Chap. 97.—An ACT to incorporate the Richmond, Petersburg and
Manchester Railway Company. .

Approved February 8, 1886.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
A. J. Ford, Jr., Charles Stoakes, W. B. Brooks, Jr., Wm.
Chilton, S. H. Hoge, Charles Gee, Robert McCandlish, T. S.
Curlett, C. C. Clarke, and any others they may associate with
them, their associates, successors and assigns, be and they are
hereby made and declared a body politic and corporate, by the
name and style of the Richmond, Petersburg and Manchester
Railway Company, for the purpose of ‘locating, constructing,
equipping, maintaining and operating a railway, from some suit-
able point, at or near Richmond and Manchester, Virginia, to
some suitable point at or near Petersburg, Virginia.

2. The said company may build its road by such route as it
may deem most advantageous and expedient, provided that it
shall pass Chesterfield court-house, erecting a depot at said
Chesterfield court-house; and shall have the right to cross any
navigable stream or canal in its route: provided, a draw suff-
cient not to impede navigation shall be made in its bridges over
such streams or canals.

3. Said company shall have the right to cross, at grade, over
or under, intersect, join, or unite its railway with any other
railway, now built or constructed, or hereafter to be built or
constructed, at any point in its route, except, that it shall not
cross the Richmond and Petersburg railroad at grade, upon
the grounds of such railway company, with necessary turnouts,
sidings, switches, and other conveniences, in furtherance of the
object of its construction.

4. The said Richmond, Petersburg and Manchester railwa
company shall have perpetual succession, and a common seal,
which it may renew or alter at pleasure; and it shall be entitled
to all the rights and privileges conferred, and subject to all re-
strictions imposed by the laws of Virginia, so far as the same
are applicable and not inconsistent with this act.

5. It shall be lawful for said company to acquire, in subscrip-
tions to the capital stock of said company, or by donation, mo-
ney, lands, land or other damages, labor, work, material bonds,
or other means available for their purpose, and to receive sub-
scriptions from individuals; and the said company may sell,
lease, or otherwise dispose of any lands or property acquired
under this section: provided, that before the rights hereby con-
ferred shall become vested, and before the actual work of con-
struction shall commence, at least one hundred thousand dol-
lars shall have been subscribed to the stock, and twenty per
centum paid thereupon: and provided further, that there shall
be deposited with the treasurer of the commonwealth, under
his official bond, twenty thousand dollars, either in money or
bonds, approved by the treasurer, to be held by such officers,
to the credit of the president and board of directors of said
Richmond, Petersburg and Manchester railway company, and
subject to this order, when and only after the like amount of
twenty thousand dollars has been expended upon said railroad,
and the same so certified to the treasurer of this commonwealth
by the railroad commissioner, whose duty it shall be to make
such examination and certificate without delay, upon applica-
tion.

6. It shall be lawful for any incorporated company, city,
town, and county, to aid in the construction of said railway,
and for that purpose may subscribe to the capital stock, and
may acquire the bonds of said company: provided that the
county of Chesterfield shall not be permitted to subscribe
either to the stock or bonds of said railroad; and it may run,
use, and operate, by leave or otherwise, ary railroad or trans-
portation line, upon such terms as may be agreed upon.

7. The capital stock of the said company shall be three hun-
dred thousand dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dol-
lars 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 ope-
rating such railway; such increase to be made at a regular or
called meeting for the purpose, and upon such notice as may
be necessary and proper.

8. Said company shall have power to borrow money to such
amount as it may deem necessary, and to issue for any loan
debentures or bonds of the company, bearing interest at such
rates per annum as the company may determine. Said deben-
tures may be expressed in dollars or pounds sterling; and to
secure payment of such loan or loans, said company may exe-
cute one or more mortgages or deeds of trust on the whole or
any part of its property, real, personal and mixed, its charter’s
rights, franchise and income. :

9g. The corporators herein mentioned shall have the power
and authority of a president and board of directors, for the
purpose of organization of said company, and for all other
purposes, until a president and board of directors shall be se-
lected at a stockholders’ meeting, and such meeting shall be
held after such notice as the said incorporators may deem
proper. The said corporators may elect one of their number
chairman, who shall have all the power and authority of presi-
dent of said company, and in all matters a majority of said
incorporators shall control. |

10. The said Richmond, Petersburg and Manchester rail-
way company shall commence work under this bill within two
years, and complete the same within six years from the pas-
sage of this act; otherwise this act shall be null and void.

11. All taxes levied upon said railway company by the state
shall be paid in lawful money of the United States, and this
charter shall be subject to amendment or repeal, at any time,
by the general assembly.

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