CHAP. 556.—An ACT to incorporate the Bristol fuel and gas-light
company.

Approved March 4, 1890.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That H. E. McWane, of Lynchburg, Virginia; H. E. Mc-
coy, W. F. Rhea, E. S. Kendrick, and M. T. D. Vault, of
he city of Bristol, Virginia, and such other persons as
nay be now or hereafter associated with them, shall be, and
hey are hereby, incorporated and made a body politic and
orporate, under the name and style of the Bristol fuel and
as-light company, with full power to construct, purchase,
r lease suitable works, pipes, machinery, and all proper
nd desirable appliances, either in the city of Bristol or
ounty of Washington, or in both, for the manufacture,
eneration, distribution, and sale of gas for fuel, motive
ower, and public and private illumination or heating, or
oth, in the said city of Bristol and county of Washing-
on, Virginia; and for the purpose of carrying into full
ffect the powers and privileges herein granted and pro-
ided for, the said company shall have power to purchase
nd lease such real estate, not exceeding twenty acres, in
1e said city of Bristol or county of Washington, or both,
: may be necessary for their works, and for laying their
ipes, or for the carrying on of their business; and shall
> vested with all the powers conferred, and subject to all
@ provisions prescribed, by chapters forty-six and forty-
ven of code, except so far as this act may otherwise
escribe.

2. That the capital stock of this company shall not be
33 than ten thousand dollars, to be divided into shares
fifty dollars each, to be raised by subscription, for which
irpose, if the stock be not otherwise subscribed, books
ay be opened under the superintendence of any two or
ore of the persons hereinbefore named; and the amount
of said capital stock may be increased from time to time
by order of the board of directors.

3. That each and every share of stock in said company
shall entitle the owner thereof to one vote thereon, in per-
gon or by proxy.

4. The said company may borrow money upon its bonds,
and to secure the same may execute mortgages and deeds
of trust upon its property and franchises, and may hold
stock in any other company or corporation, and may ac-
quire, by purchase, lease, or otherwise, the plant, works,
or property of any other gas-light company in the city of
Bristol or county of Washington, now or hereafter incor-
porated; and any other company may hold stock of said
company.

5. That the said company shall be authorized to open,
dig up, and excavate the roads, lanes, streets, alleys, and
public squares in the city of Bristol or the county of
Washington for the purpose of laying, repairing, cement-
ing, and tapping their mains and pipes, and generally for
the purpose of doing what may be necessary and proper in
the prosecution of its business of manufacturing, gene-
rating and distributing gas, as provided in the first section
of this act: provided, that when the same shall have been
opened, dug up, or excavated for such purpose, they shall,
as soon as practicable, be repaired by the said company at
its own cost, under the direction of. the proper authorities
of the said city of Bristol or county of Washington, if the
same may be had, so that the roads, lanes, streets, alleys,
and public squares may be restored to their former condi-
tion as nearly as practicable.

6. That any person who shal] wilfully open a communi-
cation with the street gas mains, or other gas pipes of said
company, without authority of the president or directors
thereof, or shall wilfully let on the gas after it bas been
stopped by order of the president or directors for repairs
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 authority as aforesaid, or shall wilfully do or cause
to be done any act whereby the works of said company
shall be obstructed, injured, or destroyed, such person
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction
thereof before any magistrate of the said city or county,
as the case may be, shall be fined for each offence not less
than ten dollars 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 such person shall
further forfeit to the company double the amount of the
damages sustained by it by reason of such offence or in-
jury, to be recovered by action or motion in any court of
record.
7. The council of the city of Bristol and the supervisors
of the county of Washington shall have power to make
such ordinances and resolutions us to prevent injury to
the works and property of said company situated and lying
within their respective limits, and to punish any person
or persons who may violate the same, by fine not exceed-
ing 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.