Chap. 99.—An ACT to provide a new charter for the town of Iron Gate, Alleghany
County, Virginia; to repeal all acts, or parts of acts in conflict therewith: and
to validate all contracts heretofore or hereafter made by the present council
and government while in office not inconsistent with this charter or the Con-
stitution and general laws of this State; and to repeal all former charters of
the town of Iron Gate. [S B 96]

Approved February 27, 1940

1. Beit enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, as follows:

CHAPTER I

Section 1. The Town Corporate.—The inhabitants of the terri-
tory comprised within the present limits of the town of Iron Gate,
as such limitations are now or may be hereafter altered and established
by law, shall constitute and continue a body, politic and corporate,
to be known and designated as the town of Iron Gate, and as such
shall have and may exercise all powers which are now or hereafter
may be conferred upon or delegated to towns under the Constitution
and laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as fully and completely
as though such powers were specifically enumerated herein, and no
enumeration of particular powers by this charter shall be held to be
exclusive and shall have, exercise and enjoy all the rights, immuni-
ties, powers, and privileges, and be subject to all the duties and
obligations now appertaining to and incumbent on said town as a
municipal corporation, and the said town of Iron Gate, as such, shall
have perpetual succession, may sue and be sued, implead and be
impleaded, contract and be contracted with, and may have a corporate
seal which it may alter, renew, or amend at its pleasure by proper
ordinance.

Section 2. The Town Boundary.—The corporate limits of the
town of Iron Gate, Alleghany County, Virginia, shall be, as follows:

Beginning at a point in the middle of Jackson River near the old
stage road ford; thence proceeding along a line bearing south forty-
two degrees fifty minutes west, passing above tannery pump house
twenty-eight (28) feet and crossing railroad and route 220, a distance
of six hundred fifty (650) feet to an iron monument four and one-
half (414) feet north of a large white oak tree; thence south fifty-four
degrees thirty-two minutes west eight hundred (800) feet to an iron
stake on top of the hill; thence south nine degrees fifty minutes west
one thousand three hundred eight and one-half (130814) feet with
center line of Park Avenue to Showalter line passing an iron stake at
a road intersection at three hundred eighty-nine and one-half (38914)
feet and an iron stake measured thirty (30) feet from the northwest
eave corner of the present town pump house; thence north eighty
degree east one hundred sixty (160) feet with the Showalter line
and the north line of block fifty (50); thence from the corner of block
fifty (50) south fifteen degrees ten minutes east one thousand six
hundred eighty-five (1685) feet to an iron stake in the side of a hollow,
passing the corner of block sixty-two (62) and with the south line
of block seventy-three (73) to the intersection with the Botetourt
County line; thence with the said Botetourt County line south eighty
degrees fifty-five minutes east a distance of two thousand nine hundred
eighty (2980) feet and passing near the corner of block one hundred
nine (109), crossing route 220 and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
right-of-way to a point in the middle of Jackson River, passing a
large white oak tree in the front of lot eight (8), block one hundred
nine (109); thence up and with the several courses of Jackson River
five thousand four hundred fifty-two (5452) feet to the point of
beginning.

CHAPTER II

Section 1. Powers of the Town of Iron Gate.—(1) To raise
annually, by the levy of taxes and assessments in the said town, on
all such property, real and personal, as is now or may be subject to
taxation by towns by the laws of this Commonwealth, such sums of
money as the council thereof shall deem necessary for the purpose of
the said town, in such manner as the said council shall deem ex-
pedient in accordance with the Constitution of this State and of the
United States; provided, however, that it shall impose no taxes on
the bonds of the said town. |

(2) To impose special or local assessments for local improve-
ments and to force payment thereof, subject to such limitations pre-
scribed by the Constitution and laws as may be in force at the time
of the imposition of such special or local assessments.

(3) To impose a tax not exceeding one dollar per annum upon
all persons residing in said town above the age of twenty-one years,
not exempt from the payment of State capitation tax.

