Chap. 152.—An ACT to apportion the obligation and costs of maintaining, keepin:
In repair and rebuilding certain bridges over Blackwater river, the dividin:
line between the counties of Isle of W ight and Southampton, between the sii:
counties.

Approved April 14, 1903.

Whereas, there are numerous bridges over Blackwater river, the divid
ing line between the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton ; 5; and,

Whereas, the execution of the general law regulating the building ane
repair of bridges over streams forming the boundary line between tw
counties is attended with considerable unavoidable delay; and,

Whereas, it is desired by the board of supervisors of the said severa
countics that the maintenance of said bridges and the costs of rebuildin:
and repair of the same be apportioned between the said counties as here
inafter mentioned; therefore,

1. Be it enacted bv the goneral assembly of Virginia, That the count
of Isle of Wight shall take. sole charge of, and at its own expense, and in
the manner provided by law as to building and repair of bridges over
streams not forming the boundary or dividing line between two counties.
maintain, keep in repair, and, when necessary, rebuild, unless the same
be discontinued in the manner hereinafter provided, the following bridges
over Blackwater river, the boundary line between the said countics, to-
wit: The two bridges at or near Zuni, known as the Purcel bridges; the
Long Broadwater bridge, and Blackwater bridge. ‘That the county of
Southampton shall take sole charge of, and at its own expense, and in the
manner provided by law for the Inulding and repair of bridges over
streams not forming the boundary or dividing the line between two coun-
ties, maintain, keep in repair, and, when necessary, rebuild, unless the
same be discontinued in the manner hereinafter provided, the following
bridges over Blackwater river, the boundary line aforesaid, to-wit: Proc-
tor’s bridge, Joyner’s bridge, and the Franklin bridge: provided, how-
ever, that the Franklin bridge, being now in need of repairs or rebuilding,
shall be repaired or rebuilt, as may be necessary, at the joint expense of
the said counties, the county of Isle of Wight paying two-fifths of the cost
thereof and the county of Southampton paying three-fifths of the cost,
such costs not to exceed in any or either event the sum of nine hundred
dollars, but thereafter to be kept in repair and rebuilt at the sole expense
of the county of Southampton: and provided, also, that in the event a
draw should legally be required to be placed, kept, and maintained in the
said bridges, or any or either of them, then and in that event, notwith-
standing the provisions of this act, the actual cost of building said draw,
or draws, s shall be jointly borne by ‘the said counties in the proportion last
aforesaid. The costs of maintaining such draw, or draws, or of repairing
and rebuilding the same, to be borne and paid by the said county to which
the said bridge, in which a draw may be legally required as aforesaid, is
allotted under the provisions of this act.

2. That neither of the said bridges shall be discontinued, or permitted
to become dangerous and out of repair, without the mutual consent of the
county courts of the said counties, entered of record.

And in the event of the failure or refusal of either of the said counties
to keep in repair, or when necessary rebuild, the said bridges, or any of
them, which it is required to keep in repair or rebuild under the provisions
of this act, the county aggrieved thereby may proceed in the manner pro-
vided by section nine hundred and eighty-nine of the Code of Virginia, so
far as the same is applicable thereto, to require the county in default to
keep in repair or rebuild such bridge or bridges.

3. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act, so far as appli-
cable to the said bridges, are hereby repealed.

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