Chap. 840.—An ACT authorizing an election in the county of Buckingham upon
the question of the removal of the courthouse of the said county.

Approved March 3, 1898.

Whereas many citizens of Buckingham county have petitioned
through their senator and delegate for the passage of an act authorizing
the removal of the courthouse of said county from its present site to the
railroad at White Hall, in Buckingham county, within four hundred
yards of Dillwyn postoffice: therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall be
the duty of the judge of the county court of Buckingham county, in
term time or in vacation, to order an election, whereof thirty days’ pre-
vious notice shall be posted at each precinct in the county, to ascertain
the sense of the qualified voters of the said county upon the question
of removing the courthouse of the said county: provided, that before
such order is entered the applicants, or some one of them, shall, with
their application, tender bond of indemnity to the county in the pen-
altvy of ten thousand dollars, with security approved by the county
court, or the judge thereof in vacation, to guarantee and save harmless
said county from all greater or other damage, loss or cost by reason of
such removal than the value of the materials in the present public
buildings, courthouse, clerk’s office and jail, supplemented by five
thousand dollars in bonds of said county, carrving not exceeding five
per centum interest, payable annually, maturing in thirty years,
and pavable at the pleasure of the county after ten years, the new
buildings to have as great accommodation as the present, and to
include, besides courthouse and jail, a detached clerk’s office building,
and in all respects fully equal to the present buildings in material and
construction.

2. Be it further enacted, that the said election shall be conducted by
the judges and clerks appointed under existing laws, and shall be by
ballot; said ballots shall have printed or written thereon

For removal of courthouse to White Hall,
Or
Against removal of courthouse to White Tall.

The manner of canvassing the ballots cast and making returns and
abstracts thereof shall be according to the general election law, except
that certificates of the judges shall be as follows:

We hereby certify that at the election held on the
month, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, votes were cast for
removal of courthouse to White Hall, and votes were cast against
the removal of courthouse to White Hall, and there are number
of voters registered in said county.

day of ———

The county commissioners shall canvass the returns and make certi-
fied abstract, as in other elections, to the clerk of the county of the votes for
removal and against removal respectively, and the number of registered
voters in said county. If a majority of the registered votes be cast for re-
moval, the board of supervisors of said county shall advertise for pro-
posals under seal for the removal or sale of the present buildings and
erection of new buildings at White Hall, upon a site absolute title to
which shall be vested in the county, at a total charge to the county
within the limits provided in this act, and shall proceed, upon accept-
ance of a responsible bid, to take such further steps as may be proper to
speedily effectuate the wishes of the people as expressed at the election.

3. The election under this act shall be held under the election law that
was in force prior to the passage of the Australian ballot system of vot-
ing, except as modified by provisions of this act.

4. During the period of removal and construction it shall be the duty
of the board of supervisors to provide a temporary court room and clerk’s
office.

5. Should an election under this act result in determining the ques-
tion in favor of removal, it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors,
as soon thereafter as practicable, to have engraved fifty county bonds in
the denomination of one hundred dollars each, payable at the expiration
of thirty vears, bearing interest at the rate of five per centum per an-
num from date of issue, said interest payable annually, and the
board of supervisors are to ‘place and dispose of said bonds by selling the
same, or if the contractor so elects, by turning them over to him: but
said bonds are not to be disposed of below par. Said bonds shall he
coupon or registered, as the board of supervisors may determine. And
after heing engraved each bond must be signed by the chairman of the
board of supervisors, attested by the clerk ‘of the board, and the county
seal must be affixed thereto at the time of issue.

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

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