900 ARTICLE 23

it shall not be less than fourteen feet; and the grades approaching said
overhead or undergrade crossings shall not be greater than a rise of six feet
in the hundred. The said "tunnel" used in this section to describe the
undergrade crossing may either be arched or the railroad tracks may be
carried across the public highway on a bridge, as the railroad company may
elect. For constructing the approaches to said overhead or undergrade
crossings the railroad company may, at its own expense, change the grade
of the public highway to be carried on said new crossing with the same
rights and liabilities as are now vested in the county commissioners in
changing the grades of public highways. Whenever a railroad company
shall construct an overhead or undergrade crossing under the terms of this
section, all grade crossings within six hundred yards of the same may be
closed by it and no new crossing shall be opened within that distance of
said overhead or undergrade crossing; provided, that this prohibition as
to the maintenance and opening of grade crossings shall not apply to
incorporated towns or villages of two thousand or more inhabitants, subject,
however, to the consent of the county commissioners or municipal authori-
ties of said counties and towns.

As to elimination of grade crossings, see art. 89B, sec. 27, et seq.

See secs. 216 & 242.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 252. 1912, sec. 315. 1904, sec. 295. 1890, ch. 443, secs. 1 and 2.

253. It shall not be lawful for any railroad company doing business in
this State to withhold any part of the wages of its employes for the benefit
of any relief association or the members thereof. Any railroad company
violating the provisions of this section shall upon conviction be fined not
less than fifty ($50) dollars, nor more than five hundred ($500) dollars
for each and every offense.
See sec. 150.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 253. 1912, sec. 316. 1904, sec. 296. 1894, ch. 269.

254. The board of public works may, when it is shown to their satis-
faction by any railroad company that it is impracticable for such railroad
company to equip all of its cars with heating apparatus other than stoves,
within the time required by law, prescribe what number of cars of such
railroad company shall be equipped with the improved heating apparatus
by such company in each year.

An. Code, 1924, see. 254. 1912, sec. 317. 1904, sec. 297. 1902, ch. 615, sec. 1.

255. No railroad company incorporated by or under the authority of
this State, or doing business therein, shall issue, sell or receive tickets
for passage through the city of Baltimore, or make agreement or agree-
ments with any other railroad company or companies outside of this State
to issue or sell tickets for passage over their respective lines through the
city of Baltimore, unless there is a coupon on said tickets for passage from
a given place in or out of this State to the city of Baltimore, and another
coupon on said tickets from the city of Baltimore to a given place in or out
of this State.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 255. 1912, sec. 318. 1904, sec. 298. 1902, ch. 615.

256. In issuing or selling all tickets for passage in this State through
the city of Baltimore, or making agreements with other railroad com-
panies outside of this State to issue or sell tickets for passage through the