(4) (a) The town may, in the name of and for the use of the
town, contract debts and make and issue, or cause to be made and
issued, as evidence thereof, bonds, notes or other obligations, upon
the credit of the town, or solely upon the credit of specific property
owned by the town, or solely upon the credit of income derived from
property used in connection with any public utility owned and op-
erated by the town.

(b) Pending the issuance and sale of any bonds, notes or other
obligations by this act authorized, or in anticipation of the receipt
of taxes and revenues of the current fiscal year, it shall be lawful
for the town to borrow money temporarily and to issue notes or
other evidences of indebtedness therefor, and from time to time to
renew such temporary loans or to use current funds to be ultimately
repaid from the proceeds of the said bonds, notes or other obligations
or from the town taxes and revenues, as the case may be.

(c) The credit of the town shall not, directly or indirectly, under
any devise or pretense whatsoever, be granted to or in aid of any
person, firm, association, or corporation.

(d) Every ordinance authorizing the issuance of bonds shall
specify the purpose or purposes for which they are to be issued, the
aggregate amount of the bonds, the term for which they shall be
issued, and the maximum rate of interest to be paid thereon. Any
such ordinance may be amended by ordinance at any time before
the bonds to be affected by such amendment have been sold; pro-
vided, however, if there shall be omitted from this act any provision
essential to the valid authorization, sale, execution and issuance of
any of the bonds of said town, the provisions of general law with
reference to similar bonds shall supply said omission.

(e) Any bonds issued by the town under this act shall be signed
by the mayor and attested by the clerk under the seal of the town,
and shall be made payable in the office of the town treasurer or such
other place in or out of the State as the council may provide in the
ordinance authorizing the issuance of the particular bonds. Such
bonds may be advertised by the mayor and sold by the town trea-
surer, as may be provided in such ordinance, under supervision of
the mayor and clerk, and the sale reported to and approved by the
council, and the proceeds from said sale shall be paid to the town
treasurer.

(5) To expend the money of the town for all lawful purposes.

(6) To acquire by purchase, gift, devise, condemnation or other-
wise property, real or personal, or any estate therein within or without
the town, for any of the purposes of the town; and to hold, improve,
sell, lease, mortgage, pledge, or otherwise dispose of the same or any
part thereof, including any property now owned by the town.

(7) To own, operate and maintain water works and to acquire
in any lawful manner in any county of the State, such water, lands,
property rights, and riparian rights as the council of the said town
may deem necessary for the purpose of providing an adequate water
supply to the said town and of piping and conducting the same; to
lay, erect and maintain all necessary mains and service lines, either
within or without the corporate limits of the said town for the dis-
tribution of water to its customers and consumers, both within and
without the corporate limits of the said town and to charge and
collect water rents thereof; to erect and maintain all necessary dams,
pumping stations and other works in connection therewith; to make
reasonable rules and regulations for promoting the purity of its said
water supply and for protecting the same from pollution; and for
this purpose to exercise full police powers and sanitary patrol over
all land comprised within the limits of the water shed tributary to
any such water supply wherever such lands may be located in this
State; to impose and enforce adequate penalties for the violation of
any such rules and regulations; and to prevent by injunction any
pollution or threatened pollution of such water supply, and any and
all acts likely to impair the purity thereof; and to carry out the
powers herein granted, the said town may exercise within the State
all powers of eminent domain provided by the laws of this State.

(8) To collect and dispose of sewage, offal, ashes, garbage, car-
casses of dead animals and other refuse, and to make reasonable
charges therefor; to acquire and operate reduction or any othe!
plants for the utilization or destruction of such materials, or any
of them; to contract or regulate the collection and disposal thereo
and to require and regulate the collection and disposal thereof.
(9) To inspect, test, measure and weigh any commodity or com-
modities or articles of consumption for use within the town; and to
establish, regulate, license, and inspect weights, meters, measures
and scales.

