Chap. 289.—An ACT to allow the mayor and town council of the town
of Abingdon to borrow money and issue bonds therefor.

Approved March 4, 1884.

1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the mayor, council and inhabitants of the town of Abingdon,
be and they are hereby authorized to borrow for said corpo-
ration, and for the purpose of making permanent improve-
ments in said town, a sum of money not exceeding the sum
of twenty thousand dollars, by the issue and sale of bonds of
said corporation hereinafter provided.
2. Said bonds shall be registered, and shall be issued in
such denominations, and bear such rate of interest, not ex-
ceeding six per centum per annum, as may be determined by
said mayor and common council, said interest to be payable
semi-annually. The principal of said bonds shall be payable
in twenty years from their date, or upon the call of said cor-
pores at any time after five years from the date of said

onds ; said bonds shall be signed by the mayor ot said town
and countersigned by the clerk of the town council, and shall
be sold and negotiated in such manner and upon such terms
as may be prescribed by the said mayor and common coun-
cil: provided that said bonds shall not be sold for less than
their par value.

3. Inorderto provide forthe payment of the accruing inter-
est on said bonds, and of the principal thereof, the said mayor
and common council are her eby authorized and empowered
to levy and collect a tax for that purpose not exceeding
twenty-five cents on one hundred dollars worth of property.
to be applied exclusively to the purpose of this act.

4 The said mayor, council and inhabitants shall have the
power to purchase any lands or privileges upon, or own any
lands outside or within the corporate limits of said town for
the purpose of establishing water works, and if the said
mayor, council and inhabitants of the town of Abingdon are
unable to agree with the owners as to the price to be paid for
said land, or privilezes upon, or on the same, upon appli-
cation to the county court of Washington county, the said
court shall appoint commissioners to ascertain the value of
said land or the damages for the privileges desired, and pro-
ceed asin like cases as is provided by law: provided that

said mayor, council and inhabitants, shall have no authority
to issue bonds under this act until they shall have first taken
the sense of the qualified voters of said town at an election
held after thirty days’ notice of the time and place thereof,
has been given by posting the same on the front door of the
courthouse in said town, at which said election the voters
shall vote “for permanent improvements,” or “against per-
manent improvements;” and if it appears from the returns of
said election, that a majority of the said votes cast, and a
majority of the freeholders voting in said election, are in
favor of said permanent improvements, then said mayor,
council and inhabitants, shall have the right to exercise all
the powers conferred by this act: and provided further, that
any election beld under it must be held within two years
from the passage of this act.

5. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with this act are
hereby repealed.

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