Chap. 210.—An ACT to authorize the city of Fredericksburg and cer-
tain districts in Stafford and King George counties to purchase or
lease Scott’s bridge and make the same a free bridge.

Approved May 14, 1887.

Whereas the bridge commissioners of Stafford county, in
pursuance of the powers devolved upon them by the first sec-
tion of the bridge act of March eighteenth, eighteen hundred
and eighty-four, have purchased the bridge known as Fick-
lin’s bridge, across the Rappahannock river at Falmouth, one
mile above the city of Fredericksburg; and whereas the citi-
zens of lower Stafford and upper King George cannot con-
veniently use said bridge without a loss ‘of time; and whereas
it is for the interest of the said citizens of lower Stafford and
upper King George that the bridge known as Scott’s, opposite
the town of Fredericksburg, shall be made a free bridge;
therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
it shall be the duty of the judge of the cor poration court of
Fredericksburg, when petitioned by fifty voters of the city of
Fredericksburg, one-half of whom shall be frecholders, to
cause a vote of the voters of the said city to be taken at ‘the
next general election upon the question of authorizing the
council of said city to make arrangements for the purchase
or lease of Scott’s bridge as a free bridge. It shall also be
the duty of the judge of the county court of King George
county, when petitioned by fifty voters of any district of
King George county, one-half of whom shall be freeholders,
to cause a vote of the voters of said district to be taken at
the next general election upon the question of whether they
will unite with the city of Fredericksburg in the purchase or
lease of said Scott’s bridge, and will be taxed for that pur-
pose. It shall be the duty of the judge of the county court
of Stafford county, when petitioned by fifty voters of lower
Stafford, which district shall comprise that portion of Stafford
county lying south of a straight line, beginning at a point on
the Stafford side of Rappahannock river, opposite French
John’s wharf in Fredericksburg, running to the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad; also that portion of
Stafford county lying south and southeast of the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad, from the King George
line to Aquia creek, and down the southside of Aquia creek
to the Potomac river, one-half of whom shall be freeholders,
to cause a vote of the voters of said district to be taken at
the next general clection upon the question of whether they
will increase their bridge taxation over, above, and in addi-
tion to the tax for bridge purposes now levid upon them
under the acts of February ninth, eighteen hundred and
vighty-two, March eighteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-
four, and February twenticth, eighteen hundred and eighty-
six, said taxation to be reduced by any surplus to be paid
over to Scott’s bridge commissioners from the bridge com-
missioners of Ficklin’s bridge after paying the. expenses re-
quired for said bridge, which surplus said Ficklin’s bridge
commissioners are required to pay over annually, and unite
with the city of Fredericksburg and any district of King
George, in the purchase or lease of said Scott’s bridge. Such
vote to be taken and canvassed and returns made in the man-
ner prescribed by section sixty-three, chapter sixty-one, Code
of eighteen hundred and seventy-three. If it shall appear
that three-fifths of the qualified voters of each of the said dis-
tricts of Stafford and King George, and threo-fifths of the
qualified voters of the city of Fredericksburg voting upon
these questions are in favor of said purchase or lease of said
Scott’s bridge, which three-fifths shall include in each of said
districts of Stafford and King George and in said city of
Fredericksburg, a majority of the votes cast by freeholders
in each of said districts of Stafford and King George and
said city of Fredericksburg, voting at such election, then the
decision of said people shall be carried out as follows: Said
bridge shall be managed and controlled by three commis-
sioners, one to be elected from each of the districts of King
George and Stafford voting for said bridge, and one from the
city of Fredericksburg, who shall be chosen by a majority of
the qualified voters voting at the next general election afore-
said, and whose powers, dutics, and pay shall be the same as
are conferred on the present bridge commissioners by an act
of the general assembly, approved February twentieth, eigh-
teen hundred and eighty-six, by sections two, three, four,
and seven, which are for the purpose aforesaid hereby re-
enacted.

2. The council of Fredericksburg and the boards of super-
visors of Stafford and King George counties are hereby
directed to levy upon the said districts voting in favor of
said bridge, and upon the city of Fredericksburg, should it
vote in favor of said bridge, the tax necessary to carry out
the provisions of this act in the purchase or lease of said
bridge, not to exceed twenty cents on the one hundred dol-
lars in any one year.
3. This act shall be in force from its passage.