(10) To license and regulate the holding and location of shows,
circuses, public exhibitions, carnivals, and other similar shows or
fairs, or prohibit the holding of the same, or any of them, within the
town or within one mile thereof.

(11) May require every owner of motor vehicles residing in the
said town, on a date to be designated by the council, to annually
register such motor vehicles and to obtain a license to operate the
same by making application to the treasurer of the said town, or
such other person as may be designated by the council of the said
town, to issue said license, and to require the said owner to pay an
annual license f@e therefor to be fixed by the council; provided that
the said license fee shall not exceed the amount charged by the State
on the said machine.

(12) To construct, maintain, regulate and operate public im-
provements of all kinds, including municipal and other buildings,
armories, sewage disposal plants, jails, comfort stations, markets,
and all buildings and structures necessary or appropriate for the use
and proper operation of the various departments of the town; and
to acquire by condemnation or otherwise, all lands, riparian and
other rights, and easements necessary for such improvements, or
any of them; either within or without the town, and to construct,
maintain or aid therein, roads, and bridges to any property owned
by the said town and situate beyond the corporate limits thereof,
and to acquire land necessary for the aforesaid by condemnation or
otherwise.

(13) To establish, impose and enforce the collection of water
and sewage rates, and rates and charges for public utilities, or other
services, products, or conveniences, operated, rented or furnished
by the town; and to assess, or cause to be assessed, after reasonable
notice to the owner or owners, water and sewage rates and charges
directly against the owner or owners of the buildings or against the
proper tenant or tenants; and in event such rates and charges shall
be assessed against a tenant then the council may by ordinance, re-
quire of such tenant a deposit of such reasonable amount as it may
by such ordinance prescribe before furnishing such service to such
tenant.

(14) To charge and to collect fees for permits to use public facil-
ities and for public services and privileges. The said town shall have
the power and right to charge a different rate for any service rendered
or convenience furnished to citizens without the corporate limits
from the rates charged for similar service to citizens within the
corporate limits.

(15) To compel the abatement and removal of all nuisances
within the town or upon property owned by the town beyond its
limits at the expense of the person or persons causing the same, or
of the owner or occupant of the ground.or premises whereon the
same may be, and to collect said expense by suit or motion or by
distress and sale; to require all lands, lots and other premises within
the town, to be kept clean and sanitary and free from stagnant water,
weeds, filth and unsightly deposits, or to make them so at the ex-
pense of the owners or occupants thereof, and to collect said expense
by suit or motion or by distress and sale; to regulate, or prevent
slaughter houses or other noisome. or offensive business within the
said town, the keeping of hogs or other animals, poultry or other
fowl therein, or the exercise of any dangerous or unwholesome busi-
ness, trade or employment therein; to regulate the transportation of
all articles through the streets of the town; to compel the abatement
of smoke and dust and prevent unnecessary noise; to regulate the
location of stables and the manner in which they shall be kept and
constructed; to regulate the location, construction, operation, and
maintenance of billboards, signs, advertising, and gemerally to define,
prohibit, abate, suppress and prevent all things detrimental to the
health, morals, aesthetic, safety, convenience and welfare of the
inhabitants of the town, and to require all owners or occupants of
property having sidewalks in front thereof to keep the same clean
and sanitary, and free from all weeds, filth, unsightly deposits, ice
and snow.

(16) To extinguish and prevent fires, and to establish, regulate
and control a fire department or division, to regulate the size, height,
materials and construction of buildings, fences, walls, retaining walls
and other structures hereafter erected in such manner as the public
safety and conveniences may require; to remove or require to be
removed or reconstructed any building, structure or addition thereto
which by reason of dilapidation, defect of structure, or other causes
may have become dangerous to life or property, or which may be
erected contrary to law; to establish and designate from time to
time fire limits, within which limits wooden buildings shall not be con-
structed, removed, added to, enlarged, or repaired and to direct that
any or all future buildings within such limits shall be constructed of
stone, natural or artificial, concrete, brick, iron or other fireproof
materials; and may enact stringent and efficient laws for securing
the safety of persons from fires in halls and buildings used for public
assemblies, entertainments or amusements.

