Chap. 68.—An ACT to incorporate the Hampton and Fort Monroe rail-
road company.

Approved February 6, 1877.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That Martin
McDevitt, J. S. Darling, Harrison Phoebus, James A. Wat-
kins, Thomas Tabb, G. M. Peek, William S. Howard, Joseph
G. Fulton, or any five of them, and such other persons as
they may associate with them, be and they are hereby de-
clared a body politic and corporate, by the name and style.
of The Hampton and Fort Monroe Railroad Company; and as
such shall have authority to construct and equip a railroad
from some point in or near the town of Hampton, in the
county of Elizabeth City, to such point on the United States.
government lands at Fort Monroe as the authorities of the
United States may authorize and permit: provided, that the
said railroad shall not pass over any of the public roads in
the county of Elizabeth City, except so far as it may be
necessary for the proper crossing of such roads; nor shall
said road pass along any of the streets in the town of Hamp-
ton, except Queen street, and along said street only to some
point east of Greble hall. By consent of the board of super-
visors, approved by the county judge of Elizabeth City county,
the said railroad company may, in the construction of their
road, use the abutments to the bridge over Hampton river,
or add to such bridge, as may be agreed upon between the
said company and the said board of supervisors.

2. The said company is authorized to run their road over
the bridge at Mill creek, and along the causeway leading from:
said bridge to Fortress Monroe, to some point at or near the
Hygeia hotel: provided they first obtain the consent of the
authorities of the United States for such use of the said’
bridge and cousewar. °

3. The capital stock of said company shall not be less than
fifteen thousand dollars, nor more than forty thousand dol-
lars, to be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each;
and stockholders shall have one vote for each share of stock
in all meetings of stockholdors.

4, The right to the franchises granted by this charter shall
vest, as soon as the minimum capital, namely, of fifteen thou-.
sand dollars, shall have been subscribed, when the corpora-
tors may call a general meeting of the stockholders. At
such meeting, if a majority of the shares be represented in
person, or, by. proxy, a board of not less than five, nor more:
thah ‘sevext directots shall be elected, who shall elect a presi-
dent add téeasurér. The said officers so elected, shall continue
in Office-gne year unless removed.
> 5: The ‘rdack shall be vt any gauge which the said.bo:rd ‘of
directors’ may determine, and may be worked by horse or.
steam power.
6. The said company may acquire lands only for the pur-
oses of a right of way, and for the erection of necessary
uildings for stations and depots, and to this end may con-

demn and purchase, in accordance with the laws of Virginia,
land for its road-bed, depots and+atations: provided, that it
shall not condemn more than three-quarters of an acre in
the town of Hampton.

7. When fifty per centum of the minimum capital stock
shall have been actually paid in, the said company shall be
authorized, in order to raise means to construct or equip said
road, to borrow money upon the faith of the property and fran-
chises ; to issue its bonds therefor, secured by such deeds of
trust or mortgage as may be necessary; said bonds to be
sold upon such terms as may be agreed upon by the board of
directors.

8. The said road shall be completed, equipped, and put into
operation within three years from the passage of this act.

9. This act shall take effect from its passave.