280 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [Ch. 131]

in December, 1886, the charter of which was amended by
the Acts of 1888, Chapter 465, and 1890, Chapter 363; and,
WHEREAS, The charter of the said Deer Creek and Susquehanna
Railway Company was amended by the Act of 1902, Chap-
ter 329, and the powers of said company were thereby
enlarged; and,

WHEREAS, The said last named company on the faith of the
said charter and the aforesaid Acts of Assembly has expended
money in surveys and in the promotion of said enterprises,
but doubts have been suggested as to the validity of its char-
ter and franchises because of the provisions contained in the
Act of 1910, Chapter 725, page 81, whereby such a railroad
is required to build each year, and place in operation, at
least five miles of its incompleted road, although by the pro-
visions of Article 23, section 280 of the Code of Public Gen-
eral Laws of this State, a railway company purchasing such
incompleted railroad is allowed ten years from the date of
its organization to complete and finish the main line of its
road, and said period has not yet expired; and,

WHEREAS, The public interest requires that said charter and
franchises be freed from doubts and that said railway com-
pany be allowed further time for the completion of said rail-
road; therefore,

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That the charter, franchises, road bed and property of
the Deer Creek and Susquehanna Railway Company be and the
same are hereby relieved from the operation and effect of said
Act of 1910, Chapter 725, page 80, and from all liability to
forfeiture or abandonment under any other laws of this State.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said Deer Creek
and Susquehanna Railway Company and its charters, fran-
chises, road beds and property be and the same are also hereby
relieved from the effect of the provisions of Article 23, section
253 of the Public General Laws of this State of 1904, whereby
an unfinished road bed is liable to abandonment and to be used
and appropriated by any other company.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said Acts of
1888, Chapter 465, 1890, Chapter 363, and 1902, Chapter 329,
be and the same are hereby confirmed and declared to confer
upon the said Deer Creek and Susquehanna Railway Company