Chap. 900.—An ACT to incorporate the Roanoke mineral railway company.

Approved March 3, 1898.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That M. M.
Rogers, J. F. West, W. R. Gordon, James C. Langhorn, Robert Logan,
G P. Bairfaxy Charles H. Cocke and John NI Hart. and their accsoriates
and successors, be, and they are hereby, constituted a body politic and
corporate, by the name and. style of Roanoke mineral railway company,
and as such are empowered ‘to locate, construct, equip and operate a

railway, commencing at some point in or near the city of Roanoke or
the town of Salem, Virginia, and running through the streets of said city
or town or such of them as said company may r desire, and a portion of
the counties of Roanoke and Botetourt, to some point in the county of
Botetourt in or near to the James river: provided the consent of the
councils of said city or town shall be obtained for the use of said streets,

and may construct or operate its said road in any part of said counties

by and with the consent of the boards of supervisors of said counties.

2. The said company shall have the right to acquire lands along the
route of said railway by donation, purchase or in any other legal man-
ner, not to exceed two thousand acres, to use, sell or hold the same.

3. The company may acquire by condemnation, according to the laws
of Virginia, the land required for the necessary rights of way, stations
and depots for its operations, as is provided by law “for works of internal
improvement.

4. It shall be lawful for said company to transport passengers, freight
and baggage over the line of their railway and to collect such fares and
toll for same as may be prescribed by law.

5. The said company may use electric, steam or horse power, and all
such engines, machinery and other appliances as it may deem necessary
to propel the cars along its road.

G. The capital stock shall not be less than five thousand dollars nor
more than three hundred thousand dollars, to be divided into shares of
twenty-five dollars each, which may be paid in cash, Jabor, material,
bonds, stocks, real or personal property, at such valuation as may be
agreed upon between the directors and the subscribers; and the subscrip-
tions for the capital stock may be payable in such manner, amounts
and times as may be agreed upon with the board of directors and the
subseriber.

7. Said company shall have the power to Jease its road and to borrow
money for the use of the company, and secure the loans by deeds of
trust on all or parts of its road, estate, franchises and income.

8. The company is authorized and empowered to locate, construct,
equip and operate any lateral or branch roads or tramways, not to exceed
twenty-five miles, which a majority of its stockholders may determine
upon, and by such route or routes as may be selected by the board of
directors,

The board of directors shall be stockholders of said company, and
shall consist of such number as the stockholders may determine upon,
and shall be elected at the stockholders’ annual meeting, and they shall
elect one of their number presicent.

The work of construction under this charter shall be commened
within two years and said construction completed in five years from the
passage of this act.

11. All taxes due the eommonwealth by said company shall be paid
in Jawful money of the United States, and not in coupons.

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