Chap. 561.—An ACT to incorporate the Upper Rappahannock Telephone and Tele-
graph Company.

Approved April 2, 1902.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That D. B.
Powers, junior, W. T. Pratt, Doctor C. N. Gravitt, D. B. Powers, and
A. F. Turner, of the county of Caroline; Robert Beverly, H. L. Baylor,
Richard Baylor, J. H. C. Beverly, and W. L. Andrews, of the county of
Essex ; and George Turner, J. J. T. Thornton, H. V. Turner, and R. V.
Turner, of the county of King George, and such others as they may asso-
ciate with them, their successors or assigns, be, and they are hereby, con-
stituted and declared a body corporate and politic under the name and
style of the Upper Rappahannock Telephone and Telegraph Company,
and by that name may sue and be sued in all courts of law and equity,
may make, have, and use a common seal, which it may alter at pleasure,
and shall have and exercise all the rights and privileges and powers per-
taining to a body corporate and necessary and proper for the transaction
of the business of this company. And it shall have all the power to make,
adopt, and enforce all by-laws, rules, and regulations not inconsistent
with the laws of this State necessary for the maintenance and preservation
of its property, and for the conduct of its business, and all the rights,
privileges, and liabilities of like corporations or other works of internal
improvement under the laws of the Commonwealth. The said company
is hereby authorized to operate telephone and telegraph lines, either er
both, in Essex, King George, Caroline, and Spotsylvania and adjoining
counties, and authority is hereby granted it to erect and maintain poles,
wires, cables, conduits, and lines, and to establish all offices and ex-
changes necessary for the proper conduct of such business. And it may
acquire, by purchase, lease, condemnation, or otherwise, in accordance
with the general laws of Virginia, all real estate, rights, and casements
necessary for the convenient erection and maintenance of its poles, wires,
cables, conduits, lines, offices, and exchanges, and for the general con-
duct of its business. The capital stock of said company shall be not less
than five hundred dollars and not more than five thousand dollars, divided
into shares of ten dollars each. Shares of stock may be disposed of in the
purchase of material and in payment for work, ri ights, franchises, or other
property. It shall not be necessary to give any notice of the opening of
subscriptions to said stock, but the same may he subscribed in the man-
ner and at such times as a majority of the said incorporators m: ay deter-
mine.

2. When the minimum amount of capital has been subscribed.
the subscribers shall meet upon such notice as said incorporators, or a
majority of them, shall determine, and elect a president and board of
directors, and such other officers as they may deem proper. The board
of directors may consist of any number that ‘the stockholders may, from
time to time, determine. General or annual mectings of stockholders
may be held on such notice as may, from time to time, be prescribed by
the board of directors. Said company may acquire, by purchase or lease,
any of the property or rights of any other telephone or telegraph com-
pany, and may make any contract with any person or corporation not
inconsistent with the laws of the State; and may sell or lease‘its property
or rights, or any part thereof, and may subscribe for, acquire, and hold
stock and securities of any other telephone or telegraph company. Said
company shall have the power to connect or make traffic arrangements for
the interchange of business with any other telephone or telegraph com-
pany, and may acquire and hold all necessary and convenient patents and
property. Said company shall have the power to borrow money 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. And
the said company may construct, maintain, and operate its lines along
any of the State or county roads or works, and over the waters of the said
counties, and along and parallel to the railroads of this State: pro-
vided, the ordinary use of such roads, works, railroads, and waters be not
thereby obstructed, and along and over the streets of every city or town,
with the consent of the council thereof.

3. The principal office of such company shall be in the town of Port
Royal, Virginia, or at such other place in the State of Virginia as its
shareholders may agree upon: provided, notice of such change is given
to the secretary of the Commonwealth within ten days of the time when
such change is decided upon.

4, All taxes or levies due or to become due by the said company shall
be paid in lawful money of the United States, and not in coupons.

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