Chap. 178.—An ACT to provide for the building of bridges in the county of
Isle of Wight, and to authorize the board of supervisors to borrow money
by the issuing of bonds, and to build bridges in said county, and to
authorize the qualified voters of said county to vote on the question.

[H B 431)
Approved March 14, 1918.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That for
the purpose of constructing and building new bridges in the county
of Isle of Wight, the board of supervisors, be, and they are hereby,
empowered to issue bonds in the name and on behalf of the county
of Isle of Wight, to ke called “bridge bonds,” for a sum not exceed-
ing one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), and to sell the bonds
under such conditions as are hereinafter prescribed, and with the
proceeds of such sale to build bridges of iron, steel, concrete, or of
creosoted wood, in the various districts of said county, provided
that the board of supervisors shall not issue any bonds until it has
ordered a special election for the purpose and submitted the ques-
tion of issuing bonds to the qualified voters of Isle of Wight county.
They shall fix the time for holding such election, and cause notice
thereof to be published at least four times in any newspaper gen-
erally circulated or published in the county, and to be posted at
each voting place in the county, at least one (1) month before such
election. Said election notice shall state the purposes for which
said election is held.

2. It shall be the duty of the officers charged with conducting
elections in Isle of Wight county, to hold an election, when so
directed by the board of supervisors, in accordance with the pro-
visions of this act, for the purpose of taking the sense of the quali-
fied voters of said county upon the question of issuing the bonds
authorized in this act. Said election shall be by ballot7and be con-
ducted as other elections are conducted. Upon each ballot shall be

rinted the words “for bonds,” “against bonds.” Each voter shall
handed a ballot at the voting place and he shall express his
choice by scratching from the ballot the words “for bonds” if he
desires to vote against the issue; “against bonds” if he desires to
vote for the issue. :

3. The judges of each election precinct shall ascertain the will
of the people by counting the ballots, and certify the result to the
judge of the circuit court in the manner and form of other elections.

The commissioners of election shall canvass the returns within
ten (10) days after the election and declare the results. :

4. The bonds provided for in this act shall be issued if the
majority of those voting at such election shall vote for the issu-
ance of the same. But should the majority of the ballots be cast
against such issue, then the question shall not, within twelve (12)
months, be again submitted to the vote of the people, and said
bonds shall not be issued.

5. The bonds issued in pursuance of this act. shall be coupon bonds
of not less denomination than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more
than five thousand dollars ($5,000.) each, payable in not more than
thirty (30) years from date, and bearing interest payable annually,

ata rate not exceeding five per centum (5%) per annum, the said
board having the right to redeem any of the said bonds after the
expiration of ten (10) years. The said bonds shall be issued 1n the
name of Isle of Wight county, Virginia, shall be signed by the
chairman of the board of supervisors of said county, attested by
the clerk of the circuit court thereof.

6. The said board of supervisors are hereby empowered to make
sale of said bonds, but no bond shall be sold for less than the par
value thereof, and the said bonds and coupons for interest thereon
shall be redeemable in lawful money at maturity and shall be receiv-
able at maturity for all taxes and other debts due the said county
of Isle of Wight except school levies. |

1. The form of the said bonds and coupons shall be determined
by said board of supervisors. .

8. All moneys realized from the sale of said bonds shall be
received by the treasurer of said county, and drawn out of his hands
on warrants issued by the board of supervisors.

9. The said bonds and coupons issued under this act shall be
redeemable at the office of the treasurer of Isle of Wight county.
and when paid by him or received for taxes or other debts, shall
be marked paid or cancelled. The said bonds shall be exempt from
all taxation of the county.

10. The said board of supervisors shall create a sinking fund
to be applied to the redemption of the bonds issued under this act.
and shall annually, until such bonds are paid, pay into the sinking

nd a sum sufficient to meet the interest annually to pay off the
said bonds within the time provided for in this act.

_ Ul. The board of supervisors of said county shall, from time tc
time, issue bonds as provided for by this act, when in their judg:
ment it shall become necessary to build a bridge, and then for suck
*n amount only as shall be necessary to pay the cost of building
such bridge so decided upon. Provided, however, that no bonds
for the building of a bridge shall be issued until plans, specifica.
tions, and an estimate of the cost of building such bridge shall have

n made by a competent bridge engineer to be furnished by the
State highway commission, or the said board of supervisors shal
ave the authority to employ an engineer selected by them.
et It is further provided that the board of supervisors may
to contract the building of any bridge to the lowest responsible
'dder, and have the power to reject any and all bids.

; y reason of the bad condition of the bridges in the county
F. ‘mergency is hereby declared to exist, and this act shall be ir
orce from its passage.

epeate a acts or parts of acts in conflict with this act are hereby