CHAPTER 12

An Act to amend and reenact § 2.804 of Chapter 276 of the Acts of As-
sembly of 1954, approved March 15, 1954, providing a new charter
for the town of Richlands, in the county of Tazewell, Virginia, said
section relating to the general powers of said town in connection with
the public streets, highways, alleys, sidewalks, parkways or parks of
said town.

(H 34]

Approved September 19, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 2.304 of Chapter 276 of the Acts of Assembly of 1954, approved
March 15, 1954, be amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 2.304. To survey, establish, enter, open, widen, extend, grade,
construct, pave, maintain, light, sprinkle, and clean, public streets, high-
ways, alleys, sidewalks, parkways or parks and to relocate, alter or close
the same; and in relocating, altering or closing any public street or alley to
have power to agree to a substitution of a new location, in whole or in part,
in the place of the street or alley, or portions thereof, relocated, altered or
closed, and to execute such agreements, releases or deeds in connection
therewith as may be deemed expedient and proper in carrying the same into
effect, and also to have power to ratify and approve the substitution of new
locations, in whole or in part, in the place of a public street or alley, or
portions thereof, previously relocated, altered or closed, in whole or in part,
and of approving and ratifying agreements, releases or deeds previously
executed by said town in connection therewith and in carrying the same
into effect at the time thereof, if deemed expedient and proper; to regulate
the weight of loads to be hauled or carried over and upon the streets in
so far as such regulation of weights of loads does not conflict with general
State laws relating to load limits to be carried or transported over State
highways; to regulate the use of all such highways, parks, streets, alleys,
parkways, and public places; to prevent the obstruction, destruction or
injury of any of such streets, alleys or highways; in conformity with and
subject to general State laws in effect from time to time, to require any
railroad company operating a railroad at the place where any highway or
street is crossed within the limits of the town to construct and maintain
adequate crossings and to erect and maintain at such crossing any style of
gate or warning signal deemed proper by the council; to regulate the opera-
tion and speed of all cars, motorcycles, bicycles or vehicles upon said streets
or highways as well as the speed of all engines, cars, of railroad trains
within the town; to permit or prohibit towers, poles or wires for electric,
telephone, telegraph, radio, or television purposes to be erected or wired or
constructed to change the location or remove the same; to construct,
maintain and operate bridges, viaducts, subways, tunnels, sewers, and
drains; to plant, maintain or remove shade trees along the streets and
upon public grounds; and to do all other things ‘whatsoever to make said
streets and highways safe, convenient and attractive.

2. An emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.