notice of the same to be left with, or at the usual place of abode of each member of said corporation, stating the time and place of said meeting, at least seven days before it is to be held; and said meeting shall be held at some place in the town of New London. SEC. 9. It shall be the duty of the president and trustees of said corporation to make an annual report to the general assembly, containing a statement of the amount of deposits, and of the dividends declared and made by said corporation for the preceding year. SEC. 10. Said corporation shall be subject to the provisions of all the public acts of this state relating to savings banks. SEC. 11. This act shall take effect from and after the day of its passage. SEC. 12. This resolution may be altered, amended or repealed at the pleasure of the general assembly. Approved, July 1st, 1873. [House Joint Resolution No. 75.] EXTENDING THE TIME TO SECURE RIGHT OF WAY TO THE RIDGEFIELD AND NEW YORK RAILROAD COMPANY. Resolved by this Assembly: That the time for the Ridgefield and New York Railroad Company to secure the right of way, as set forth in their charter, be, and is hereby extended for one year from the expiration thereof. Approved, July 1st, 1873. [House Joint Resolution No. 64.] RELATING TO THE RIDGEFIELD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. WHEREAS, The Ridgefield Agricultural Society, incorporated in eighteen hundred and sixty-two, has transferred all its property and effects to a joint stock corporation, duly organized under the name of "The Ridgefield Agricultural Society Corporation," for the purpose of purchasing a tract of land, and erecting buildings thereon, in the town of Ridgefield, and holding annual agricultural fairs thereon, and for other purposes; therefore, Resolved by this Assembly: That all the corporate powers of said agricultural society be, and they are hereby transferred to and vested in the above named corporation, and that said corporation be entitled to all the privileges, and subject to all the liabilities pertaining to other incorporated agricultural societies of this state, according to the laws thereof. Approved, July 1st, 1873. [House Bill No. 18.] AN ACT AMENDING THE ACT INCORPORATING "THE CONNECTICUT INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS." Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: SECTION 1. The age of girls committed to The Connecticut School for Girls, shall be between eight and sixteen years. SEC. 2. In addition to the directors now existing, two other directors shall be annually chosen, in the manner provided by law. SEC. 3. This act shall take effect from its passage, and all acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed. Approved, July 1st, 1873. [91.] AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: SECTION 1. That the city of Bridgeport be, and the same is hereby empowered to purchase of the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company of the city of Bridgeport, all the rights, privileges, franchises, real estate, fixtures and personal property belonging to said company; and if the said city of Bridgeport and the said Bridgeport Hydraulic Company are unable to agree, as to the fair value of all the property and rights aforesaid of said Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, then an estimate of the fair value of all the property and estate of every name and nature whatsoever, of the said Bridgeport Hydraulic Company may be made by three disinterested persons, to be appointed by any judge of the superior or supreme court of errors, upon the application of the city of Bridgeport upon ten days' notice to said Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, and said board of appraisers shall proceed to value said property and estate, and to publish to the parties their award by filing the same with the clerk of the superior court for Fairfield county. SEC. 2. If upon publication of said award, and if upon offer by the city of Bridgeport, to fulfill the terms of said award, incumbent upon them as purchasers, the said Bridgeport Hydraulic Company shall fail or decline to make, execute and deliver by proper conveyance all the property and estate aforesaid, to the said city of Bridgeport, and to surrender to said city all their corporate powers, then the city of Bridgeport is hereby authorized and empowered to take and use the water out of the Pequonnock river, or any other stream, lake or pond, and to build, construct or enlarge any dam, pond or reservoir, and to hold, convey and distribute the water from such stream, lake, pond or reservoir, into and through the city or town of Bridgeport, by means of reservoirs, pipes, aqueducts, and other suitable works, in such quantities as the necessities and conveniences of said city may require; to take and hold any lands, property or privileges, and to exercise any powers not inconsistent with the laws of this state or the United States, that may be necessary or convenient for the carrying into full effect the purpose of this act. SEC. 3. The common council of said city of Bridgeport shall, upon the acceptance of the provisions of this act by said city as herein provided, elect four persons, residents of said city, in the manner designated by the 49th section of the charter of said city for the election of road and bridge commissioners, who, with the mayor of said city, ex-officio, shall be the board of water commissioners; said commissioners shall hold their office for the length of time in said 49th section designated for said road and bridge commissioners, and said common council of said city of Bridgeport shall, on nomination of the board of water commissioners, appoint