JOSEPH KENT, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

1827

ver; and the shares of the capital stock of the said company
shall be deemed and considered personal estate, and shall be
exempt from the impositions of any tax or burthen, by the
states assenting to this law.

CHAP. 72

Share of stock
personal property

SEC. 21. And be it enacted. That the said president and di-
rectors shall annuallv, or semi-annually, declare and make
such dividend as they may deem proper, of the nett profits a-
rising from the resources of the said company, after deduct-
ing the necessary current and probable contingent expenses,
and that they shall divide the same amongst the stockholders
of said company, in proper proportions to their respective
shares.

Dividends,.

Sec. 22. And be it enacted, That if any person or persons
shall wilfully, by any means whatsoever, injure, impair or de-
stroy, any part of any rail road constructed by said company
under this act, or any of their necessary works, buildings,
carriages, vehicles or machinery of said company, such per-
son or persons so offending, shall each of them, for every
such offence, forfeit and pay to the said company a sum not
exceeding three hundred dollars, which may be recovered in
the name of the said company, by an action of debt in the
county court of the county wherein the offence shall be com-
mitted, and shall also be subject to indictment in said court,
and upon conviction of such offence, shall be punished by
fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.

Penalty for dama-
ging rail road or
machinery.

SEC 23. And be it enacted, That as soon as this act shall
have been passed by the legislature of Maryland, books may
be opened, subscriptions received, and the said company or-
ganized, and that when organized, the said company, and
the president and directors of the same, shall have all the
powers, rights and privileges granted by this act, and shall be
subject to all its regulations, in constructing or repairing any
of the said rail roads, or other necessary works or buildings
which can or may be constructed within the limits of the
state of Maryland, and in transporting persons, goods, mer-
chandize or property of any description, along any of said
roads; and that the provisions of thra act, shall be wholly in
force as to all the property of the company, which may be si-
tuated, or may be within the state, of Maryland, and which
said company is permitted to hold under this act.

This Act in force

as to Maryland.

SEC. 24. And be it enacted, That if this road shall not be
commenced in two years from the passage of this act, and
shall not be finished within this state in ten years from the
time of the commencement thereof, then this act shall be nail
and void.

Time limited for
commencing and
compleating

SEC. 25 And be it enacted, That full right and privilege
is hereby reserved to the citizens of this state, or any compa-
ny hereafter to be incorporated under the authority of this
state, to connect with the road hereby provided for, any o-
ther rail, road leading from the main route to any part or
parts of this state; Provided, that in forming such connection,
no injury shall be done to the works of the company hereby
Incorporated; and the same right and privilege is hereby re-

Right to connect
other roads,