The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-02

serve notices, and perform such other Off
cial duties as may he required Of him by
the commissioner. Before entering upon
the duties OF their respective offices the said
commissioner and clerk shall make and sub
scribe an oath that they will faithfully per-
form the said duties; and the said commits
sioner shall further make and subscribe an
oath that he Is not stockholder in, nor the
owner OF any bonds CT, nor in the employ
ment of any railroad company created by
the laws OF this or any other State, and that
no such stock or bonds are held in trust for
him. The said oaths shall be filed in the
office of the Board Of Public Works, and an
entry OF the taking OF such oatbs shall be
made on records OF the proceedings OF said
commissioner, which shall be kept in his
Office.
SUPERVISION OF RAILROADS.
9. Said commissioner shall have the gen.
eral supervision Of OIL railroads in this State
operated by steam, and shall examine the
same and keep himself informed as to their
physical condition and the manner in which
they are operated, with reference to the
security and accommodation of the public,
and the compliance OF the several corpora
tions with the provisions Of their charters
and the laws Of the Commonw ealth; and
the provisions Of this act shall apply to all
railroads and railways, and to the corpora
tions, trustees, receivers, or others owning
or operating the same.
VIOLATIONS OF LAW
8. Whenever in the judgment OF the railroad
commissioner it shall appear that any such
corporation has violated any laws, or neglect
in any respect or particular to comply with
the terms of its charter, Or with the provi-
sions OF any of the laws of the Common
wealth, especially with regard to the con-
nections with other railroads, the rates OF
toll, and the timc-schedule, he shall give
notice thereof in writing to such corpora
ton; and If the violation or neglect is
continued after such notice the CON-
missioner shall make report OF the facts
to the Board OF Public Works, and
such Board shall, ii upon inquiry into
such facts it deems it proper or ne
cessary, direct the said commissioner to
make application to a circuit court, or a
Judge thereof in vacation, for an injunction
to restrain the company complained OF from
further continuing to violate the law or the
terms OF its charter.
RAILROAD REPAIRS.
4. Whenever, in the judgment OF the rail-
road commissioner, it snail appear that re-
pairs are necessary upon any such railroad,
or that any addition to the roling-stock, or
any enlargement OF or improvement on the
stations or station-houSes, or any moditica-
tions in the rates Of fare for transporting
freight or passengers, or any change in the
mode Of operating the road and conducting e
its business, is reasonable and expedient in
order to promote the security, convenience,
I,&sn - ha liz 1nr rt,p1l
give information in writing to the corpora
tion Of the improvements and changes
which he adjudges to be proper; and if the
said company shall fail within sixty days to
adopt the requirements Of said commits
sioiler he shall make report thereof to the
Board Of Public Works for such action as
it may deem expedient.
COMPLAINTS.
5. Upon the complaint and application of
the mayor and aldermen OF any city, or the
Judge Of the county court OF any county
within which any part Of any such railroad
is located, it shall be the duty of the railroad
commissioner to make Oh examination of
the physical condition and operation there
Of. Before proceeding to make such exam-
ination in accordance with such application,
said commissioner shall give to the appi-
cants and the corporation reasonable notice
in writing OF the time and place OF entering
upon the same. II upon such examination
it shall appear to said commissioner that the
complaint alleged by the applicant is well
founded, he shall so adjudge, and shall in
form the corporation operating such railroad
Of his adjudication in the same manner rs is
provided in section three; and the company
failing, for sixty days after such notice,
to remove the cause Of complaint, he shall
make report thereof to the Board Of Public
Works for such action rs 1t may deem eX-
pedient.
ACCIDENTS.
G. The railroad commissioner shall inyes-
tigate the causes OF any accident on rail
road resulting in loss OF life, and Of any ac-
ciaent not so resulting, which in his iudg-
ment shall require investigation.
INFORMATION.
Z. Every railroad corporation shall at all
times, on request, furnish the railroad COM
missioner any information required by him
concerning the physical condition, manage
ment, and operation Of its railroad, and
particularly with copies Of time, tolls, and
also with the rates for transporting freight
and passengers upon its road aud other
ADVICE AND REQUESTS.
8. No request or advice of the railroad COM
missioner shall have the effect to impair, in
any manner or degree, the legal duties and
obligations of any railroad corporation, or
its legal liability for the consequence OF its
acts, or of the neglect or mlsmanagement OF
any Of its agents or servants.
prpopT
9. The railroad commissioner shall make
an annual report to the Legislature OF his
doings, including such statements, facts,
and explanations as will disclose the actual
working Of the system of railroad transpor.
tation In its bearing upon the business and
prosperity OF the Commonwealth, and such
suggestions us the general railroad policy OF
the Commonwealth, or as to any part there
OF, or US to the condition, affairs, or con-
duct of any OF the railroad corporations, as
may seem to him appropriate, with spe-
cial report Of all accidents, and the causes
thereof, for the preceding year.
ABSTRACTS OF RETURNS.
10. The said commissioner shall require
the annual returns to be made by railroad
companies in manner and form and at the
time now provided for by law, and shal! be
authorized to require returns to be made OF
such other matters as he may deem expe-
dent. When the return received from any
corporation is defective, or probably erro-
neous, the commissioner shall notify the
CORPORATION to amend the same within ff-
teen days. The commissioner shall prepare
such tables and abstracts OF all the returns
he shall deem expedlent, and his annual re-
bort shall be transmitted to the Governor
Of the Commonwealth on or before the first