CHAPTER LXV.

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OF AUSTIN.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That Julius Schutze, president; F. Bastian, C. Domschke, J. Quast, F. Settegast, F. Petitpierre and C. Wellmer as trustees, and their successors, be and they are hereby constituted a board of directors of the Benevolent Association established in the city of Austin, by which name it shall have succession and be capable of suing and being sued, of defending and being defended in any of the courts of this State, to acquire and hold estate, real, personal and mixed, to encumber, sell or otherwise alienate the same as said company may deem expedient.

SEC. 2. The object of this association is to provide for its members in case of sickness, medical attendance and medicines free of cost; to provide for the burial of a member or members in case of death, and to provide for the support of widows and orphans of deceased members of said association.

SEC. 3. The said corporation shall have power to enact such bylaws, rules and regulations for its government, and generally to do any and all things that may seem proper to its members for the promotion and interest of the association, not repugnant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas and the United States..

SEC. 4. That this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved November 16, 1871.

CHAPTER LXVI.

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE ISLAND CITY GAS COMPANY.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That T. W. Mather, Nathan Patten and F. C. Moseback, their associates and successors, be and are hereby constituted and declared to be a body politic and corporate under the name and style of the Island City Gas Company, with capacity to make contracts; to have succession and a common seal; to make by-laws for its gov

ernment, and in its corporate name to sue and be sued; to grant and receive, and generally to do and perform such acts and things as may be necessary and proper for, or incident to, the fulfillment of its objects or maintenance of its rights under this act and consistent with the provisions of the State Constitution.

SEC. 2. That the said company be and hereby is established with the right of erecting, owning and maintaining works for the generation of gas on Galveston Island, and laying down in the streets, lanes and alleys, and other public grounds, within the city of Galveston and the suburbs thereof, pipes for the conveyance of gas in and through said city and its suburbs.

SEC. 3. That the capital stook of said company shall be divided into shares of fifty dollars each, and the holders of such shares shall constitute said company, and each member shall be entitled to one vote in person, or by proxy, for each and every share he, she or they, may own; and such shares of stock shall be transferable alone upon the books of the company.

SEC. 4. That the affairs and business of said company shall be conducted and managed by a board of directors, not less than three nor more than seven, who shall be elected by the company at such time as the stockholders may appoint, and annually thereafter; provided, that in case of failure to elect at the stated time, the board of directors incumbent shall continue in office until there be an election, the time for which may be fixed by said board, whereof reasonable notice shall be given."

SEC. 5. That no person shall be eligible as a director unless he be the owner of five shares of the capital stock. The said board shall elect a president from their number, fill vacancies, and appoint such cther officers and agents as they may deem necessary, and require securities for the faithful performance of their duties; also, prescribe the time for the payment of instalments or assessments upon the capital stock, and the amount of such instalments or assessments; to declare the forfeiture of such stock for non-payment; and to do or cause to be done all other lawful acts or things which they may deem necessary or proper in conducting the business of said company. A majority of said board of directors shall constitute a quorum for doing business. All instruments in writing, executed by the president and secretary under the seal of the company with the consent of the board of directors, shall be valid and binding.

SEC. 6. That the board shall have power to elect an agent or agents, who shall be members of said company, and whose name shall be made known to the public, and by whom the business of the corporation may be conducted under the powers given him by the board.

SEC. 7. The company hereby intended to be chartered and es tablished, shall in no case charge more than six dollars per one thousand feet of first quality of gas.

SEC. 8. That this act shall take effect from and after its passage. Approved November 17, 1871.

CHAPTER LXVII.

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE G. M. JOHNSON LODGE NUMBER NINETYSEVEN, INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS, AT STARVILLE, TEXAS.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That J. G. Human, N. G., and the subordinate officers and members of G. M. Johnson Lodge No. 97, I. O. O. F., located at Starville, Smith county, and their successors, are hereby created a body corporate and politic, with power to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, purchase, own and convey real estate, and receive conveyances of the same; make by-laws for the government of the lodge, have a common seal, and to do and perform all acts and things necessary to carry out the objects of their association.

