Chap. 281.—An ACT to empower the counties of Albemarle and Buckingham
and the town of Scottsville, ur either of them, or any one or more oi them,
to construct or aid in the construction of a bridge across James river at or
near the town of Scottsville, and to authorize and empower said counties
and town, or either of them, or any one or more of them, to negotiate a loan
or loans, and to issue bonds for that purpose.

Approved March 15, 1906.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the
counties of Albemarle and Buekingham and the town of Scottsville,
or either of them, or any one or more of them, be, and they ar
hereby, authorized and empowered to construct or aid in’ the cun-
struction of a bridge suitable for the passage of wagons and other
vehicles across James river at or near the town of Scottsville.

2. Said bridge, if deemed expedient by the board of supervisor-
of cither of the counties participating in the construction thereof,
may be so constructed as that its terminus on the northern side of
the said river shall be in either the county of Fluvanna or the county
of Albemarle, and whether such terminus be in Fluvanna county or
Albemarle county, the county of Albemarle as well as the county of
Buckingham and the town of Scottsville, or either or any one or
more of them, are hereby authorized to construct the same or to aid
in its construction.

The determination to erect, the proceedings for that purpose, the
acquisition of the lands necessary, and the amount of the expendi-
ture necessary for the construction of said bridge, and the propor-
tions thereof to be paid by each county participating in its con-
struction shall be determined and had as provided by section nine hundred
and forty-four a, and the subdivisions thereof, of chapter forty-three of
the Code of Virginia of nineteen hundred and four, as far as the same
are applicable thereto and are not in conflict with the provisions of this
act, and the board of supervisors of either of said counties may proceed
as provided by subdivisions twenty-four and twenty-five of that section
and chapter, and proceediags may be instituted and prosecuted under said
subdivisions twenty-four and twenty-five of said section and chapter
avainst either of the said counties, no matter in which county the northern
terminus of said bridge is to be located.

3. For the purpose of raising the money to make such expenditure, or
any part thereof by said counties, or either of them, after the same shall
have been allowed anddctermined as provided for in the preceding sections
of this act and the acts therein referred to, cach of said counties of
Albemarle and Buckingham is hereby authorized to issue its registered or
coupon bonds for the respective amount to be raised by each, or any part
thereof, bearing interest at a rate not greater than five per centum per
annum, payable semi-annually, which bonds shall he issued by the board
of supervisors of cach respective county, and shall be signed by the chair-
man and attested by the clerk of such board of supervisors and shall be
in such denomination and payable at such time or times as the board of
supervisors of the county issuing the same may direct, and it shall not be
necessary to hold any election, or to open any poll, to take the sense of the
qualified voters of either of said counties on the question of the issuing
of such bonds, but the same shall be issued as herein provided without
holding any such election and without opening any poll to take the sense
of the qualified voters.

4. The town of Scottsville. through its council, is hereby authorized to
unite with said counties, or any one or more of them, in the construction
of or aiding in the construction of said bridge.

If the council of said town deems it advisable to construct, or aid in the
construction of such bridge,or when any person or persons apply to said
council for the purpose, said council shall appoint three or more commis-
sioners, a majority of whom may act, and who shall be authorized to con-
fer and agree with any viewers or commissioners who may be appointed
hy the boards of supervisors of either or both of said counties, respectively,
as to the amount to be furnished by said town toward the construction of
or aiding in the construction of said bridge, and as to the location and
kind of bridge to be constructed. Said commissioners so appointed by
‘said council shall report any agreement they may make to said council for
its ratification and approval.

The council of said town is hereby authorized to use for the purpose of
‘constructing, or aiding in the construction of such bridge, any funds
belonging to said town now or hereafter under its control arising from
the liquor dispensary now being operated by said town, or arising from
any other source, and for the purpose of raising additional funds for the
construction of or aiding in the construction of said bridge, the council
of said town of Scottsville is hereby authorized, in its discretion, to ne-
gotiate a loan or loans for the purpose of constructing or aiding in the
construction of said bridge, and said council is hereby authorized for that
purpose to issue the registered or coupon bonds of said town for such Joan
‘or loans, payable not more than thirty years after the date of such bonds.
bearing interest at a rate not greater than five per centum per annum,
payable semi-annually, and in such denominations and amounts as said
council shall direct, subject to the limitations imposed by the Constitution
of Virginia and not exceeding in aggregate the sum of ten thousand
‘dollars, and said council of said town is hereby authorized should such
bonds be issued, to pledge in addition to its other revenues for the pay-
ment of such bonds and the interest thereon, such portion of the town’s
share of the future net receipts of said liquor dispensary, as in its dis-
cretion it may deem necessary, for that purpose, and said council shall
provide out of the town’s share of such receipts from said dispensary, or
from its other revenues, or from both, a proper sinking fund for the pay-
ment of said bonds, which sinking fund shall be set aside annually by the
council of said town and deposited, loaned out or invested as said council
may direct, until such time as it may be needed to meet said bonds, which
sinking fund shall be used exclusively for the payment of the principal
of said bonds, and said town is hereby authorized, through its proper
‘officers, to order and make such town levies as may be necessary to be
made in order to raise any amounts necessary to pay the interest and
principal of said bonds as they become due, or to provide a sinking fund
therefor.

