CHAPTER XL.

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE TEXAS LAND AND IMMIGRATION COMPANY.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Teras, That T. B. Reynolds, Thomas Kearney, W. W. Phelps and Ira H. Evans, and their associates, be and they are hereby incorporated and declared to be a body corporate and politic, under the name of the Texas Land and Immigration Company, and under such name may transfer their rights by succession, and shall be persons in law capable of suing and being sued, impleading and being impleaded, and that they any their successors, by the same name and style, shall be in law capable of holding and conveying and estate, real, personal or mixed, and doing and performing all things necessary for the business of said company, and not contrary to the Constitution and laws of this State. Said company shall have a corporate seal, with such device as they may select.

SEC. 2. That the objects of said company are declared to be to promote immigration to Texas, to facilitate the sale and purchase and the settlement of lands by immigration, and to introduce laborers, skilled operators and capital into the State.

SEC. 3. That the capital stock of said company shall be one million of dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each, and the said company may commence operations with all the powers and penalties of this act whenever fifty thousand dollars of the capital stock shall have been subscribed.

SEC. 4. That the management of the affairs of said company shall be conducted by a board of directors, and under such rules and regulations as the stockholders may determine at their first regular meeting; and the organization of said company and appointment of officers shall take place at such meeting.

SEC. 5. That the company may dissolve by a vote of two-thirds of the issued stock, in which event, after the payment of all outstanding obligations, the land and other possessions held by the company shall be sold at public auction, to be paid for in outstanding shares of the capital stock of the company, until all such outstanaing shares shall have been redeemed, and if not sooner dissolved its rights and franchises shall expire by limitation in thirty (30) years. SEC. 6. That a majority of the board of directors of said company shall have power to pass all necessary regulations, ordinances and by-laws for the regulation and government of said company in

its business and contracts as are not in contravention of the Constitution and laws of this State.

SEC. 7. That this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved October 24, 1871.

CHAPTER XLI.

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE VICTORIA FIRE COMPANY NO. 1.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That John M. Brownson, N. A. Thomson, E. H. Gaylord, J. E. Moody, S. H. Barton, W. L. Wheeler, John Mahon, F. R. Pridham, and their associates and successors shall be and they are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate under the name and style of Victoria Fire Company No. 1, in the town of Victoria, county of Victoria, and State of Texas.

SEC. 2. That the said corporate company shall have power to sue and be sued, to appear and prosecute to final judgment in any court or elsewhere; to have and keep a common seal with such device as they may adopt; to receive hola and grant, as prescribed by law, real and personal property; that the real and personal property of said corporate company shall at no time exceed in value the sum of twenty-five ($25,000) thousand, dollars; to enter into all contracts and perform all acts not in conflict with the Constitution and, laws of the State of Texas.

SEC. 3. That said corporate company shall have power to establish and adopt laws, not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of this State, for the government and regulation of their affairs; to alter, amend and repeal at pleasure any of said laws as shall best promote their good government; to prescribe rules and regulations for the election of officers and their respective duties; to inflict penalties on all those violating the laws and ordinances of said company, by fine, suspension or expulsion.

SEC. 4. That said company shall never exceed seventy-five (75) men, rank and file; and that the actual members of said company shall, after having served in said company for the term of twelve months, be exempt from service in the State militia except in time of actual insurrection, rebellion or war, and shall also be exempt from serving on juries, except in capital cases.

SEC. 5. That the engine, machinery and all implements actually used for the extinguishing of fires, together with a building for housing the same, shall be exempt from all taxation, and that this act shall take effect from and after its passage.

Passed October 25, 1871.

The foregoing act, received in the office of Secretary of State November thirteen, one thousand eight hundred and seventyone, having been presented to the Governor of Texas for his approval, and not having been returned by him to the House in which it originated within the time prescribed by the Constitution, has become a law without his approval.

J. E. OLDRIGHT, Acting Secretary of State.

CHAPTER XLII.

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE STAR MINING AND TRANSPORTATION COMPANY.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That H. S. Youngjohn, J. P. Brooks, F. E. Grothaus, S. H. Flint, G. W. Levin, or any two of them, and such persons as they may hereafter associate with them, are hereby created a body corporate under the name of the "Star Mining and Transportation Company."

