CHAP. 24.—An ACT to incorporate the Rapid transit and im-
provement company of Norfolk, Virginia.

Approved December 22, 1891.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That Philip Corbin and Andrew Corbin, of New Britain,
Connecticut, and New York city; Charles E. Wetmore, of
Connecticut; M. Murphy, of Maryland; and F. L. Grandy,
D. R. Dunn, and R. H. Rogers, of Virginia, and their as-
sociates, successors, and assigns, be, and they are hereby,
declared to be a body corporate and politic by the name
of the Rapid transit and improvement company of Nor-
folk, Virginia, and by that name and style are hereby in-
vested with all rights, powers, and privileges conferred,
and made subject to all regulations and general laws ap-
plicable to such institutions that are not inconsistent with
this act.

2. The capital stock of said corporation shall not be
less than ten thousand dollars and not more than five hun-
dred thousand dollars, divided into shares of one hundred
dollars each. The above-named corporators, or any three
of them, are hereby created a commission, and authorized
to receive subscriptions for stock, and for this purpose
may open subscription books in such manner as they may
deem necessary, and keep the same open until the mini-
mum amount named shall have been subscribed. There-

fter, within their discretion, they may call a meeting of
he subscribing stockholders and proceed to organize the
-oOmpany. From time to time thereafter the capital stock
may be increased until the maximum amount named shall
lave been issued.

3. The said company shall have power to acquire, by
xift, purchase, or otherwise, and to hold real estate in or
within twenty miles of the city of Norfolk, to an amount
not exceeding one thousand acres at any one time; and
may grant and convey the same, either by lease or by deed,
in fee or in trust. Said company may also lay off and
beautify squares or parks, to be open to visitors upon such
terms and under such regulations as the company may
prescribe, and to adopt suitable rules and regulations for
the enforcement of good order at such parks and squares.
They are authorized to charge fees of admission to the
same or to any part thereof.

4. Said company is authorized, with the consent of the
councils of the city of Norfolk, to construct and operate
a street railway, with single or double tracks, through any
streets in the city of Norfolk not already occupied, or the
right to occupy which has not been already granted to
some other railway company by the councils of the city
of Norfolk, upon such terms and under such regulations
as the councils of the city of Norfolk may prescribe; and
for the purpose of connecting with parks, or other im-
provements, the said company shall have the right to ex-
tend its tracks, or construct, maintain, and operate a rail-
way or railways to any point within twenty miles of said
city of Norfolk, in the counties of Norfolk and Princess
Anne. It shall be lawful for the said company to operate
and move its cars or trains by horse or mule power, cable,
steam, electricity, or any other motive-power, and if elec-
tricity is adopted, to erect and maintain poles and wires,
or other appurtenances necessary for the conduct of busi-
ness by electricity.

5. In addition to the issue of capital stock hereby au-
thorized, it shall be lawful for the said company to issue
bonds, secured by mortgage or deed of trust, upon its
property and franchises, to an amount not exceeding five
hundred thousand dollars.

6. Said company may connect its railway with other
railways now existing, or hereafter incorporated, by and
with the consent and upon such terms as may be agreed
upon with such railway or railways. Said company may
lease or sell the whole or any part of its railway and ap-
purtenances to any other connecting railway, or may lease
or acquire from the owners of such railway the whole or
any part of its railway or appurtenances. ,

7. Said company is authorized to transport over its
line or lines of railway, at such rates as it may adopt,
passengers, express matter, packages, or other articles o1
merchandise and produce, or other commodities.

8. Provided no right is hereby granted to occupy any
‘street in the city of Norfolk nearer than two squares ta
any street occupied by the Norfolk city railroad, or Su-
burban and city railroad and improvement company,
when such street, so occupied, is decided to be too narrow
for the construction and operation thereon by the said rail-
roads of a double track.

9. Provided, further, that nothing herein granted shall
authorize the use of steam as a motive-power within the
corporate limits of the city of Norfolk, except for the pur-
pose of coming to or going from suburban improvements
to such depot as the company may establish in the city.

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

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

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