Chap. 14.—An ACT to incorporate the Suffolk Light and Water Com-
pany.

Approved January 12, 1886.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
James ©. Causey, L. W. Jordan, Henry Woodward, R. H.
Rawles, M. Jones, and Edward Hall, of the town of Suffolk,
and such other persons as they may associate with them, and
their successors, are hereby created a body corporate and poli-
tic, under the name and style of the Suffolk Light and Water
Company, and by that name may sue and be sued, contract and
be contracted with, plead and be impleaded in all proper courts
and places, have a common seal and change the same at pleas-
ure, and make all necessary by-laws and regulations for the
government of said company not inconsistent with the laws of
this state. : |

2. The purposes and objects for which said company is incor-
porated, and which it is authorized to perform, are the construc-
tion of reservoirs, force-pumps, engines, retorts, and any and all
fixtures and appurtenances necessary therefor, and the laying of
pipes, main and lateral, to convey water or gas, and the erec-
tion of wires above ground or buried beneath the surface, for
the purpose of conducting electricity, from such points in the
county of Nansemond as may be deemed most suitable, into the
town of Suffolk. And for these purposes it shall have all the
grants, rights, privileges, and franchises necessary to carry into
effect the purposes, objects, and intents of said company.

3. The said company is authorized to purchase and hold suffi-
cient real estate needed for its purposes in the county of Nanse-
mond, and to purchase and old any natural reservoir for
water, and erect proper dams on its own land to hold the water
necessary for its purposes.

4. The capital stock of said company shall not be less than
ten thousand nor more than one hundred thousand dollars, to
be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each.

5. There shall be five directors for said: company, who shall
be chosen annually. One of their number shall be chosen pres-
ident by the others; and said board may appoint proper officers,
agents, and employees, and fix their compensation: provided,
that for the first twelve months after the passage of this act
the first five persons named herein, or whoever may be substi-
tuted for them, shall be the directors of said company, and un-
til their successors be elected and qualified.

6. The board of directors may authorize the issue of bonds,
bearing interest not exceeding six per centum per annum, pay-
able semi-annually, and pledge the property and profits of the
company for the payment thereof, execute deeds of trust, and
may convert the said bonds into capital stock of said company,
with the consent of the holders thereof.

7. It shall be lawful for the said company to sell and dispose
of its water, gas, or electricity to the town of Suffolk, to the
inhabitants thereof, and to other corporations or persons, at
such rates as may be agreed upon by the parties.

8. Any person who shall wilfully interfere with, cut or ob-
struct any water- or gas-pipe, or any electric wire of said com-
pany, shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more
than fifty dollars, to be recovered before any justice of the
peace or the mayor of the town—one-half to go to the informer,
the other half to the town of Suffolk: provided that this charter
shall at all times hereafter be subject to amendment or repeal at
the pleasure of the general assembly, and that said corporation
shall pay all taxes, dues, and demands due the state at any time
hereafter, in lawful money of the United States, and not in
coupons. _

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