(17) To direct the location of all buildings for storing explosives
or combustible substances; to regulate the sale and use of gun pow-
der, nitro-glycerine, fireworks, kerosene oil or other like materials;
to regulate the exhibition of fireworks, the discharge of firearms,
and the making of bonfires in the streets and yards.

(18) To authorize and regulate the erection of party walls and
fences, and to prescribe how the cost thereof shall be borne by coter-
minous owners.

(19) To provide for regular and safe construction of houses in
the town for the future, and to, provide a building code for the town,
to provide setback lines on the streets beyond which no building
may be constructed, to require the standard of all dwellingghouses
be maintained in residential section in keeping with the majority of
residences therein, and to require the standard of all business houses
be maintained in business sections in keeping with the majority of
the business houses therein.

(20) To provide for the care, support and maintenance of chil-
dren and of sick, aged, insane or poor persons and paupers.

(21) To prevent fowls and animals being kept in or running at
large in the town, or any thickly populated portion thereof, and to
subject the same to such taxes, regulations and penalties as the
council may think proper.

(22) To prevent the riding or driving of horses or other animals
at an improper speed; to prevent the flying of kites, throwing of
stones, or engaging in any sort of employment in the public streets
which is dangerous or annoying to passersby, and to prohibit and
punish the abuse of animals.

(23) To provide in or near the town, lands to be used as burial
places for the dead; to improve and care for the same and the ap-
proaches thereto, and to charge for and regulate the use of the ground
therein; to cooperate with any non-profit corporation in the improve-
ment and care of burial places and the approaches thereto; and to
provide for the perpetual upkeep and care of any plot or burial lot
therein, the town is authorized to take and receive sums of money
by gift, bequest, or otherwise to be kept invested, and the income
thereof used in and about the perpetual upkeep and care of the said
lot or plot, for which the said donation, gift, or bequest shall have
been made.

(24) To prevent any person having no visible means of support,
paupers, and persons who may be dangerous to the peace and safety
of the town, from coming to said town from without the same; and
also to expel therefrom any such person who has been in said town
less than twelve months.

(25) To restrain and punish drunkards, vagrants and street beg-
gars, to prevent and quell riots, disturbances and disorderly assem-
blages; to suppress houses of ill-fame and gambling houses; to prevent
and punish lewd, indecent and disorderly exhibitions in said town;
and to expel therefrom persons guilty of such conduct who have not
resided therein as much as one year.

(26) To make and enforce ordinances, in so far as permitted by
the general laws of this State, to regulate, control, license and/or
tax the manufacture, bottling, sale, distribution, transportation,
handling, advertising, possession, dispensing, drinking and use of
alcohol, brandy, rum, whiskey, gin, wine, beer, lager beer, ale, porter,
stout, and all liquids, beverages and articles containing alcohol by
distillation, fermentation or otherwise.

(27) To prohibit and punish for mischievous, wanton, or mali-
cious damage to school and public property, as well as private property.

(28) To prohibit from, and punish minors for, frequenting, play-
ing in or loitering in any public pocgoom, billiard parlor, or bowling
alley, and to punish any proprietor agent thereof for permitting
same.

(29) To offer and pay rewards for the apprehension and convic-
tion of criminals. 3 oo

(30) To enjoin and restrain the violation of any town ordinance
or ordinances, although a penalty is provided upon conviction of such
violation.