The commissioners so to be appointed by the council of the said town
shall further be authorized, subject to the ratification and approval of the
council of said town, to agree with the viewers or commissioners ap-
pointed by the boards of supervisors of said counties, or of such of them
as may participate in or aid in the construction of said bridge as to what
proportion of the costs of keeping said bridge in repair after its construe
tion shall be borne by said town and by each of the counties, respectively.

The council of said town is hereby authorized to appoint a special com-
missioner or commissioners for the purpose of soliciting, contracting for
and collecting subscriptions or donations to be used in aiding in the con-
struction of said bridge, and any contract made with any such commis
sioner or commissioners for such subscription or donation shall be binding
upon the party agreeing to make such subscription or donation, and such
contract shall be enforceable and collectible, and suit or suits may be
maintained thereon for that purpose in the name or names of the commis-
sioner or commissioners with whom the same is made, for the benefit of
the town. And said council of said town may, in its discretion, require
such commissioner or commissioners to execute bond conditioned for the
faithful performance of his or their duties, in such penalty as said council
may prescribe, and with security to be approved by such council. And
all sums collected or received under this section shall be paid by the com-
missioner collecting the same to the treasurer of said town or into such
other depository ag may be designated by said council and shall be used
and paid out on the order of said council in aiding in the construction of
said bridge, and if not so used shall be returned to the person or persons
from whom the same was collected or received.

No commissioner appointed hereunder by said town council shall re-
ceive any compensation for his services hereunder unless the same shall
be expressly allowed by the council of said town, and each commissioner
appointed hereunder by said council shall report all his transactions as
such to said council.

5. The viewers or commissioners who may be appointed by the boards
of supervisors of the respective counties, shall report to the respective
boards by which they are appointed what probable amount can be raised
by such subscriptions or donations from individuals, partnerships, and
corporations, and what amount the said town of Scottsville will con-
tribute toward the construction or aiding in the construction of said
bridge as well as the probable cost of constructing said bridge, and they
shall also report what agreement, if any, the said town is willing to make
as to its part of the cost of keeping said bridge in repair.

6. After the construction of said bridge has been determined upon as
hereinbefore provided, the boards of supervisors of each of the counties
which shall contribute toward its construction or aiding in its construc-
tion. shall each appoint one commissioner and the council of said town
shall appoint one commissioner, or if the amount furnished by said town
shall equal or exceed the aggregate amount furnished by the counties,
then said council shall appoint two commissioners, and the commissioners
so appointed, a majority of whom may act, shall constitute a board of
construction, and shall proceed to receive bids for the construction of
said bridge, and for that purpose they may advertise for such bids; they
may have all necessary measurements, plans, specifications, and drawings
made. to be paid for, if necessary, out of the funds appropriated and raised
for the construction of said bridge, or aiding in its construction, as here-
inbefore provided, and such commissioners may, in their discretion, from
time to time reject any and all bids and advertise for other bids, and they
may, in their discretion, accept such of said bids as may seem most ad-
vantageous, and upon receiving a bid for the construction of said bridge
satisfactory to them and within the limits of the funds available for the
purpose, they shall contract for the construction of said bridge with the
person. firm, or corporation making such bid on such terms of payment
as to them may seem best, and they may, if deemed best, require bond«with
good security from the person, firm, or corporation contracting to con-
struct said bridge for the faithful performance of such contract, and
sail commissioners are authorized to inspect said bridge from time to
time during its construction in order to ascertain whether or not the
same is being constructed in accordance with the provisions of such con-
tract, or they may appoint one or more of their number for that purpose,
and if they deem it best they may employ a skilled architect or engineer
for that purpose, who shall be paid for his services such compensation as
said commissioners may agree upon out of the funds appropriated as
hereinabove provided for the construction of said bridge. Any such
commissioner shall receive only such compensation for his services here-
under as may be allowed him by the board of supervisors or town council
by which he is appointed.

After said bridge has been completed said commissioners shall inspect
the same themselves, or they may appoint one or more of their number to
do so, or they may, if they deem best, employ a skilled architect or en-
gineer to inspect the same and ascertain whether or not the same has
been constructed in accordance with the contract for its construction, and
they shall report the result of such inspection to the board of supervisors
of their respective counties and to the council of the town.

The boards of supervisors of the counties contributing towards the con-
struction of said bridge and the council of said town shall pay for said
bridge out of the funds appropriated for that purpose in accordance with
the terms of the contract made therefor by said commissioners.

Any such commissioner may be removed at any time and a new com-
missioner appointed in his place by the board or council by whom he was
appointed, and in the event of the death, resignation, or removal from
the State of any such commissioner a successor to fill his place may be
appointed by the board or council by whom he was appointed.

%. The council of said town, upon the construction of said bridge, is
further authorized in its discretion, but shall not be compellable to do so,
out of the town’s share of the net proceeds arising from said dispensary, to
compensate the owner or owners of the public ferry now across James
river at Scottsville for the loss such owner or owners may sustain by the
erection of said bridge to such an extent and in such an amount as said
council may, in its discretion, be willing to apply to that purpose.

8. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

y. And it appearing that the need for said bridge is very urgent, and
that it cannot well be constructed except during the summer season. and
that unless contracted for in the early part of the present year its con-
struction will be delayed for another year, and therefore such an emer-
gency exists as requires that this act shall go into immediate effect. this
act shall be in force from its passage.