Chap. 810.—An ACT to incorporate the Richmond and Northern railway com-
pany.

Approved March 8, 1894.

1. Be it enacted by the genera] assembly of Virginia, That A. Y.
Stokes, junior, Conway R. Sands, Henry A. Williams, KE. Victor Wil-
liams, A. R. T. Lackey and Samuel Cohen, or any five of them, their
associates and successors, are hereby constituted a body politic and
corporate by the nameof the Richmond and Northern railroad com-
pany, and as such may have all the privileges, franchises and im-
munities applicable to such a corporation.

2. That said company may construct and operate a railroad from
the city of Richmond, or some point therein, through or under said
city, to a point on the Potomac river in the counties of King George,
Westmoreland or Northumberland, and for that purpose may pass
through the counties of Henrico, Hanover, Kirg William, King and
Queen, Essex, Caroline, King George, Richmond, Westmoreland and
Northumberland, or any of them, with a right to build branch lines,
not exceeding twenty miles in length, to deep water on the Rappa-
hannock river and the Chesapeake bay, and for that purpose to pass
through the counties of Richmond, Westmoreland, Northumberland
or Lancaster, or any of them, and also to build branch lines, not ex-
ceeding ten miles in length, to any mineral or other land that may
be owned by the said corporation, or to any furnace, manufactory or
other public improvement. Nothing contained in this act shall au-
thorize the passage of said railroad through or under any city with-
out the consent of the council of said city: provided said road shall
not be run westward of a straight line from Richmond to the town of
Port Royal, in Caroline county, nor westward of a straight line from
said town to one hundred yards north of Matthias’ Point, in King
George county: provided no lateral or other line shall be run west-
ward of the lines hereinbefore designated.

3. The said Richmond and Northern railroad company shall have
the right to construct and maintain all necessary bridges over or
across any rivers and streams over which said railroad shall pass:
provided that said bridges when constructed shall contain 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, to be
divided into shares of one hundred dollars each.

5. The board of directors of the said company shall consist of not
less than seven nor more than thirteen members, who shall be
elected by the stockholders, and who shall have the right to make
by-laws regulating the affairs of the company, and elect a president
and other officers of the company, and generally have charge of the
affairs thereof. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the
company shall be held in the manner prescribed by law, but other
meetings of said stockholders may be held in such manner and at
such times and on such notice as may be prescribed by the by-laws
of the company.

6. Subscriptions to the capital stock of said company may be made
by individuals, firms or corporations, public or private, and may be
paid in money or in lands, bonds or other evidences of debt, or
building material, at such prices and upon such terms as may be
agreed upon between the subscribers and the incorporators or direc-
tors of the said company, and said company may, receive donations
of land for its railroad or right of way or depot grounds, and build-
ing materials for its construction and equipment, and may hold or
dispose of, by sale or otherwide, all of the property and rights so ac-
quired. It shall be lawful for any or all of the counties, towns or
cities through which the said railroad shall pass to subscribe to the
capital stock of said railroad as provided by the general law, and
for the purpose of paying such subscription to issue bonds of the
said county, town or city in the mode prescribed by law.

7. The said company may acquire by contract, lease, purchase or
consolidation the property and franchises of any connecting railroad
which is not a parallel or competing line, on such terms as may be
mutually agreed upon; but shall not acquire the partially completed
tunnel or any rights therein built by the Richmond and Chesapeake
railroad company under the city of Richmond without the consent
of the council of the city of Richmond.

It shall also have the power and right in like manner to transfer
or contract for the use of its franchises and property, in whole or in
part, by sale, lease, consolidation or otherwise, with any connecting
railroad company which is not a parallel or competing line.

8. Said company may purchase, lease, use, hold, let, improve and
dispose of such real and personal property as may be necessary for
the purposes of its incorporation, and may lease, own and build,
construct and control all such depots, warehouses, docks, wharves,
coal shutes and terminal facilities of whatsoever nature necessary
for the purposes of said company, and it may also build, lease, pur-
chase or otherwise acquire steamers, steamboats and other vessels
necessary to enable it to connect with any other railroad or to im-
prove its terminal facilities.

9. The said company may borrow money, issue bonds or other
evidences of indebtedness, and secure the same by one or more mort-
gages or deeds of trust, or otherwise, upon its property, rights and
franchises, or any part, thereof,
10. Said company shall have its principal office in the state of
Virginia, but may have other offices in such place or places without
the state as may be designated by the stockholders or directors, and
meetings of the board of directors may be held at any of the offices
so designated.

11. The said railroad shall be commenced in one year and com-
pleted within five years from the passage of this act.

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