CHAP. 59.—An ACT to incorporate the Staunton and West Augusta
Railroad Company.

Approv:d February 10, 1880.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
Richard H. Catlett, H. M. Bell, John Echols, John F. Hartranft
and R.N. Pool, and such persons and corporations as they
may associate with them, shall be and they are hereby consti-
tuted a body politic and corporate by the name of The Staun-
ton and West Augusta Railroad Company, and by that name
shall have all the powers, rights and privileges necessary and
proper to locate, construct and maintain a railroad to be known
as the Staunton and West Augusta railroad, to begin at some
point on the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway not east
of Staunton, whence the said railroad may he extended by the
way of Stribling springs and the North River gap, in the
county of Augusta, to some point on the line between the
states of Virginia and West Virginia: provided, that said road
shall not run in and along the North River valley or through
the North River gap, in Augusta county, that being the line
surveyed, adopted and partially graded by the Washington,
Cincinnati and Saint Louis railroad company, a greater dis-
tance than three miles.

2. That the capital stock of said company shall not exceed
the sum of one million dollars, to be divided into shares of
one hundred dollars each, each share to be entitled to one
vote in meetings of stockholders; and whenever fifty thou-
sand dollars shall be subscribed by others than internal im-
provement companies, and two dollars per share paid in cash,
the subscribers shall be incorporated by the name and for the
purposes aforesaid, with power and authority to effect the same.

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 for the interest of the company, not exceeding the
maximum capital stock prescribed by this act; and the board
of directors of said company, to fully construct.and equip said
railway, shall have the power to issue bonds in such sums not
less than one hundred dollars each, and bearing interest not
exceeding the rate allowed by law, payable, principal and in-
terest, 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 estate of the company, or
such parts thereof as may be designated in the mortgage.

4, That it shall be lawful for the said company to acquire in
subscriptions to the capital stock of said company, or by dona
tion, purchase or otherwise, lands, mines, property, material 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
directors for such companies, associations and corporations for
the endorsement of, sale and exchange of stock and bonds, 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 its plea-
sure: provided, that all real estate acquired by said company,
except such as may be necessary for the purpose of operating
said road, shall be disposed of by sale within thirty years from
the passage of this act. :

). The said company shall allow any railroad already built,
or which may hereafter be built, to connect with its road, and
the said company shall have the right to connect with and to
cross either at or under or above grade any railroad now or
hereafter to be constructed in the vicinity of the route thereof.
No discrimination shall be made in the charges of said com-
pany against the trade and travel of any connecting work;
but it shall jointly, with such connecting company or compa-
nies, make suitable arrangements for the transfer of freight
from one road to the other, and, the gauge permitting, for a
free interchange of freight cars upon reasonable terms, and no
discrimination shall be made in the charges of any connecting
road against the trade and travel of the said company.

6. The said company may enter into arrangements with any
company connecting therewith, whether said company connects
at either terminus or at any other point along its line, for the
use of the necessary rolling stock to be furnished to said com-
pany, or for a lease of its road not exceeding a term of twenty
years upon any one contract or lease, or may contract for the
sale and transfer of all its property, rights, charter, franchises
and stock to any connecting company.

7. The board of directors may fix the salary of the presi-
dent and all officers of the company, and a maximum amount
of stock to be subscribed for by any individual or company.

8. This railroad shall be subject to the general laws now in
force in relation to railroad companies, except as otherwise
provided in this charter.

¥. This act shall not be construed as in anywise interfering
with any of the rights, franchises or privileges of the Washing-
ton, Cincinnati and Saint Louis railroad company.

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