Chap. 570.—An ACT to enlarge the powers of the Southern electric company,
Approved Februnry 28, 1808,

Whereas the Southern electrie company was duly incorporated by ar
dB gh tte fa at 1 o£ 4d, canter of ID: < alvasaarad “eapvtix en | ana rea? ‘ordec
as provided hy law on the sixth day of June, eighteen hundred and
ninety-six; and

Whereas said company desires to have its powers enlarged—

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the South-
ern electric company, be, and is hereby, incorporated and made a body
politic and corporate under the laws of this state, to be known as the
Southern electric company, and by that name may sue and be sued,
plead and he impleaded in all the courts of law and equity in this state,
and may have, make and use a common seal, and the same break,
alter and renew or change at their pleasure,and may make, ordain, establish,
alter or amend such by- laws, ordinances and remulations concerning all
matters of organization and business not herein specifically provided
for as they may think proper, and generally may do every thing and act
necessary to carry this act into effect or to promote the objects and designs
of the corporation: provided, such by-laws, ordinances and regulations
or acts be not inconsistent with the laws of this state or of the United
States; and all its acts heretofore done within the scope of its charter
are hereby confirmed and validated.

2. The capital stock of said company shall not be less than fifty thou-
sand dollars nor more than five hundred thousand dollars, divided into
shares of one hundred dollars each. The minimum capital stock having
been subscribed, further subscriptions to the capital stock may from
time to time be received and taken by the board of directors in such
amounts as they may determine. Subscriptions to the capital stock
may be payable either in money, land, services, materials, rights, ease-
ments, property or capital stock of other corporations.

3. The said company shall be, and is hereby, empowered to promote,
establish, maintain, and operate the business of a general electric com-
pany; to erect, establish, maintain, operate, sell, or lease, in whole or
in part, a plant or plants in the cities of Richmond, Manchester, and
Petersburg, and in the counties of Henrico, Chesterfield and Dinwiddie,
for the generation of electricity and the supply of the electrical current
for its own use and for sale to persons, natural or artificial, desiring to
use the same for heat, hight, or power, or any and all other uses to which
electricity or electrical current may be now or at any time hereafter ap-
plied or applicable; and may manufacture, use, and sell, distribute, and
furnish the same for all said purposes to all or any persons, parties, and
corporations desiring to use the same upon such terms as may be azrced
upon between the contracting parties.

4. The said company may own, maintain, construct, and operate
poles, wires. underground conduits, subways, or other conductors and
conduits, bridges, and viaducts for the carriage and support of electric
wires with the necessary fixtures, applances, terminals, stations, and
other facilities connected therewith, of iron, stone, wood, or other suitable
material as may be necessary, convenient, and proper for the full and
complete carrying on of the business of the company; to run over and
through the streets, alleys, and avenues of the cities of Richmond, Man-
chester, and Pete rsburg, and upon such of the public roads of the coun-
ties of Chesterfield, Henrico, and Dinwiddie for such distances and for
euch times and upon such contracts and subject to such conditions,
limitations and restrictiongas it may make and agnreeoupon with the
common councils of Richmond, Manchester and Petersburg, the county
courts of said counties, the boards of supervisors, and the abutting land
owners, respectively, which contracts the conimon councils of Richmond,
Manchester and Petersburg, and the county courts of said counties are
hereby respectively authorized to make with said company ;. but nothing
herein contained shall affect in any way the rights of private persons or
corporations owning land adjoining or contiguous to the routes in the
said counties along and over which said company may he allowed to
construct and operate its line, poles, wires, bridges, conduits, and other
appliances without the payment of just compensation, to be ascertained
in the modes prescribed by law. Such company may contract with any
such persons or corporations owning such lands or any interest, fran-
chise, privilege, or easement therein, or in respect thereto over or
contiguous to which such line is proposed to be constructed, for the right
of way for erecting, repairing, and preserving its lines, poles, wires and
other structures necessary for operating its business, and for conducting
and operating the same, and the land necessary for the erection and
occupation of offices, power-houses, and other buildings and structures
at suitable distances ‘along its line for the uses of said company in con-
ducting and operating its said business. If the company and such
owner cannot agree on the terms of such contracts the company shall be
entitled to such. right of way and necessary land by condemnation, upon
making just compensation therefor to such owner. Such compeneation
shall be ascertained and made as provided in chapter forty-six of the
code of Virginia of eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, and the amend-
ments thereto, adopted by the legislature of Virginia, for the acquisition
of lands by a company incorporated fur the work of internal improve-
ment, when such internal improvement company cannot agree on the
terms of the purchase with those entitled to the lands wanted for the
purposes of the company.

5. The said company may construct and operate its poles, wires,
conduits and other appliances over any and all bridves between the cities
of Manchester and Richmond and between the counties of Henrico and
Chesterfield and the county of Chesterfield and the city of Petersburg,
built or hereafter to be built: provided, that the corporation, company
or individual owners of any of the aforesaid bridges shall consent to
the construction of said poles, wires, conduits and other appliances over
their respective bridges, the consent of the James river bridge company
being sufficient in the case of that company.

6. The said company shall have the power in its corporate capacity
to borrow money for the purpose of building and extending its plant and
lines, increasing its equipment, or for any other purposes incident to
its business, and to such an extent or amount as it may deem necessary;
and may issue bonds therefor in sums of such denominations as the
board of directors may deem proper, and bearing interest not exceeding
the rate of eight per centum per annum, the principal and interest of
which shall be made payable at such times and places as may be deter-
mined upon by the company, and secure the same by liens or mortgages
or deeds of trust on the franchises, incomes, contracts, rights of way,
privileges and property—real, personal and mixed—of the company
acquired, or hereafter to be acquired, or such parts thereof as may be
lesignated in such liens, mortgages or deeds of trust, and may sell the
aid bonds at such price as may be thought best for the interest. of the
company.

The said company may connect and consolidate its plant with
ther plants and companies doing a like business within the lmits
furesaid now existing or hereafter incorporated, with the consent of
he owners of such plants. The said company may also acquire and
ywn, by lease or purchase or otherwise, any electric plant or plants,
ind the property, stock and franchises ‘thereof, in whole or in part, in
or near Richmond, Manchester and Petersbure, and said counties now
neorporated or constructed, or which may be hereafter incorporated or
‘onstructed, and may acquire and consolidate said plant or plants with
heir said company, and may issue therefor the bonds and stocks of
suid company, as may be agreed upon. The said company may sell,
lease or otherwise dispose of, in whole or in part, any of its rights,
privileges and properties.

8. The said company mav take and acquire, by purchase, lease or
otherwise, and hold and thereafter scll or otherwise dispose of real estate
not exceeding In the aggregate ten acres, in the cities of Richmond,
Manchester and Petersburg, and one hundred acres in the counties of
Hlenrico, Chesterfield and Dinwiddie, exclusive of its rights of way for
its poles, wires, conduits and other appliances as may be found neces-
sary and convenient for any of the purposes of the company.

The principal office of the said company shall be in the city of
Richmond.

10. All taxes due or to become due to the state are to be paid in legal
currency of the United States and not in coupons.

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