SPECIAL LAWS OF TEXAS.

CHAPTER I.-An act to legalize the sale of real estate which belonged to Stephens county, in and near the town of Breckenridge, Stephens county, Texas.

Whereas, Judge E. L. Walker, who was appointed by the proper authority as commissioner to sell the real estate which belonged to Stephens county, located in and around the town of Breckenridge, did sell a portion of said lots and lands at private sale; and whereas, the general law of the state requires that all such sales be made at nublic auction; and whereas, it is deemed proper and expedient that every doubt as to the legality of the sale be removed; therefore,

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That all sales, transfers and conveyances of all lots, tracts or parcels of land in and near Breckenridge, in said county of Stephens, made by the said E. L. Walker, as commissioner for the sale of said real estate, be and the same are hereby legalized and declared to be as legal and valid as if they had been made in strict conformity to law.

Sec. 2. That the county clerk of Stephens county be and he is hereby authorized to record a certified copy of this act in the books kept in his office for the record of deeds.

Sec. 3. The great importance to the citizens of Breckenridge and vicinity that the titles to all of said real estate be at once settled, and the clouds on the titles of purchasers from the commissioner be removed, creates an imperative public necessity and emergency that this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage, and it is so enacted. Approved February 24, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect ninety days after adjournment.

CHAPTER II.-An act to amend section seventeen of "an act to incorporate the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railway company, and to grant land in aid of the construction of the same," passed March 28, 1873.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That section seventeen of the above recited act shall be amended so as to hereafter read as follows:

Section 17. That the organization of this company shall be perfected within six months from date of the passage of this act, and eighty miles

of their said railroad shall be completed by the first day of March, 1880, and fifty miles each year thereafter or this charter shall be forfeited as to that portion not built.

Approved March 8, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect ninety days after adjournment.

CHAPTER III.—An act to authorize the county of Galveston to sell the shares of the capital stock of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railway company owned by said county.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the commissioners' court of Galveston county be and the same is hereby authorized and empowered to sell the shares of the capital stock of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railway company now owned by Galveston county, at public sale, at such times and places, in such manner as the said commissioners' court may deem for the best interest of said county and the inhabitants thereof; provided, that all sales of said stock shall be made at the door of the courthouse of Galveston county, in parcels of not more than five shares, to the highest bidder for cash; provided further, that the commissioners' court of Galveston county may sell said stock at private sale to such citizens of Galveston county and upon such terms as they may deem best for the interest of the county; but in case of private sale said commissioners' court shall require the purchaser or purchasers thereof to enter into a bond, payable to the county of Galveston, in any sum not less than two hundred thousand dollars, conditioned that such purchaser or purchasers shall construct, equip and put in running order a railroad from the present terminus (at Richmond) of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railway to Belton, Bell county, within the time required by the provisions of the charter of said railway

company.

Sec. 2. All money received from the sale of said stock shall be used in the purchase and redemption of the Galveston county Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railway stock bonds.

Sec. 3. That the commissioners' court of Galveston county shall have power to pass all orders necessary to carry out and give effect to the provisions of this act.

Sec. 4. Whereas, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railway company owes a large debt which is secured by a deed of trust under which all the property and franchises of said railway company is liable to be sold, and its stock thereby rendered valueless to said county, and an emergency exists that this act take effect from its passage; therefore, this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved March 8, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect from and after its passage.

CHAPTER IV.—An act to authorize the mayor and board of aldermen of the town of Waxahachie to transfer its stock in the Waxahachie Tap railroad.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the mayor and board of aldermen of the town of Waxahachie, in the state aforesaid, at a regular meeting of said board, be and are hereby

authorized and empowered to sell and transfer upon such terms and in such mode as to them may seem best for the interest of said town and the citizens thereof, all interest owned by said town as stock or right thereto, as well as all interest or right in or to shares of stock in the capital stock of the Waxahachie Tap railroad company.

Sec. 2. Whereas, a necessity exists for the immediate sale and transfer of the stock mentioned in the preceding section to advance the interests of said town, it is hereby declared to be a case of emergency, and that this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved March 11, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect from and after its passage.

