American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-01-16
AGeneraI Railroad Law.

The following, clipped from the Pitts
hurgh Commercial, is q synopsis OF a.
General Railroad law, which Represeaaa
tative HARRISON of Lawrence county, IA
tends soon to present, for the considera>
t;on of the Legislature 1t remains to be
seeu whether the Representatives ofthe
people will carry out their Instructions
and give the people sometaisg tangible,
and not permit themselves to be controll-
ed by monopolies. 1t is about time that
the will of the people should be carried
out by such legislation as will prove to
be beneficial to all sections of the Com
monwealth, and not ccnfne their action
in favor. of those who have controlled the
same for years. The people have PER-
mittcd this state of things, until forbear-
ance, in this direction, has ceased,t be
a virtne. If we are to have general
Railroad law, let it be one, that will be
operative in its provisions, and not hem
med in and fenced. by influences intends
ed to benefit the few at the expense OF
the people
The following is the synopsis, above
referred to:
HARRIsBURG, Jan. 5, 1867.
Hon w. C.IIarbison. member of the
House from Lawrence county, has IN
hand and will present, soon, after reas-
seRbDng, a.bilf for general railroad law
for the consideration of the Legislature.
The bill has been carefully prepared,
and as Western Pennsylvania is deeply
interested in the question, | have thought
that synopsis of Mr.. Harbison's bill
would interest the several thousand daily
readers OF the COMMERCIAL,
The first section creates bureau to be
charged with the execution of all laws
relating to State railroads, its chief. ofi'
GERS the Comptroller Of State railroads
to be appointed by the Governor. Oh
the concurrence of Senate, for three
years, aad not to be interested under the
act.
Section and refer to certain detail.
about seal, Office rooms, &c.
BY section 4 any number of persons
pot less than five may unite to form {
railroad, by filling with the Comptroller
of State Railroads certificate contain
ing name and diagram, line of road
amount of capital stock, number OF shares
names and places of residence Of sub
scribers to certificates, and their pledge
that the pro ,osed road shall be construc.
ted with all due diligence.
S. Wherever the parties have duly
complied with previous sections, the,
and their asrociatcs are constituted ;
body polite, with the usual corporate
powers.
6. The Company may construct sin
gle or double track, with necessary side
tracks, turn outs, Offices, depots, etc, anc
also such branch roads from the mair
line to other towns aud places within tho
county, as they may deem necessary.
Z. Capital stock to be divided int
shares of $50 each 5 per cent. paid a
time of subscription, and not less than IL
per cent. per annum thereafter, as ma.
be required by Directors Unpaid stool
subscriptions may be sued for, or Direc
tors may sell same at auction for unpaiC
installments, due public notice being frs
given.
8. Such stock is declared persona
property, transferable No change shal
be made in the articles of association o.
bylaws by which the rights, remedies o
security Of the existing creditors of thu
Company shall tie impaired.
9. The stock may be increased by ;
majority of existing stockholders, or re
auced in like manner by filing certif
cate of authority from such majority o
holders, with Comptroller for that pur-
pose.
10. Books of subscription may b
opened after thirty days published motto,
Of time and place. When 10 per cent
is paid in, and on due public notice
stockholders may meet,and choose sever
directors, each share of stock having on
vote The Section directs the manner o
electiug officers and provides for fihp,
with Comptroller, a certificate of such
election. Said officers shall from timt
to time make such dividends of the pro-
fts MS they may deem proper.
II On due compensation made, sale
company may enter upon, survey and ap
proptiste any land and use any building
material necessary for said road.
IL. Provides for partial variations o
the original line of the track when nee
essary.
13, Authorizes roads to agree will
municipal authorities and private owners
in regard to right of way.
IA. AL appropriations of private prop
srty to the uss of any railroad shall b.
made by assessment, when the road ant
Priyate owners cannot agree-u under tn.
provisions ofexisting law prescribing tf,
manner of assessing damages.
Is. Directs the manner in which two
or more roads may use the same draw OIL
swing bridge in efossing any navigable
stream, &c. 81.
16. A company may divert any road
or stream from its former course, if nee
,essary in the construction of the road
but the company shall without uuneces,
-. L. L.. ...al -ooJ ~, atro.,.. :