(31) In so far as not prohibited by general law, to pass and
enforce all by-laws, rules, regulations and ordinances which it may
deem necessary for the good order and government of the town,
the management of its property, the conduct of its affairs, the peace,
comfort, convenience, order, morals, health and protection of its
citizens or their property and to do such other things and pass such
other laws as may be necessary or proper to carry into full effect,
all powers, authority, capacity, or jurisdiction, which is or shall be
granted to or vested in said town, or in the council, court, or officers
thereof, or which may be necessarily incident to a municipal corpora-
tion.

(32) To do all things whatsoever necessary or expedient and
lawful to be done for promoting or maintaining the general welfare,
comfort, education, morals, peace, government, health, trade, com-
merce, or industries of the town, or its inhabitants.

(33) To prescribe any penalty for the violation of any town
ordinance, rule, or regulation or of any provision of this charter, not
exceeding five hundred dollars or twelve months’ imprisonment in
jail, or both.

(34) To own, operate and maintain electric light works, either
within or without the corporate limits of the town and to supply
electricity whether the same be generated or purchased by said town,
to its customers and consumers both without and within the corporate
limits of the said town, at such price and upon such terms as it may
prescribe, and to that end it may contract and purchase electricity
from the owners thereof upon such terms as it may deem expedient.

(35) To exercise the power of eminent domain within this State
with respect to lands and improvements thereon, machinery and
equipment for any lawful purpose of the said town.

(36) Except when prohibited by general law, the town may levy
a tax or a license on any person, firm or corporation pursuing or
conducting any trade, business, profession, occupation, employment
or calling whatsoever within the boundaries of the town, whether a
license may be required therefor by the State or not, and may pro-
vide penalties for any violation thereof.

(37) A lien shall exist on all real estate within the corporate
limits for taxes, levies and assessments in favor of the town, together
with all penalties and interest due thereon, assessed thereon from the
commencement of the year for which the same were assessed and
the procedure for collecting the said taxes, for selling real estate for
town taxes and for the redemption of real estate sold for town taxes
shall be the same as provided in the general law of the State to the
same extent as if the provisions of said general law were herein set
out at length. The said town and its treasurer shall have the benefit
of all other and additional remedies for the collection of town taxes
vhich are now or hereafter may be granted or permitted under the
yeneral law.

(38) All goods and chattels wheresoever found may be dis-
‘rained and sold for taxes and licenses assessed and due thereon.

(39) The enumeration of specific powers, privileges, and author-
ity in this charter shall not be deemed exclusive, but in addition to
the powers and privileges herein mentioned, implied or appropriated,
the said town shall have and may exercise, all other powers, which
are or may hereafter be, possessed, or enjoyed, by any towns under
the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, or not
denied by the same, as fully and completely as if herein set out at
length.

CHAPTER III
ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNMENT

Section 1. (a) The present mayor and council of the town of
Iron Gate shall continue in office until the expiration of the terms
of which they were respectively elected.

(b) The administration and government of the town of Iron Gate
shall be vested in one body to be called the council of the town of
Iron Gate, which shall consist of seven (7) members, six (6) of whom
shall be known as councilmen and one to be known as mayor, all of
whom shall be residents and qualified voters of the said town. The
council may create, appoint, cr elect such departments, bodies,
boards, and other officers, or assessors or attorneys as are hereinafter
provided for, or as are permitted, or required by law to be appointed
by’ the council, or as may be deemed necessary or proper, and may
fix their compensation and define their duties. ,

(c) At the regular municipal election to be held in the town on
the second Tuesday in June in the year nineteen hundred and forty-
one, and every two years thereafter, there shall be elected, in the
manner prescribed by law, six councilmen and a mayor for terms of
two years beginning on the first day of September next succeeding
their election, each of whom shall serve until his successor shall have
been elected and qualified.

THE MAYOR

Section 2. (a) The mayor shall preside at the meetings of the
council and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this
charter and by general law, and such as may be imposed by the
council consistent with his office. He shall be recognized as the
official head of the town for all ceremonial purposes, by the courts
for the purpose of serving civil process, and by the Governor for
military purposes. In time of public danger or emergency, he shall
maintain order and enforce the law. Such course of action shall be
subject to review by the council.

