CHAP. 303.—An ACT to authorize the Governor to furnish convict
labor for the extension of the Danville and New River Railroad be-
vond Patrick courthouse, Virginia.

In force March 7, 1884.

1. Beit enacted by the wonoral: assembly of Virginia, That
the governor be authorized and requested hereby to furnish
and hire to the Danville and New river railroad company
three hundred penitentiary convicts, to be used in extending
the railroad of said company westward from Patrick court-
house; and said company shall have said convicts at the same
rate of compensation now paid for them by contractors in the
penitentiary, less the cost of feeding, clothing and guarding
them, which shall be paid by the company ; and which said
cost shall THO exceed the sum of twenty-six cents per day for
each convict: provided however, that should the expenses of
feeding, clothing and guar ding said convicts exceed the
amount of hire of said convicts the state shall not be called
upon to pay any portion of the said excess: provided that
there shall be no discrimination as to the convicts so em-
ployed on account of color.

2. The board of public works is hereby authorized to re-
ceive in payment for the hire of said convicts the notes of
the Danville and New River railroad company, payable at
two, three and four years, in equal amounts, bearing interest
from date: provided however, that the said company shall
deposit as collateral security for the payment of said notes,
the first mortgage bonds on the western division, west of
Patrick courthouse, of said company, at the rate of seventy-
five cents on the dollar. The accounts for the hire of said
convicts shall be stated at the expiration of twelve months
after the date of the first delivery of convicts to said company
under this act, and annually thereafter, and notes payable as
aforesaid to be given for the amounts found due on each set-
tlement. Said notes shall be payable in lawful money of the
United States, and not in any coupons of this state, and this
shall be expressed in the body of the notes.

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