Chap. 31.—An ACT to declare valid certain contracts concerning rail-
road equipments and rolling stock, and other personal property to be
used in and about the operation of any railroad.

Approved January 18, 1884.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
1any written contract, of or for the sale of railroad equip-
nts, rolling stock, or other personal property, to he used in
r about the operation of any railroad, by the terms of which
ne purchase money, in whole or in part, is to be paid in the
iture, it may be stipulated or conditioned that the title to
he property so sold, or contracted to be sold, shall not vest in
he vendee, but shall remain in the vendor until the purchase
voney shall have been fully paid, and such stipulation shall
e and remain valid, notwithstanding the delivery of the
roperty to, and its possession by such vendor: provided that
he term of credit for the payment of said purchase money
hall not exceed ten years from the execution of the contract.

2. In any written contract for the renting, leasing, or hir-
ng of such property, to be used as aforesaid, it shall be
awful to stipulate or provide for a conditional sale of such
vroperty, at the termination of such renting, leasing, or hir-
ng, and to stipulate or provide that the rental reserved, shall,
as paid, or when paid in full, be applied to and treated as
purchase money; and in such contract it shall be lawful to
stipulate or provide that the title to such property shall
remain in the lessor or vendor, until the purchase money
shall have been fully paid, notwithstanding delivery to and
possession by the other party, subject, however, to the proviso
contained in section one of this act. :

3. Anysuch contract of sale, renting, leasing, or hiring shall
be good, valid and effectual, both in law and in equity against
purchases without notice, and creditors, only when a copy
thereof shall have been filed in the office of the board of pub-
lic works, and it shall have been recorded in the clerk’s office
of the county court of the coynty where the principal office of
the railroad in this state is located; and when each locomotive
or other rolling stock so sold, leased, or loaned, shall have the
name of the vendor, lessor, or bailor, or the assignee of such
vendor, lessor, or bailor, plainly marked upon both sides
thereof, followed by the word owner, lessor, bailor, or assignee,
as the case may be.

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