The mayor shall have no right to vote in the council except that
in every case of a tie vote of the council, the mayor shall be entitled
to vote and his vote in case of a tie only shall have the same weight
and effect as the vote of a councilman.

THE COUNCIL

Section 3. (a) The council shall be a continuing body, and no
measure pending before such body shall abate or be discontinued by
reason of expiration of the term of office, or removal of the members
of said body or any of them. Vacancies in the council or any office
therein shall be filled within thirty days after such vacancy occurs
for the unexpired term by a majority vote of the remaining members,
except where otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of this charter.

(b) The council shall, by ordinance, fix the time for their stated
meetings. Special meetings shall be called by the clerk of the council
upon the request of the mayor, or any three members of the council;
no business shall be transacted at a special meeting but that for
which it shall be called, unless the council be unanimous. The meet-
ings of the council shall be open to the public, except when the public
welfare shall require executive sessions.

(c) If any member of the said council shall be voluntarily absent
from three regular meetings of the council consecutively, his seat
may be deemed vacant by resolution of the council and thereupon
his unexpired term shall be filled according to the provisions of this
act.

TOWN CLERK

Section 4. The town clerk shall be appointed by the council, and
shall attend the meetings of the council and shall keep permanent
records of its proceedings; he shall be custodian of the town seal
and shall afhx it to all documents and instruments requiring the
seal, and shall attest the same; he shall keep all papers, codes, docu-
ments, and records pertaining to the town, the custody of which is
not otherwise provided for in this charter; he shall give notice to all
parties, presenting petitions, or communications to the council of
the final action of the council on such communications or petitions;
he shall give to the proper department or officials ample notice of
the expiration or termination of any franchise, contracts or agree-
ments; he shall publish such reports and ordinances as the council is
required to publish, and such other records and ordinances as it may
direct; he shall upon final passage transmit to the proper departments
or officials copies of all ordinances or resolutions of the council re-
lating in any way to such departments or to the duties of such officials,
and he shall perform such other acts and duties as the council may,
from time to time, allow or require.

TOWN TREASURER

Section 5. (a) The town treasurer shall be elected by the town
council for a term of afice nat evceedino the term af the canncil Wey
whom he is elected, and shall, before entering upon the duties of hi:
office, give bond with sufficient surety to be approved by the council
in a penalty of such amount as may be fixed by the council from time
to time, payable to the town of Iron Gate, conditioned for the true
and faithful performance of the duties of his office. The treasure:
shall be responsible for the collection of all taxes, licenses and levie:
and charges for services furnished by the public utilities of the town.

(b) The town treasurer shall receive all moneys belonging to the
town which it is his duty to collect from persons owing the same tc
the town, or which it is the duty of other officers of the town to col.
lect and pay over to him, and pay the same out as the ordinances of!
the town may prescribe; to keep such moneys safely and account
therefor; and to pay all drafts or orders made on him in conformity
with the ordinances of the town.

(c) The funds of the town shall be deposited by the treasurer in
such bank or banks as the council may direct. He shall keep books
showing accurately the state of his accounts and the money of the
town shall be kept distinct and separate from his own money and he
is hereby expressly prohibited from using directly or indirectly the
town’s money, checks or warrants in his custody and keeping for
his own use and benefit, or that of any person or persons whomsoever,
and any violation of this provision shall subject him to immediate
removal from office.

(d) The books and accounts of the town treasurer and all papers
relating to the accounts and transactions of the town, shall be, at all
times subject to the inspection of the mayor, the town council, and
such other persons as the council may appoint, to examine the same,
and all such books and accounts, together with any balance or moneys
on hand, shall be transferred by the treasurer to his successor at
every new appointment, or delivered up as the council may at any
time require.

