Chap. 400.—An ACT to incorporate the Midlothian coal company.
Approved March 5, 1888.

1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
E. H. Wilson, S. S. Murphy, Corbin Warwick, Meriwither
Jones, Beverly T. Crump, and their associates, successors and
assigns, and such other persons as may hereafter be associa-
ted with them, be and they are hereby made a body politic

and corporate under the name and style of the Midlothian
coal company, and by that name shall be known in law, and
shall have perpetual succession, and have power to sue and
be sued, plead and be impleaded, defend and be defended in
all courts, whether in law or in equity; and may have a com-
mon seal, and alter or renew the same at pleasure; and shall
have, enjoy and exercise all the rights, powers and privileges
pertaining to corporate bodies and necessary for the purposes
of this act; and make by-laws and rules and regulations, con-
sistent with the existing laws of the state, for the govern-
ment of all under its authority, the management of its estate
and properties and the due and orderly conduct of its affairs.

2. The capital stock of said corporation shall not be less
than fifty thousand dollars, and may be increased to any
amount not exceeding two million dollars, by issue and sale
of shares, the par value of which shall not be less than one
hundred dollars, from time to time, as the board of directors
of said company may determine. The directors may receive,
in lieu of. money, subscriptions in lands, mineral rights, lum-
ber, labor and construction and outfit material, or any real
or personal property, at such price as they may be able to
agree upon with such subscribers; but no subscriber to any
ot the stock of said company shall be liable for any more
than any unpaid quota upon the stock subscribed for by him.

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3. The persons named in this act shall compose the board
of directors of the said company until the first meeting of
the stockholders thereof. At such first meeting, and at every
annual meeting, so many directors shall be elected as may be
prescribed by the by-laws and regulations of said company,
who shall continue in office until their successors are elected
and qualified. The board of directors shall be composed of
stockholders in said company. They shall appoint one of
their number president, and may fill any vacancy that may
occur in said board until the next annual meeting of stock-
holders. Whenever the minimum amount of stock herein
named shall have been subscribed and the board of directors |
shall have elected a president, said company shall be consid-
ered legally organized, and may proceed to the transaction
of business. The board shall appoint, to hold during its pleas- |
ure, the subordinate officers and agents of the said company, |
prescribe their compensations, and take from them such bonds,
with such security, as they may deem fit.

4. The said company is authorized and empowered to pros- |
pect for, mine and raise coal, coke and other minerals, to pre- |
pare the products thereof for market, and transport and sell
the same; to bore for salt, oil and natural gas; to manufac-
ture and prepare the same for market, and sell and dispose
of them; and to this end, to construct, lay and maintain
such pipe lines as may be proper and needful; to erect fur-
naces, forges, machinery, and all buildings, and the necessary
appliances and appurtenances required in the conduct of their
business ; to lay out any of their lands, or any part thereof,
into parcels or lots of convenient size, with intervening roads, |
lanes, streets and alleys; and develop, work, improve and cul-
tivate, or otherwise dispose of the same in such manner and
upon such terms as the said company may think proper; to
purchase, lease, hold or control, and grant, bargain, sell and
convey mineral, coal, coke, and other lands in the counties of
Chesterfield, Powhatan and Henrico, but not to hold more
than five thousand acres in any one county at any one time;
to purchase and hold, convey and grant sufficient land in the
cities of Manchester and Richmond for any depots, sidings
and turnouts whatsoever, or coal, coke or other yards neces-
sary for its business.

5. Said company is empowered and authorized to con- |
struct, equip, and opérate a tramway or railway, with single
or double tracks, standard or narrow-guage; propel its car-
riages or cars by steam, or such power as it may see fit. The
said railway may run to or from any of their properties,
from and through any or all of the said counties of Chester-
field, Powhatan, and Henrico, to the city of Manchester or
the city of Richmond, or said company may make connec-
tion with an railroad traversing any of said counties, or may
terminate on the James river at any point not below the
upper end of Drewry’s island; said railways not to exceed
twenty-five milesin length. Said company may carry on the
usual railway business of carrying passengers, freight, par-
cels, and packages, and shall have the power to make all
necessary condemnations for its right of way and for termi-
nal facilities as are provided for by the statutes and laws of
Virginia: provided that no land shall be acquired for termi-
nal facilities on the south side of James river, except by pur-
chase or donation: and provided further, that no property
now belonging to the Chesterfield land and improvement
company shall be acquired by condemnation: and provided
further, that in locating its road, said company shall not
‘interfere with the routes surveyed for the Midlothian, Man-
chester, and Richmond railway and mining company during
the time given them by law in which to complete their road ;
said line being evidenced by maps and plats in the office of
the engineer, Colonel C. P. E. Burgwyne, in the city of Rich-
mond. .

6. Said company may, at any point on James river within
said counties, contract for and erect piers and wharves, ware-
houses, and elevators for the purposes of their business, and
may store goods, wares, and merchandise, and grant certifi-
cates therefor in such form, and under such rules and regula-
tions as thesaid company may from time to time prescribe. The
said company may purchase and own vessels and ships, and
transport their coal and other products therein, and may
carry goods and wures, packages, and freight to any point.

7. It shall be lawful for the said company to borrow
money, and to issue and sell its bonds from time to time for
such sum and on such terms as its board of directors may
deem expedient and proper in the prosecution of any of its
work; and may secure the payment of said bonds by mort-
gages or deeds of trust upon all or any portion of its prop-
erty or franchises, including its franchise to be a corporation.

8. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the said
company shall. be held at some place in the state of Vir-
ginia, and at a time to be fixed by the persons herein named
as the directors of the said company. A general meeting of
the stockholders may be held at any time as provided for by
the statutes of this state.

9. Whenever this corporation shall exercise any of the
privileges conferred by this act, it shall be liable to the same
taxes as may be imposed by law upon like corporations, or
persons exercising like privileges, and all taxes and demands
due the state of Virginia shall be paid in lawful money of
the United States, and not in coupons.

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