by one-third of the stockholders.

6. That at every election for officers each share shall enti-
tle the holder thereof to one vote, to be given by ballot, and
the stockholder may be represented by proxy.

7. That it shall and may be lawful for the said corpora-
tion hereby created, to erect and construct works, edifices,
fixtures, and structures, along and across any of the turnpike
roads, highways, streets, and waters within this state, along
or across which they shall convey their wires; the said works
to be so placed as not to interfere with the common use of
such roads, turnpikes, highways, streets, and water ; and the
said corporation and all other persons, by them authorized
or employed, shall have power and authority to enter into
and upon, hold, occupy, and enjoy any land for the purpose
of locating and constructing the said telegraph lines, and
using, repairing, maintaining, and enjoying the same upon
which the same may be located, and which may be necessary
or convenient for the location of the same: provided, that
such compensation previous thereto shal] be made, secured
or tendered to the owner or owners of the land, or to the
corporation whose property may be used, as shall be agreed
upon between the parties, or in such manner as is hereinafter
mentioned. oe
8. This act shall be in force from its passage.