Chap. 224.—An ACT to incorporate the Newport News and Richmond tele-
phone and telegraph company.

Approved January 30, 1900.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That Robert P.
Orr, W. J. Nelms, G. N. Wise, E. G. Booth, C. P. Armstead, N. C. Watts.
and C. E. McCluer, and such other persons as they may associate with
them, and their successors, be, and they are hereby, created and consti-
tuted a body corporate, by the name of Newport News and Richmond
telephone and telegraph company, by which name it shall have perpetual
succession, may sue and be sued, contract and be contracted with, and
gl:all have all the rights and privileges of a corporation under the gen-
eral laws of Virginia, including all such rights as by said laws are given
to telephone and telegraph companies and other works of internal im-
provement, and be subject also to all the regulations and restrictions
Impose by the laws of the state in relation to “chartered companics.

The capital stock of the said company shall not be less than one
thoasand (81,000.00) dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand ($25,-
000.00) dollars, divided into shares of fiftv ($50.00) dollars each, and
each share shall be entitled to one vote in every meeting of the stock-
holders. It shall not be necessary to give any notice of the opening of
the subscription to stock, but the same may be subscribed in such man-
ner and at such times as a majority of said corporators shall determine.
3. The officers of the said company shall be a president, a vice-presi-
dent, a secretary and treasurer, and a board of directors of not less than
live persons: provided, however, that the secretary and treasurer may be
the same person, and the officers may also be members of the board of
directors.

4. The said company shall have power to erect and maintain poles
and other telephone and telegraph appliances along the public roads
oi Warwick, York, James City, New Kent, Charles City, Henrico, with
the consent of the county court and the board of supervisors, and other
counties in this commonwealth, and along any streets of any town or
city of this commonwealth: provided, however, the consent of the city
or town councils, and of the county authorities having control of public
roads, in which the said company shall operate, shall be first obtained,
and subject to the fee simple rights of owners of lands lying adjacent
to the public roads, along which the said company shall build its said
line. It shall also have power to acquire all estate or easements neces-
sary for the convenient erection and maintenance of its lines, offices, and
so forth, and for the general conduct of its business by purchase, con-
demnation, or otherwise.

5. The said company may acquire by purchase or lease any of the
property or rights of any telephone or telegraph company, and may make
any contract with any other such company consistent with the laws of
this state, and may buy or sell any franchise it may acquire, or any other
company may decide to sell.

6. The said company shall have power to borrow money for its pur-
poses, and to issue its notes or bonds therefor, and to secure the same by
mortgage or deed of trust upon its property, works, and franchises, or
otherwise.

7%. The said company, through its board of directors, shall have power
to make by-laws and regulations for its government not inconsistent
with the laws of this state.

8. All taxes or demands due or to become due to the state of Virginia
from the said company shall be paid in lawful money of the United
States and not in coupons.

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