Chap. 3.—An ACT to incorporate the town of Brodnax, in Brunswick and
Mecklenburg counties, Virginia. (H. B. 17)

Approved F.bruary 1, 1915.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the vil-
lage of Brodnax, situate for the most part in Brunswick county, Vir-
ginia, a small part thereof situate in Mecklenburg county, Virginia,
shall be, and the same is hereby, made a town corporate by the name
of Brodnax, and that the same shall have and exercise the powers con-
ferred on towns of less than five thousand inhabitants, by law, and be
subjected to all the provisions of all laws now in force, or which may
hereafter be enacted in reference to the government of towns of less
than five thousand inhabitants, so far as the same are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this act.

2. The limits of the town shall be as follows: Beginning at an
iron stake at a point in Brunswick county. Virginia, in the center of
the track of the Southern railroad, near the “Overland” bridge, three
thousand one hundred and forty-three feet, measured along the said
railroad track, from the intersection of the main street of the said town,
with the center line of the Southern railroad track in Brunswick county,
Virginia; thence north fifteen and one-half degrees west three thousand
and seventy feet to a corner iron stake on the land of V. J. Smith;
thence south sixty-eight degrees west five thousand four hundred and
ninety feet to a corner iron stake in Mecklenburg county, Virginia, in
the public roads leading from Brodnax to La Crosse; thence south
twenty-six and three-quarter degrees east four thousand four hundred
and thirty feet to a corner iron stake in Mecklenburg county, Virginia,
in the public road leading from Brodnax south; thence north fifty-two
degrees east four thousand nine hundred and seventy feet to the point
of beginning; containing in Brunswick county two hundred and ninety-
four and one-half acres, and in Mecklenburg county, one hundred
and forty-four and one-half acres.
3. The officers of the said town shall consist of a mayor, seven
councilmen, a town clerk, a sergeant and a treasurer; the compensation
of all of whom shall be fixed by the council. The mayor shall, by virtue
of his office, possess all the powers and authority and jurisdiction of a
justice of the peace, within the town limits and as to criminal matters,
one mile beyond.

4. Until an election is held, as hereinafter provided for, A. J.
Lambert shall be mayor; J. J. W. Dugger, H. P. Davis, 8S. L. Crowder,
E. H. Hayman, B. D. Pennington, 8. D. Kelley and R. R. Seymour
shall be councilmen. The said councilmen shall have power to appoint
annually a sergeant, a clerk, a treasurer, and such other officers as mav
be necessary to conduct the business of the town, and to fix their com-
pensation and prescribe their duties, and to require such bond as may
be deemed proper and sufficient; all of whom shall hold office until a
successor is appointed or elected and qualified as such.

5. Should any of the officers hereby appointed fail or refuse to ac-
cept or refuse to qualify in thirty days after their term of office under
this act shall begin, then it shall be the duty of the mayor, or in his
absence, the majority of the councilmen to fill all vacancies by appoint-
ment. |

6. The said council shall have the power to pass all by-laws and
ordinances for the proper government of the said town, and not in con-
flict with the Constitution and laws of the State of Virginia or the
‘Constitution and laws of the United States.

?. The first election under the charter for election of mayor and
‘councilmen of the said town shall be held on the second Tuesday in
June, nineteen hundred and sixteen, and every two years thereafter,
‘and their term of office shall commence on the first day of September
‘after their election; the said election to be held in accordance with the
general election laws of the State of Virginia; and vacancies occurring
‘in said offices to be filled by the town council.

8. In addition to the powers conferred specifically upon said town,
the council shall have power to lay off streets, walks or alleys; alter,
improve and light the same, and have them kept in good condition; to
provide all buildings proper for the use of said town; to provide a
prison house; to prevent injury or annoyance from anything dangerous,
offensive or unhealthy, and cause any nuisance to be abated; to provide
in or near the town water works, and places for the interment of the
‘dead, and to make regulations concerning the building of houses in
‘said town.

9. The said council shall also have power to impose a specific license
‘tax on all shows, performances and exhibitions which may be given in
‘said town (except school, religious and literary entertainments). It shall
‘also have power to impose a specific license tax for the sale of merchandise
that may be offered for sale in said town, provided the same shall not
‘exceed that now imposed by law, and payable into the State treasury,
and to levy annually such taxes as may be deemed necessary on all real
and personal property within said town for the purposes of said cor-
poration, provided that said levy shall not exceed fifty cents on the one
hundred dollars’ valuation of property as per State assessment, and,
provided further, that the jurisdiction of said town in criminal matters
shall extend one mile beyond the corporate limits of said town.

10. The sergeant of said town shall collect all licenses and taxes
due said town, and pay the same to the treasurer, and shall receive
therefor, in addition to such compensation as may be allowed by said
council’ a commission of five per centum on all amounts collected

y him.

11. Any person selling or offering to sell within the corporate limits
of said town any spirituous or malt liquors, wine, cider, or any other
beverage under any name, that is intoxicating, shall be deemed guilty
of misdemeanor, and shall be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more
than one hundred dollars for each offense, and, in addition, he may, in
the discretion of the mayor, be imprisoned not more than sixty days,
and shall be required to give bond for twelve months with approved
security, in the penalty of five thousand dollars, and conditioned that
he will not again violate the provisions of this section. For the second
and each succeeding offense he shall be fined not less than one hundred
dollars, and shall be confined in jail not less than six nor more than
twelve months. If he shall fail or refuse to execute the bond herein
required, either for the first or any succeeding offense, he shall be con-
fined in jail, in addition to his other punishment, not less than two
nor more than six months.

12. Any person who shall violate any of the ordinances of the said
town, except as provided in section eleven of this act, shall be fined not
exceeding one hundred dollars, or confined in jail not more than twelve
months, or both.

13. For the purpose of carrying into effect the police regulations.
of the said town, the latter shall be allowed the use of the jail of Bruns-
wick county, for the safekeeping and confinement of all prisoners who
shall be sentenced to imprisonment under the ordinances of the said
town. In any case wherein judgment shall be rendered against any
person for a violation of the laws of the State of Virginia, or any
ordinances of the said town, and the same is not immediately satisfied,
the person so in default may be required by order of the mayor, or
by any councilman, who may try such case in the absence of the mavor,
to work out such fines or penalties and cost of prosecution on the public
roads or streets of said town, or any other public improvements within
said town, at the rate of fifty cents per day, under the direction of the
sergeant and under such rules and regulations as may be deemed proper
by the mayor or the council of said town.

14. An emergency existing, in that it is desired at once to improve
the material interests of the said town, this act shall be in force from.
its passage.