an engineer, a treasurer and superintendent, and such other officers as may be necessary and at such compensation as may be approved of by said common council, and said commissioners may employ such other persons as may be necessary to construct said works and carry out the provisions of this act, and all of said officers shall give a bond with sufficient surety for the faithful performance of their duties, in such sum as said common council shall prescribe, and all of said officers shall hold their offices until their successors are duly elected and sworn. SEC. 4. Said commissioners are hereby authorized and empowered to take and enter upon and to purchase and take conveyances for and in the name of said city of all lands, property or privileges, necessary or convenient for accomplishing the purposes of this act, to hold in sufficient quantities the water of any stream, either within or without said city of Bridgeport, by the construction of suitable dams across the same; to enter upon any lands near such proposed dams, and procure earth, stone or other material for the construction and maintenance thereof, and to make suitable waste ways for the surplus water of such stream; to change the location of any road or passway which may be covered by the waters of any reservoir so formed and take land therefor, to enter upon and make use of the ground or soil under any railroad, street, high or private way, public or private grounds, and lay, construct and maintain all necessary pipes and aqueducts, in such manner as least to damage or impede travel thereon; to make contracts for labor and materials for the general purposes of this act; to make and establish public reservoirs; to locate hydrants under the direc tion of the common council; to make rules and regulations regarding the use and distribution of said water, and establish the prices to be paid therefor; to audit, and allow and draw orders on said treasurer for the payments of all claims against said city on account of said water works, including the payment of interest on notes or bonds issued on account of such works; and generally to attend to the construction, care, supervision and management of said water works, and to exercise any additional powers that from time to time may be conferred upon them by the common council of said city, and to do any other act necessary or convenient for accomplishing the purposes of supplying said city with water, and to distribute said water through said city. A majority of said water commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of said board: provided, that nothing herein shall be construed as permitting said city in any manner to destroy, interfere with or injure any of the works or pipes of the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company. SEC. 5. The said city of Bridgeport shall be liable to pay all the damages that shall be sustained by any person, persons or corporation, by the taking of any lands or estate as aforesaid, or by the construction or laying of any reservoir, pipes, aqueducts or other works for the purpose of this act; and, if at any time it shall appear that any damage has occurred, or may be likely to occur, to any person, persons or corporation, by reason of taking or using their land or estate for the purposes of this act, or in the construction of said water works, and the said board of commissioners cannot agree with the owner or owners of such property or privileges as to the amount of compensation or damages to be paid to them, or in case any such owner shall be an infant or married woman, or insane, or absent from this state, or unknown, or the owner of a contingent or uncertain interest, then such compensation or damages may be assessed by three disinterested persons under oath, to be appointed by either judge of the superior court, on application made to said judge by or on behalf of said city of Bridgeport after such notice shall be given of such application as said judge shall prescribe; which said appraisers shall report their doings, embracing the amount of their assessment, to the clerk of the superior court for Fairfield county, to be by him recorded, and thereupon such assessment shall be taken and held to be a final adjustment of said compensation and damages between said parties; and payment thereof, or deposit of the same with the county treasurer to the use of such owner or owners, shall release said city from liability to any further claim for compensation or damages. SEC. 6. For the purpose of defraying the cost of construction of said water works and expenses incident thereto, or for the purchase, extending, enlarging and repairing of the works, privileges, and franchises of the said Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, at said price herein before stated, and for no other purpose whatever, said city is hereby authorized and empowered to issue notes, bonds or certificates of debts to be denominated on the face thereof, Water Fund of the City of Bridgeport, to an amount not exceeding the sum of five hundred thousand dollars, bearing interest at six per cent. payable semi-annually, interest and principal payable in gold, and free from taxation by the city and town of Bridgeport, the principal of said bonds to be payable at some certain place and time or times within forty years from the date of issue; and the amount of said notes, bonds or certificates which may at any time be issued, together with the times of the payment of principal and interest thereof, shall be prescribed by said city of Bridgeport, in a legal meeting for that purpose called and held; and said notes, bonds and certificates shall be signed by the |