CHAP. 128.—An ACT to incorporate the Baltimore, Richmond
and Southern railroad company.

Approved February 2, 1892.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That John G. Slater, T. F. Minor, J. L. Barbour, Witcher
Jones, T. E. Roessle, Sydney J. Dudley, I. G. Ashby, and
Charles W. Turner, or any five of them who may accept
the provisions of this act, their associates and successors,
are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate by the
name of the Baltimore, Richmond and Southern railroad
company, and as such may have all the privileges, fran-
chises, and immunities applicable to such a corporation.

2. The said company may construct and operate a stand-
ard gauge railroad, either of a single or double-track,
commencing at a point on the Potomac river in the coun-
ties of Westmoreland or Northumberland to the city of
Richmond, by the most practicable route, passing through
the counties of Richmond, Essex, Middlesex, King and
Queen, King William, Hanover, and Henrico, or any of
them; thence to the city of Petersburg and to the southern
boundary line of Virginia, passing through the counties of
Chesterfield, Prince George, Dinwiddie, Amelia, Nottoway,
Sussex, Lunenburg, Greenesville, Brunswick, and Meck-
lenburg, or any of them. The said railroad may pass
through the cities of Richmond and Petersburg by means
of a tunnel or otherwise, by and with the consent of the
city council or councils of said city or cities being first
obtained. The company incorporated by this act shall
not have the right to build any branch lines from any
point on its road north of the city of Richmond, except to
@ point in the counfy of Northumberland or on the Ches-
apeake bay. Section eleven hundred and eighty-nine of
the code of Virginia as amended by act approved May
twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, shal]
not apply to this act, except to such branch as it may con-
struct from any point of its line east of a line drawn be-
tween Richmond and the northernmost point of West-
moreland county, or any portion of its road south of the
city of Rickmond; nor shall said company, nor any suc-
cessor of it, by virtue of its purchase of the rights and
franchises of any other company, acquire the right to con-
struct branch lines of greater length than ten miles, nor
any branch line, except as in accordance with the provisions
of this act. The said Baltimore, Richmond and Southern
railroad company may acquire, by purchase, lease, consol-
idation, or merger, the rights, privileges, and franchises of
the Virginia and Carolina and the Richmond and Chesa-
peake railroad companies, or either of them, on such terms
and conditions as a majority of the stockholders of said
railroad companies, or either of them, may agree upon:
provided that as a condition precedent to such acquisition,
the said Baltimore, Richmond and Southern railroad com-
pany shall assume, pay off, and discharge all of the out-
standing debts and obligations of the railroad company
whose rights and franchises they may acquire.

3. The said company shall have the right to construct
and maintain all necessary bridges across all rivers and
streams over which said railroad will pass, provided said
bridges shall be constructed with proper draws, so as not
to obstruct navigation.

4. The capital stock of said company shall not be less
than one hundred thousand dollars nor more than five
million dollars, except as hereinafter provided, divided
into shares of one hundred dollars each. The stock-
holders shall have a right to increase said capital stock
beyond the said five million dollars, but not to exceed
fifteen million dollars by a two-thirds vote in a general
meeting of stockholders. Stockholders shall be entitled
to one vote for each share of stock.

5. It shall be lawful for said company to borrow money,
to issue bonds and other evidences of debt, and to secure
the payment of the same by one or more mortgages or
deeds of trust on its properties, rights and franchise, or
any part thereof.

6. The said corporation shall have its principal office in
Virginia, and may have a general office in such place
without the state as the stockholders may designate.

7. The said company may acquire by contract, lease,
purchase or consolidation, the property and franchise of
any connecting company which is not a parallel or com-
peting line, upon such terms as may be mutually agreed
upon; it shall have the power and right in like manner
to transfer its franchises and property by sale, lease, or
onsolidation to any connecting company which is not a
parallel or competing line.

8. The said road shall be commenced in two years and
sompleted,in five years from the passage of this act.

9. All taxes due the commonwealth by said company,
shall be paid in lawful money of the United States, and
not in coupons.

10. The general assembly reserves the power to amend,
alter, or repeal this charter at its pleasure.

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