CHAPTER V.-An act to repeal an act entitled "an act to authorize and require all forced saies of real estate and sales of negroes made by executors and administrators in the county of Travis, to be made on Congress avenue, at the southeast corner of Block No. 70," approved November 28, 1857.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the above recited act be and the same is hereby repealed.

Approved March 13, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect ninety days after adjournment.

CHAPTER VI.-An act to incorporate the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in and for the State of Texas, under and by the name and style of the Grand Lodge of Texas.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons in and for the State of Texas, now or hereafter acting under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Texas, be and are hereby incorporated under and by the name and style of "The Grand Lodge of Texas," and by that name shall have and exercise corporate powers, and by that name shall have perpetual succession of officers and members; shall have a common seal, which may be changed at the pleasure of the Grand Lodge; shall have full power to take and acquire, hold and enjoy real and personal property; to sue for and recover all sum or sums of money or property of any description, and shall have the right to sell, alien and convey its property of all kinds, at its will and pleasure, and to incumber by mortgage with usual clauses, or such clauses as it pleases, any or all of its property in such manner as may be deemed expedient by the Grand Lodge, and shall in like manner have the right to borrow money and to execute its obligations therefor in such form as may be prescribed by the Grand Lodge, or that may be approved by said Grand Lodge when obligations have already issued by the said Grand Lodge.

Sec. 2. That all subordinate lodges heretofore chartered by the Grand Lodge of Texas, and now existing, and all lodges which may hereafter be chartered by said Grand Lodge, shall constitute and form parts and parcels of the Grand Lodge incorporated by this act, under the name or

names by which such subordinate lodges were or may be chartered; and such subordinate lodges shall have the right to sue and be sued by their corporate name, and shall have the right to acquire and hold real or personal property, and to sell or mortgage the same, but the power to sell or mortgage shall be subject to such conditions or prerequisites as may be from time to time established by said Grand Lodge, and no sale or mortgage shall be made except by the previously obtained consent of the Grand Lodge. Such subordinate lodges shall at all times be subject to the jurisdiction and control of said Grand Lodge, and subject, as heretofore, to have their charters revoked by said Grand Lodge. Upon the demise of any subordinate lodge, all property and rights existing in such lodge shall pass to and vest in the Grand Lodge, subject in its hands to the payment of all debts due by such subordinate lodge, but the Grand Lodge shall never be liable for any sum greater than the actual cash value of the effects of such subordinate lodge actually received by it or its authority.

Sec. 3. This act is declared to be a public general statute and shall as such be taken notice of by all courts and in all places.

Sec. 4. The charter under which the Grand Lodge of Texas is now acting being defective, creates an imperative public necessity and emergency which requires that this act should be immediately passed, and to to take effect and be in force from and after its passage, and it is so enacted. Approved March 19, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect from and after its passage.

CHAPTER VII.-An act to amend section two of the charter of the corporation of Victoria, and to provide for certain changes caused thereby.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That section two of the present charter of the corporation of Victoria be, and is hereby so amended as hereafter to read as follows:

"Section 2. That the bounds and limits of said town, and within which said corporation shall exercise lawful jurisdiction, shall include and comprehend the territory embraced within the metes and bounds. now laid out and designated as the town proper of said town, and continued within one mile square so known and designated as the town proper of the town of Victoria; provided, that all streets, alleys, roads or highways, as heretofore laid out or established within the territory. relieved from the jurisdiction of the said corporation under this act, are declared to be so set apart for public use, and shall remain forever as so established; and provided further, that all lots or parcels of lots of land. or subdivisions of the same which at the time of the passage of this act did belong to the said corporation of the town of Victoria, situated in said territory cut off under this act from the jurisdiction of the aforesaid. corporation, shall remain the property of the said corporation of Victoria; and provided further, that all taxes due prior to January 1, 1879, to said corporation from any person or property within the territory cut off from the jurisdiction as aforesaid, shall exist as claims against said persons or property, and due to said corporation, and subject to collection as provided by the laws regulating the assessment and collection of taxes." Approved March 19, A. D. 1879.

Takes effect ninety days after adjournment.