(e) The town treasurer shall, when required by the council,
render an account to the council showing the state of the treasury
and the balance of money on hand. He shall also, if required so to
do by the council, accompany such account with a statement of all
money received by him and on what account, with a list of all checks
paid by him during the month then closed, and shall furnish such
other information, accounts and statements as the town council
may direct. |

({) The treasurer shall perform such additional duties as may
be required of him by the council not inconsistent with the laws of
the State.

(g) The town treasurer shall receive for his services such com-
yensation, if any, as the council may deem proper.

TOWN SERGEANT

Section 6. At the regular municipal election to be held on the
cond Tuesday in June, in the year nineteen hundred and forty-one,
prescribed by law a town sergeant for a term of two years, beginning
on the first day of September next succeeding his election, who shall
serve until his successor shall have been elected and qualified. The
town sergeant shall qualify before and give bond in such amount as
the council may require. He shall be vested with powers of a con-
servator of the peace, and shall have the same powers and discharge
the same duties as a constable within the corporate limits of the
town and to a distance of one mile beyond the same, and shall per-
form such other duties as may be from time to time prescribed by
the council.

CHAPTER IV
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. All contracts and obligations heretofore or hereafter
made by the council of the town of Iron Gate, while in office, not
inconsistent with this charter, or the constitution, or the general
laws of this State shall be, and are hereby declared to be valid and
legal...

Section 2. The present bonded indebtedness of the town of Iron
Gate in the principal amount of fifteen thousand five hundred dollars
($15,500.00), represented by bonds dated December thirty-one, nine-
teen hundred and thirty-six, issued for the establishment of a water
supply system for the town is hereby ratified, confirmed and ap-
proved, and the town of Iron Gate is authorized to refinance or refund
said bonded indebtedness by the issuance of new bonds of the town
of Iron Gate, in the principal amount of fifteen thousand five hundred
dollars ($15,500.00), by bonds numbered consecutively from one (1)
to sixteen (16), bonds numbered one (1) to fifteen (15) of which shall
be in the principal amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) each,
and bond number sixteen (16) to be in the amount of five hundred
dollars ($500.00), with bond number one (1) maturing on the thirty-
first day of December, nineteen hundred and forty-one, and the
remaining bonds maturing annually and consecutively, in their order,
on the thirty-first day of December, in each year thereafter, with
bond number sixteen (16) in the amount of five hundred dollars
($500.00) maturing on the thirty-first day of December, in nineteen
hundred and fifty-six, which bonds shall bear interest at the rate of
four and one-half per centum from their dates, and shall contain
such other provisions as to the council of the town of Iron Gate
may seem proper; however, the town of Iron Gate shall have author-
ity to issue its bonds for this purpose, in the total principal amount
of fifteen thousand five hundred dollars ($15,500.00), in other de-
nominations and with other maturity dates than as herein prescribed,
provided all of the bonds issued hereunder mature within twenty (20)
years from the date that this act shall become effective and shall
contain such other rate of interest or provision or provisions and
terms as to the town council may seem proper and expedient.

Section 3. All ordinances now in force in the town of Iron Gate,
10t inconsistent with this charter shall be and remain in force until
ltered, amended or repealed by the council of the said town.

Section 4. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this act,
shall for any reason be adjudged by any court of competent Jjuris-
liction to be invalid, said judgment shall not effect, impair or in-
validate the remainder of the said act, but shall be confined in its
yperations to the clause, sentence, paragraph or part thereof directly
nvolved in the controversy in which said judgment shall have been
-endered.

Section 5. This act may for all purposes be referred to or cited
1s the Iron Gate charter of nineteen hundred and forty.

Section 6. All acts or parts of acts in conflict with this charter,
n so far as they affect the provisions of this charter, and all former
~harters and amendments thereto for the town of Iron Gate, Virginia,
are hereby repealed.

Section 7. An emergency existing, this act shall be in force from
its passage.