The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1875-03-01
The Congregational R-IIroaa Bill for
Lhe Territories

duced II bill for I'm act la provide for
the Incorporation and regulation Of
THilrOad cOmpanics III the Tea ritUries
al the United States. and granting the
right Of way through the public
lands" This bill was intended to
answer all the purposes OF the
Gus bills introduced in Congress for
special charters for railroads in the
Territories. The bill was full Of re-
strictions and limitations, and highly
Objectionable to all the Territorial
delegates. There were twenty-one
sections in the bill. The first provi-
ded that my five citizens of the Uni
ted Statcs-n majority of whom were
residents OF the Territory, might be-
come a body corporate for the purpose
OF constructing and operating a rail
roa therein. Second, specified the
manner OF organization. Third, de-
fined its powers. Fourth, author
lied tho company 10 locate it's Dad
and maintain the same. Fifth, was
in relation TO the capital stock of each
railroad corporation and regulating its
payment. Sixth, provided for the sale
Of delinquent subscribers stock. Sew
cnth. fixed the liability of each stock
holder for the debts OF the company,
equal to the amount Of his stock.
Eighth, provided the means of elect
ing directors, &c. Ninth, granted the
right of way through the public lands.
Tenth, provided how private lands
might be taken for one hundred feet
on each side of road, and the manner
of condemning and paying for same.
Eleventh, provided that the right of
way through any canyon, pass or de-
file should not be exclusive. Twelfth,
provided when and how work should
be commenced and carried on. Thir-
tenth, authorized n change of loca-
lion when necessary to avoid danger
Il curves and grades. Fourteenth,
empowered corporations to borrow
money, not to exceed amount of capt.
tai stock. Fifteenth, authorized cor
porutions to divert from its bed any
stream Of water crossing the road, and
if navigable to bridge the same. six
tcenth. required the maintenance of
office on the line of the road where
transfers Of stock could be made, and
where the books OF the company
should be kept. Seventeenth, required
All annual report Of the receipts and
expenditures to be made 10. the Secre-
tary Of the Interior. Eighteenth, pro-
vided hat railroad corporations in the
Territories at the passage of the bill
might become entitled to the privi-
leges and benefits of the act upon Ill
ing n certified copy OF its original
articles of incorporation with the
Secretary of the Interior. Nineteenth,
authorized the corporation to erect and
operate n telegraph on the line of its
road, and required that it should
transport all mails, troops and NUM-
tions of war OF the government for
similar rates us it charged private per-
sons. Twentieth, prevented Terrific
ries, counties and municipal corpora
tions from subscribing for any Of the
capital stock of the corporation, or
from loaning its credit to it in any
manner Twenty-first, provided that
when a Territory shall be admitted as
u State, il shall have as complete con-
troll Of the subject as If the act hat not
passed.
These are the main features of the
Senate bill (No. 37S) which passed
that body on the 18th OF April last.
The House at its present session
passed a substitute for the Senate bill.
The substitute has but six sections.
Tho first grants the right of way
through the public lands to any corpo-
ration duly organized under the laws
OF any State or Territory, except the
District of Columbia. Also the right
to take earth, stone and timber from
the land adjacent, necessary to con
struct the road, and grants twenty
acres of land for each station, not to
Second, prohibits any corporation
from enjoying the exclusive right of
way through any canyon, pass or de-
file on Inc line of the road, and
reserves the right to the State when
the Territory shall have passed into a
CtAIeJ the IiSIII 10 eSuidte the SuDJeCI.
Third, empowers the Territorial legis-
latures to enact laws regulating the
manner of condemnation of private
land through which the road may run.
and for compensating the owners.
Fourth, requires that all railroad COM
panies desiring to secure the benefits
of the act, are required within twelve
months after the location of any sec
ton of twenty miles of its road, to