Chap. 286.—An ACT to incorporate the People’s illuminating company
of Norfolk city and county.

Approved May 18, 1887.

1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
James KE. Barry, V. D. Groner, H. L. Smith, James W. McCar.
rick, E. W. Maupin, A. J. Dalton, W. W. Webster, James A.
Watkins, and EK. KE. Meredith, and such other persons as may
be hereafter associated with them, shall be and they are
hereby incorporated and made a body politic and corporate
under the name and style of the People’s illuminating com-
pany of Norfolk city and county, with full power to con-
struct suitable works, either in Norfolk city or Norfolk county,
for the manufacture and gencration, distribution and sale of
gas or electricity, or both, tor the purpose of public or private
illumination or heating both within the corporate limits of
Norfolk city and without the same in Norfolk county; and
for the purpose of carrying into full effect the powers, rights,
and privileges herein granted and provided for, the said com-
pany shall have power to purchase and lease such real estate,
not exceeding five acres cither in the city of Norfolk or
county of Norfolk, or in both, as may be necessary for their
works and the carrying on of their busiress, and shall be
invested with all the powers conferred and subject to all the
provisions prescribed by chapters fifty-six and fifty-seven of
the Code of Virginia, except so far as this act may otherwise
prescribe.

2. That the capital stock of the People’s illuminating eom-
pany of Norfolk city and county shall not be less than fifty
thousand dollars nor more than five hundred thousand dol-
lars, to be divided into shares. of one hundred dollars each,
to be raised by subscription, for which purpose if the stock
be not otherwise subscribed, books may be opened under the
superintendence of any two or more of the persons bhercin-
before mentioned,

3. That cach and every share of stock in the said company
shall entitle the ownér thereof to one vote thereon in person
or by proxy.

4. That the said company shall be authorized to open
roads, lanes, streets, allevs, and public squares in the city of
Novtolk and in the county of Nortolk for the purpose of dis
tributing gas or electricity, or both: provided that when the
same shall have been opened for that purpose, they shall as
soon ar practicable be repaired by the said company at their
own cost in such manner as may be required by the proper
authorities of the said city or county.

5. That said company may purchase property in whole or
in part of any gas light or electric light company of the city
of Norfolk or county of Norfolk heretofore incorporated;
and for that or other purposes may borrow money and give
bond therefor bearing interest not exceeding eight per centum
per annum, which bonds may be secured by pledge, mortgage,
trust deed, or other conveyance of the income and property
of said company.

6. That any person who shall wilfully open a communica-
tion witb the street gas mains or other gas pipes of said com-
pany, without authority from the president or directors
thereof, or sball wilfully let on the gas after it has been
stopped by order of the president or directors for repair or
any other purpose, or who shall put up any pipes or burners
in addition to the pipes and burners originally put up and
inspected, or introduce gas into any of them without autho-
rity as aforesaid, or shall wilfully do, or cause to be done, any
act whereby the works of said company or any portion of
its machinery or apparatus shall bo obstructed, injured, or
destroyed, such person shall forfeit for each offence not less
than ten nor more than thirty dollars, one-half of which shall
go to the informer and the other half to the city or county,
as the case may be, and shall further forfeit and pay to the
said company double the amount of damages sustained by
reasun of such offence or injury, to be recovered by action
or motion in any court of record.

7. The council of the city of Norfolk and the board of
supervisors of Norfolk county, -respectively, shall have power
to pass such ordinances and resolutions as to prevent injury
to the works and property of the said company, and to pun-
ish any person or persons who may violate the same, by fine
not exceeding fifty dollars for each offence.

8. That all taxes due the State shall be paid in money and
not in coupons.

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