790 ARTICLE 23.

An. Code, sec. 384. 1904, sec. 345. 1888, sec. 235. 1868, ch. 471, sec. 108.

316. When any turnpike, or plank road or passenger railway, shall
have been finished one mile in length, the president and directors shall
report to the county commissioners of the county in which it may lie, under
the oath of the president and a majority of the directors, and the treasurer
of the corporation, the actual cost of said road, so far as finished; and
thereupon the county commissioners shall appoint three citizens of the
county to examine said road, and determine whether the same is constructed
in such manner as will subserve the public interests for the uses to which
said road is applicable, who shall report to said county commissioners in
writing, and said report shall be reviewed by said county commissioners;
and if they shall determine that the road is properly constructed, then as
to such turnpike or plank road the company shall be authorized to erect a
toll-gate thereon, and to charge such rates of toll as will yield eight per
centum per annum net profit on said actual cost, for distribution to the
stockholders; and the same proceedings shall be had as each succeeding mile
shall be completed, until the said turnpike, or plank road, or passenger rail-
way, shall be finished; but when more than one mile of any turnpike or
plank road shall be completed, it shall not be necessary for the corporation
to erect more gates than it may deem convenient; and it shall be .empowered
to collect at the gate or gates which may be erected, tolls to yield at the rate
aforesaid, for the number of miles of said road or turnpike which may be
finished.

An. Code, sec. 385. 1904., sec. 346. 1888, sec. 236. 1868, ch. 471, sec. 109.

317. The corporation of any such turnpike or plank road, shall revise
its rates of toll every six months for three years, from the completion of the
road, and shall report the amounts of its revenue and expenditures at any
time when demanded by the county commissioners; and if the receipts
shall be found at any time to amount to more than is necessary to yield
eight per centum per annum, net, to the stockholders, the tolls shall be
reduced to this standard. In all cases, the rates of tolls chargeable shall be
specified and approved in writing by the county commissioners, and shall
be, as nearly as may be, such rates as will yield the said dividend and no
more; and such writing shall be recorded in the office of the county com-
missioners, and also in the journal or book of proceedings of the corpora-
tion, and copies thereof shall be printed and exposed to public inspection at
every toll-gate; and such writing, or a copy thereof, shall be conclusive
evidence of the right of the company to charge tolls and of the amounts
thereof.

An. Code, sec. 386. 1904, sec. 347. 1892, ch. 188, sec. 236A.

318. All turnpike or plank road companies in this State are hereby
authorized and empowered to charge and collect such rates of toll for trac-
tion engines, steam engines and all vehicles attached thereto, which shall
be hauled or propelled upon the roads and through the toll-gates of such
companies, as shall be fixed by said companies in accordance with the provi-
sions of sub-title turnpike, plank road and passenger railway companies,