516

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

operate, manage and conduct the same under the powers
of this act, and shall also have the right to cross over
the tracks of other railroads, or under the same, and to
connect or consolidate with any other railroad or railroads,
incorporated under the laws of this State or of the District of
Columbia, or both, and doing business in the State or in said
District, or both; provided, that before any such acquisition of
any other railroad or railroads, and before any such consolidation
with any other railroad or railroads, shall go into complete effect,
such acquisition or consolidation, or both, shall be ratified and
confirmed by a majority of the stockholders of such company
or companies at a regular or a special meeting thereof, duly
called; provided, however, the said Capital City Railway Com-
pany shall not consolidate with any other company or corpora-
tion by which the said Capital City Railway Company shall
thereby become exempt from taxation; and provided, further,
that the right, power, privileges and franchises conferred and
granted by this act are so conferred and granted expressly upon
condition that the work of construction of its railroad herein
authorized within this State shall be actually and bona fide
commenced, and at least the sum of twenty thousand dollars
($20,000) in cash be expended therein within fifteen months ;
and, further, that said railroad shall be completed and put in
operation within three years from and after the passage of this
act, or on failure to observe and comply with any one of said
conditions, this act, together with all rights, powers, privileges
and franchises conferred thereby, and also the said corporation
thereby created shall cease, terminate and become wholly inop-
erative, null and void.

Effective.

SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect
from the date of its passage.
Approved April 4, 1896.