Chap. 206.—An ACT to amend and re-enact an act approved January 14, 1892,
entitled an act to incorporate the Empire transportation company.

Approved January 30, 1896.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That E.
D. Christian, H. W. Flournoy, H. L. Smith, C. W. Branch, Tazewell
Ellett, 8S. B. Witt, and Philip B. Sheild, and their associates, suc-
cessors and assigns, be, and hereby are, incorporated into a body
politic and corporate by the name of the Empire transportation
company, for the purpose and with the power of owning, equipping,
leasing, chartering, and running two or more steamboats for the
transportation of freight, passengers, and vehicles on the Elizabeth
river, to and from Lambert’s Point and Farmer’s creek to Norfolk,
and to and from Norfolk and Portsmouth, and such other places on
the Elizabeth river as the said company may desire.

2. The capital stock of said company shall not be less than fifty
thousand dollars nor more than five hundred thousand, divided into
shares of one hundred dollars each. The above named corporators,
or any four of them, are hereby created a commission and author-
ized to receive subscriptions to the stock of said company, in such
manner as they may deem necessary, and keep the same open until
the minimum capital has been subscribed; thereafter they may call
a meeting of the stockholders, who may organize the company. The
capital stock may be increased from time to time until the maximum
sum named in this act is reached.

3. The said company may acquire, by purchase or otherwise, and
hold, real estate not to exceed two acres at each landing place, and
may mortgage and encumber, by deed of trust or otherwise, and
dispose of its real estate, wharves, docks, and any other property and
privileges, as they may deem to be necessary for the proper conduct
of their business, and may issue bonds to be secured on its property
and franchises.

4, The said company may construct, own, equip, operate, and run
a ferry from any of the above mentioned points to any of the others,
and may rent or lease boats and other equipments and terminals,
necessary for the operation of a ferry or ferries between said points,
and may charge and collect tolls for the transportation of freight,
passengers, and vehicles.

5. The said company may make rules and regulations for the man-
agement, control, and conduct of its business and property not in-
consistent with the laws of the state or of the United States.

6. The service furnished by this company between Norfolk and
Portsmouth shall be, in point of frequency of trips, equal to or better
than that which shall be furnished by the ferry now operating be-
tween said points; and the said company shall use no boats between
Norfolk and Portsmouth, unless the same are fully equipped to carry
vehicles as well as passengers, and to give in other respects proper
and sufficient accommodation for the transportation of both passen-
gers and vehicles.
7. The provisions of this charter shall be complied with within
two yoare from the passage of this act, otherwise the same shall
be void.

8. The general assembly of Virginia reserves the right to alter,
amend, or repeal this charter at its pleasure.

9. All taxes due or to become due to the commonwealth of Vir-
ginia from the said company shall be paid in lawful money of the
United States, and not in coupons.

10. The company herein incorporated shall also build and operate
ferries between all other points now reached by the Norfolk county
ferries.

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