SEC. 2. That said company shall have the right to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in their corporate name; to contract for and purchase real estate or personal property, or any interest therein, and to hold and dispose of the same; to purchase and set up and operate all species of mining apparatus ordinarily used or to be used in the smelting and reducing of copper, iron and other ores, and generally, under said corporate name, to conduct a mining business in the State of Texas.

SEC. 3. That said company shall organize as soon as a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars shall have been subscribed and five per cent. thereon paid in, to the above named parties, who are authorized in their own names, or by duly authorized agents, under powers of attorney, to jointly open books of subscription for stock in said company, the stock to be in such form and for such amount

per share, face value, as they may jointly determine to be most convenient. When the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars worth of stock shall have been taken and five per cent. of the amount paid in to the above named parties, they shall give five days' notice to all the stockholders of a time and place of meeting, to organize said company, and at such meeting said stockholders shall organize by the election of a president, vice president, treasurer and secretary, and such other officers as they may deem necessary. A majority vote of the stockholders shall be sufficient in any election at the first organization of said company; said stockholders to have one vote for each share of stock. They shall also have the right to pass all necessary by-laws for the government of the company. Said capital stock may be increased to any amount not exceeding ten million dollars.

SEC. 4. That the issue of stock and the organization of the company may be done and had at any point within the United States, and the directors of said company shall not necessarily be citizens of the State of Texas.

SEC. 5. That said company while operating any mine or mines, or preparatory thereto, shall have the right to locate and construct any railroad so as to connect said mine or mines, on the most desirable route, with any general railroad line, or any point for transportation or shipment of the products of their mines, which to them may seem advisable, and shall be the owners of such road or roads, and have and enjoy the same rights in the location, construction and operation of any such railroad or railroads as have been granted by the general laws of the State of Texas to any railroad company er to promote and aid the construction thereof; the object being to encourage and aid the development of the mineral wealth of the State and means for the rapid and cheap transportation of the products of her mines to home or foreign markets.

SEC. 6. That this act shall take effect from and after its passage, and remain in force for ninety years.

Passed October 26, 1871.

The foregoing act, received in the office of Secretary of State November thirteen, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, having been presented to the Governor of Texas for his approval, and not having been returned by him to the House in which it originated within the time prescribed by the Constitution, has become a law without his approval.

J. E. OLDRIGHT, Acting Secretary of State.

CHAPTER XLIII.

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A FERRY ACROSS THE SABINE RIVER AT MANN'S BLUFF IN THE COUNTY OF PANÓLA.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That Drue Simmons be and he is hereby authorized to establish a ferry across the Sabine river at Mann's Bluff, in the county of Panola.

SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of the said Drue Simmons to provide and keep in good repair all necessary and sufficient boats for the transportation across said river of all passengers, wagons and other wheel carriages, horses, oxen and stock of every description, and that upon providing and keeping such boats in good repair, he shall have the right to use and enjoy said ferry at said place for and during the term of twenty years.

SEC. 3. That the said Drue Simmons shall have, for and during said term of twenty years, the right to charge the following rates of toll for crossing passengers, carriages, wagons or stock at said ferry, to-wit: For one man and horse, ten cents; for buggy or wagon and horse, twenty-five cents; for carriage or wagon and two horses, thirty-five cents; for four horses or oxen and wagon, fifty cents; for foot passengers, five cents each; and for live stock five cents per head, except sheep, goats and hogs, for which two cents per head; provided, that the said Drue Simmons may charge double these rates when the waters of the said river are overflowing its banks. No other person or persons shall have the right to establish or run a ferry within one and one-half miles of the ferry hereby incorporated for the term of twenty years from and after the passage of this act.

SEC. 4. That the said Drue Simmons shall enter into bond of one thousand dollars, with sufficient security, payable to the district clerk of Panola county, and to his successors in office, for all damages that may accrue from neglect of duty.

SEC. 5. That this act shall take effect from and after its passage. Passed October 27, 1871.

The foregoing act, received in the office of Secretary of State November thirteenth, one thousand eight hundred and seventyone, having been presented to the Governor of Texas for his approval, and not having been returned by him to the House in which it originated within the time prescribed by the Constitution, has become a law without his approval.

J. E. OLDRIGHT, Acting Secretary of State.