Chap. 124.—-An ACT to incorporate the Richmond, Blackstone
and Southern railroad company. —

Approved February 2, 1892.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That Freeman Epes, R. W. Tuggle, T. M. Dillard, James
L. Anderson, Thos. R. Hardaway, J. M. Harris, H. Vaden,
of Virginia; and Frank P. Bennett, of Massachusetts,
or such of them as may accept the provisions of this act,
their associates, successors and assigns, be, and the same
are hereby, incorporated a body politic and corporate, un-
der the name and style of the Richmond, Blackstone and
Southern railroad company, and as such are empowered
to locate, construct, equip and operate a railway, employ-
ing steam, electricity or other motive power, commenc-
ing ator near the city of Richmond or Manchester, and
traversing the streets of said cities, or either of them:
provided the consent of the councils of the said cities
shall be obtained—the counties of Chesterfield, Amelia
and Nottoway to, near, or through the town of Blackstone,
thence southward to the North Carolina line, to some
point at or near Ridgeway or Henderson, as may hereafter
be determined by the stockholders and directors of the
Richmond, Blackstone and Southern railroad company.

2. The said company shall have the right to acquire
lands along the route of said railway, by donation, pur-
chase, or in any other legal manner, not to exceed two
thousand acres, to use, sel], or hold the same.

3. The company may acquire by condemnation, accord-
ing to the laws of Virginia, the lands required for the
necessary stations, depots, and power plants for its opera-
tion, not to exceed two acres at any one point, and the
right of way of eighty feet in width for its railway. Said
company shall have the right to build bridges over the
James river, Appomattox river, and intermediate streams
which may be necessary for its railway, and may acquire,
by condemnation or purchase, the lands necessary there-
for, or to contract with corporations or managers of
bridges spanning said streams for the use of such bridges,
and with the consent of the city councils of Richmond,
Manchester, and the town of Blackstone, may use such
streets as may be agreed upon by said councils.

4. The said company shall have perpetual succession,
and have power to sue and be sued, plead and be im-
pleaded, defend and be defended in all courts, whether in
Jaw or 1n equity, and may make and have a common seal,
and alter or renew the same at pleasure, and shall have,
possess and enjoy all the rights and privileges of a cor-
poration or body politic in the law and MOeEGSSRy for the
purposes of this act.

5. The capital stock of said company shall not be less
than fifty thousand dollars, and may from time to time,
be increased to any amount not exceeding one million of
dollars by issue and sale of shares, preferred or common
stock, or both, upon such terms and conditions, and un-
der such regulations as the board of directors shall pre-
scribe, the par value of which shall be one hundred
dollars; and the directors may receive cash, labor, mate-
rial, bonds, stock, real or personal property in payment
of subscriptions to the capital stock at such valuation as
may be agreed upon between the directors and subscribers,
and may make such subscriptions payable in such manner
and amounts, at such times as may be agreed upon with
the subscribers; and whenever five hundred shares shall
have been subscribed, and the sum of ten thousand dol-
lars paid in cash, the subscribers, under the direction of
any five of the incorporators hereinbefore named, who
shall be subscribers, may organize said company by elect-
ing a president and board of directors, and providing for
the selection of such other officers as may be necessary
for the control and management of the business and af-
fairs of the company, and shall have and exercise all the
powers and functions of a corporation under their charter
and the laws of the state.

6. It shall be lawful for said company to borrow money,
and issue and sel] its bonds from time to time, for such
sums and on such terms as its board of directors may
deem expedient and proper for any of the purposes of the
company, and may secure the payment of said bonds by
mortgages or deeds of trust upon all or any portion of its
property, real, personal, or mixed, its contracts and privi-
leges, including its franchise to be a corporation, and it
may, a8 the business of the company shall require, sell,
lease, convey, and encumber the same.

7. It shall be lawful for said company to subscribe to
and hold shares in the capital stock of any other railway
corporation whose lines may connect therewith, and for
any other such corporation to subscribe, guarantee, or
hold the stock or bonds of said company.

8. The company is authorized and empowered to locate,
construct, equip and operate any lateral or branch roads
or tramways not exceeding fifty miles in length which a
majority of its stockholders may determine upon, and by
such route or routes as may be selected by its board of
directors, and said company may connect or unite its road
with that of any other company or companies, or consoli-
date or merge its stock, property and franchises with and
into any other company or companies operating or authorize
to operate a connecting railway or railways upon such
terms and under such name as may be agreed upon be-
tween the companies so uniting or connecting, merging,
or consolidating, and for that purpose power is hereby
given to it and to such other company or companies to
make and carry out such contracts as will facilitate and
consummate such connection, merger, or consolidation, or
any lease or sale, provided that a copy of every such con-
tract of consolidation and merger be filed in the office of
the board of public works.

9. The said company shall be required to commence the
construction of its railway within two years from July
first, eighteen hundred and ninety-two, and complete the
same within five years thereafter, otherwise the powers,
privileges and franchises hereby granted shall be void.

10. The principal office of said company shall be located
in Richmond, Manchester or Blackstone, as may hereafter
be determined upon by the stockholders in general meet-
ing assembled.

11. Each stockholder in the company shall, at all meet-
ings or elections, be entitled to one vote for each share of
stock registered in his name, and the president and board
of directors of said company may enact such by-laws,
rules and regulations for the management of the affairs of
said company as they may deem proper and expedient.

12. The board of directors shall be stockholders of said
company, and shall consist of such number, not less than
five, as the stockholders may determine upon, and shal!
be elected at the stockholders’ annual meeting to be held
on such days as may be named in the by-laws of the com-
pany, and shall continue in office for the term of one
year from and after the date of their election and until
their successors shall have been elected and accepted the
duties of their office, and they shall elect one of their
number president, and in case of the death, resignation or
incapacity of any member of the board of directors during
his term of office, the said board shall select his successor
for the unexpired term.

13. No stockholder in said company shall be held liable
or made responsible for a larger or further sum than the
amount of unpaid balance due said company for any stock
subscribed for by such stockholder.

14. Any county, town, or city along the line or at the
termini of said railway may, pursuant to the general laws
of Virginia, subscribe to the capital stock of said railway
company, and the company is authorized to accept the
same.

15. Whenever the corporation shall exercise any of the
privileges conferred by this act, it shall be liable to the
game taxes as may be imposed by the law upon other cor-
porations or persons exercising like privileges, and all
taxes due the commonwealth by said company shall be
paid in lawful money of the United States and not in
coupons.

16. This act shall be in force from its passage, but the
general assembly of the state of Virginia reserves to itself
the right to alter or repeal this act at any time hereafter.