CHAP. 423.—An ACT to incorporate the Surry and Smithfield rail-
road company.

Approved March 6, 1886.

Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
R. 'D. Gilham, J. W. Whitley, A P. Bohannon, A. G. Edwards,
William A. Warren, Geo. T. Clarke, T. M. Lyons and W. B.
Clarke, and their associates, successors and assigns, be and they
are hereby made a body politic and corporate by the name of the
Surry and Smithfield railroad company, for the purpose of
locating, constructing, equipping, maintaining and operating a
narrow-gauge railroad, from some suitable point on Smithfield
river, or Pagan creek, at or near the town of Smithfield, in the
county of Isle of Wight, to some point in the county of Surry,
at or near Spring Grove, or on the Atlantic and Danville rail-
way, of the Surry Lumber company.

2. The said Surry and Smithfield railroad company may
build a narrow-gauge railway by such route as it may deem
most advantageous and expedient: provided, that such railway
shall pass through or within One mile of the villages of Surry
Courthouse’and Bacon’s Castle; and said company shall have
the right to cross any navigable stream in its route: provided,
a draw sufficient not to impede navigation is placed in its bridges
over such streams.

3. The railroad company shall have the right to cross al
grade, over or under, intersect, join or unite its railroad with
any other railway now built or constructed, or hereafter to be
built or constructed; and may, at any point in its route, oper
the ground of any such railway company, with necessary
sidings, switches and other conveniences, in furtherance of the
objects of its construction.

4. The said Surry and Smithfield railroad company shall
have perpetual succession and a common seal, which it may re-
new at pleasure, and shall be entitled to all the rights and privi-
leges conferred, and subject to all the restrictions iraposed by
the laws of Virginia, so far as the same are applicable to and
not inconsistent with this act.

5. It shall be lawful for said company to acquire in subscrip-
tions to its capital stock, or by donation, money, lands, land or
other damages, labor, work, material, bonds or other means,
and receive subscriptions from individuals, from other corpora-
tions, associations and companies; and said company may
lease, sell or otherwise dispose of any lands or properties ac-
quired under this section.

6. It shall be lawful for any railway or steamboat company
to aid in the construction of said railroad, and to that end may
subscribe to the capital stock of said company.

7. The capital stock of said company shall be one hundred
thousand dollars, divided into shares of fifty dollars each. In
all meetings of the stockholders, each share shall be entitled to
one vote. Said company may, with the consent of a majority
of the stockholders, increase its capital stock, from time to
time, to an amount necessary for constructing and equipping
said railroad, said increase to be made at a regular meeting, or
at a meeting called for the purpose, upon such notice as may
be deemed necessary and proper.

8. The persons named in this act shall have the power of a
president and board of directors, for the purpose of organiza-
tion of said company, and for all other purposes, until a presi-
dent and board of directors shall be selected at a stockholders’
meeting, and such meeting shall be held after such notice as the
said incorporators may deem proper, as soon as one-half of the
capital stock shall have been subscribed. The said incorpora-
tors shall elect one of their number chairman, who shall have
all the authority of president of said company until his succes-
sor is duly elected as aforesaid. The board of directors shall
consist of five members, one of whom shall be the president.
The directors and president shall hold their office one year, or
until their successors are appointed.

9. It shall be lawful for, and power and authority is hereby
granted to, the board of supervisors of the counties of Surry
and Isle of Wight, and the council of the town of Smithfield,
to procure by purchase or otherwise the right of way for such
road within their respective limits, and donate the same to the
said company, on condition that the said company constructs
and equips the said railroad within the time required by this
act.

10. The said company shall commence the construction of
said railroad within two years, and complete the same within
four years from the passage of this act, or otherwise this act
shall be null and void.
11. This act shall always be subject to repeal, amendment or
modification, at the pleasure of the general assemby; and it is
agreed that this company will always pay its taxes in lawful
money of the United States, and not in coupons.

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