SEC. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage, and remain in force fifty years. Approved November 17, 1871.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE BRYAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That H. T. Downard, T. J. Dearing, Spencer Ford, T. T. Smothers, R. A. Blanford, Wm. McIntosh, C. F. Moore, H. A. Moore, H. Mitchell, S. D. Conger, Frank Clark, R. R. Gilbert, E. L. Ward and D. C. Barmese, their associates and successors, be and they are hereby incorporated by the name and style of the Bryan Horticultural Society, for the purpose of encouraging and

improving the science and practice of horticulture, and promoting the amelioration of the various species of trees, fruits, plants and vegetables, and the introduction of new species and varieties, and for no other purpose whatever; with power to make by-laws, not inconsistent with the laws of this State, for the regulation of said society; to receive donations and bequests for promoting the objects of said society; to levy and collect assessments not exceeding twelve dollars per annum; to enforce the payment of such assessments by suit; to purchase, receive, occupy, hold and convey any real or personal estate which may be proper to carry out the objects of this association; to elect officers and appoint agents to transact the business, manage and apply the funds, discharge the functions and promote the objects thereof, and to commence, prosecute and defend suits, and use a common seal.

SEC. 2. That said society be and they are hereby authorized to appropriate any part of the real estate to be purchased by them for a garden, and for this purpose to lay out the same into suitable squares, lots, walks and mounds, and to plant and embellish the same with shrubbery, flowers, trees and rural ornaments.

SEC. 3. That a majority of the above named corporators shali have power to call the first meeting and organize the corporation; and that this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved November 17, 1871.

CHAPTER LXIX.

AN ACT TO ORGANIZE AND INCORPORATE THE PARIS AND BONHAM TAP OF THE MISSOURI, KANSAS AND TEXAS RAILROAD.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That John B. Bennett, Alfred S. Johnson, Sam Bell Maxey, H. S. Bennett, Geo. W. Wright, J. C. Blackman, B. S. Walcott, Samuel A. Roberts, Gideon Smith, S. B. Allen, Wm. A. Evans, Thomas B. Williams, J. P. Dumas, and their associates and successors, be and they are hereby constituted a body corporate and politic by the name and style of the Paris and Bonham Tap of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad Company, and by said name shall have succession and a common seal, with capacity to make contracts, and in its said corporate name to sue and be sued, to make

by-laws for its general government and management, and generally to do and perform all such acts and things as may be necessary and proper for or incidental to the fulfillment of its obligations or the maintenance of its rights under this act, consistent with the Constitution of the State and the United States.

SEC. 2. Said company is hereby authorized to construct, own and maintain, and to equip and operate a continuous line of railway of such gauge as said company may deem best, as well as a telegraph line from the city of Paris, in Lamar county, by the most practicable route to the town of Bonham, in Fannin county, and thence by the. most practicable route to a point of intersection with the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad somewhere between Red River and the south boundary lines of the counties of Fannin and Grayson, as said company may deem most practicable.

SEC. 3. That to effect the objects of this corporation, the said company shall have the right, in the corporate name, to purchase, own and use, and sell lands, and other property, and to accept donations of land or other property, or to receive the same in payment of subscriptions of stock, and to issue stock therefor as the contracting parties may agree upon; to use such weight of iron per lineal yard as the company may deem best; to fix the capital stock of said company at not exceeding five millions of dollars, which shall consist of shares of one hundred dollars each, transferable as the laws of said company may direct. In the election of officers, each share shall entitle the owner thereof to one vote, which may be given by himself, or by proxy, authorized in writing. The board of directors shall have power to require payment of stock subscribed in such instalments and at such times and places as the by-laws of the company may provide, and shall be required at each meeting to report all action taken and proceedings held by them during the previous year.

SEC. 4. The persons named in the first section of this act, or a majority of them, shall meet in the town of Bonham within ninety days of the passage of this act, and temporarily organize the company, by electing a president and vice president from the incorporators, and a secretary and treasurer, who shall be required to report at each annual meeting, and a board of directors, which said board shall consist of not less than five nor more than seven persons. The officers elected, as aforesaid, shall continue in office not exceeding six months, within which time they shall permanently organize by calling a meeting of the stockholders, and holding an election for a like number of directors as is mentioned in the temporary organization. The said election shall be called by the president, or any three directors. The directors shall have power to appoint an executive committee, and confer on it such powers as they deem necessary;