384 CORPORATIONS—FORFEITURE OF CHARTER. [ART. 23.

may acquire by condemnation any easements or interests in land
which may be necessary to give effect to the purposes for which
such corporation was formed, in the manner set forth in sections
248 to 253 of this article; provided, however, that all corporations
incorporated, or to be incorporated by virtue of said section 24,
class eleven, except such corporations of said class as are now in
practical operation and have laid or constructed their lines, or
any part thereof, in the city of Baltimore, shall obtain a special
grant from the general assembly of Maryland, and the assent and
approval of the mayor and city council of Baltimore city, before
using the streets or highways of Baltimore city, either the surface
or the ground beneath the same.

Remedies for Abuse, Misuse or Non use of Corporate

Powers.

1868, ch. 471, sec. 176.

255. Whenever the attorney general of the State, or the
State's attorney for the city of Baltimore, or for any county in
this State, shall be authorized by the governor to institute pro-
ceedings against any corporation incorporated under the laws of
this State, to ascertain whether such corporation has been guilty
of such misuse, abuse or nonuse of its corporate powers and fran-
chises, as by law would authorize and make proper the forfeiture
of its charter, corporate powers and franchises, the attorney
general or State's attorney so authorized, shall file in the court
hereafter designated, a petition in the name of the State, setting
forth fully and in detail the alleged abuse, misuse or nonuse, by
reason whereof the said forfeiture is sought; and upon the filing
of such petition, the court in which it is filed, or any judge
thereof, shall lay a rule requiring the said corporation to show
cause, within such time as the judge may deem proper, why a
decree of forfeiture should not issue as prayed in said petition; a
copy of which rule and of the petition shall be served on the said
corporation by a day to be therein limited, which shall be served
as other process against such corporation is directed to be served.

State v. Consolidation Coal Co., 46 Md. 5.

Ibid sec. 177.

256. The said corporation, by the day named in said order,
unless further time be granted by the court, shall file an answer