CORPORATIONS 867

Gas and Electric Light Companies.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 177. 1912, sec. 149. 1904, sec. 142. 1888, sec. 110. 1868, ch. 471,
sec. 93. 1876, ch. 349. 1910, ch. 55 (p. 72). 1924, ch. 361.

178. Any gas light corporation formed under this Article shall have full
power to manufacture artificial gas, and to sell, and to furnish such quan-
tities of gas, both natural and artificial, as may be required in any city,
town or county of this State, in which, or adjoining which the same may
be located, for lighting the streets, roads and public or private buildings,
or for other purposes, and such corporation is hereby authorized and em-
powered to lay conductors or pipes for the transmission of gas, both
natural and artificial, in any city, town or county, under the streets,
squares, lanes, alleys and roads thereof, paved or unpaved, and to connect
the same with any manufactory, public or private building, lamp or other
structure or object, and with the place of supply, after first securing the
proper assent of the municipal authorities of said city or town, or of the
county commissioners of said county, under such reasonable and. proper
regulations and conditions that may be prescribed by them, subject, how-
ever, also to any law or ordinance that may be passed by the municipal
authorities of the city or town, or the county commissioners having juris-
diction, for the filling up and repaving of any street, lane or alley or road
under which the said pipes may be laid. Any corporation of this or any
other state which has heretofore been authorized by ordinance passed by
the municipal authorities of any city or town, or by order of the proper
authorities of any county, to lay or maintain mains, conduits, pipes or
other structures in streets, squares, lanes, alleys, roads or other public high-
ways and places for the transmission or supply of natural gas, is hereby
authorized and empowered to use such mains, conduits, pipes, or other
structures, whether now in place or hereafter constructed, for the trans-
mission and supply of artificial gas, or a mixture of natural and artificial
gas. Nothing herein shall be deemed to extend the duration of any fran-
chise granted by any city, town or county, or to change the terms or con-
ditions of any such franchise except as herein expressly set forth.

A corporation which has the right to use the streets of a city for its pipes for manu-
factured gas for lighting purposes, may not prevent a foreign corporation from laying
pipes through the streets of the city, with the city's consent, to convey natural gas
for fuel and light. Rights of foreign corporations. Cumberland Gaslight Co. v. W. Va.
Gas Co., 188 Fed. 585.

County commissioners have much greater powers over water companies laying pipes
than over gas companies, as shown by a comparison of this section with sec. 327. Con-
sol. Gas Co. v. Baltimore County, 98 Md. 694 (decided in 1904).

For the regulations concerning gas and electric light companies prescribed in the act
creating the public service commission, see sec. 397, et seq,

As to "Fraud upon Gas Companies," see art. 27, secs. 204 and 205.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 178. 1912, sec. 150. 1904, sec. 143. 1888, sec. 111. 1890, ch. 588.
1894, ch. 308. 1910, ch. 55 (p. 72).

179. Any electric light or power company formed under this article
shall have full power to manufacture, sell and furnish such quantities of
electric light or electric power as may be required or desired in any city,
town or county of this State, in which or adjoining which the same may
be located, for lighting the streets, roads, public or private buildings, or
for motive power or other purposes, and such corporation is hereby author-
ized and empowered to lay, construct or build lines or conductors under,
along, upon or over the streets, squares, lanes, alleys and roads, paved or
unpaved, and connect the same with any manufactory, public or private