ACT. 23. ] CORPORATIONS. 69

article of the Code, or which will exempt said railroad, so far
as it lies within this State, from the operation of the laws of
this State. The agreement containing the terms and condi-
tions of any proposed lease shall, after due approval by the
board of directors of each company party thereto, be submitted
to the stockholders of such one or more of said railroad com-
panies as shall have been incorporated under the laws of this
State at either a special meeting thereof, duly called in accord-
ance with the charter and by-laws of the companies whereof
they are stockholders for the consideration of the same, or at
any annual meeting thereof, likewise duly called, and in the call
for which it shall be stated that the said agreement will be con-
sidered at such meeting; and if approved by a vote of not less
than three-fourths of the capital stock of such company or com-
panies outstanding and entitled to vote, the said agreement
shall then be duly executed by each of the parties thereto, and,
when so executed, a copy thereof, duly certified by the secre-
tary of each of the companies parties thereto under their re-
spective corporate seals, shall be filed in the office of the Secre-
tary of State of the State of Maryland, and upon such filing the
said agreement and the lease thereby effected shall become and
be in full force and operation in accordance with its terms. If
any stockholder of any company incorporated under the laws
of this State who shall not, either in person or by proxy, have
voted at such meeting of stockholders in favor of the agreement,
shall be dissatisfied with the lease thereby effected, it shall and
may be lawful for such stockholder, within thirty days after the
filing of said agreement in the office of the Secretary of State,
as hereinbefore prescribed, to apply by petition to any judge
of the Circuit Court for any county in this State wherein any
part of the leased railroad is situated, or to any judge of the
Supreme Bench of Baltimore city, if any part of said railroad
be situated within the limits of said city, for the appointment
of three disinterested commissioners to estimate and appraise
the damage, if any, which such stockholders may suffer or sus-
tain by reason of the lease, and also to estimate and appraise
the share or shares of such stockholder at their market value,
without regard to any depreciation resultant from such lease,
and the award of said commissioners, or any two of them, when
confirmed by the Court, shall be final and conclusive; and
thereupon the lessee company shall, at its election, either pay to
the stockholder the amount of damages appraised by the com-
missioners and permit the stockholder to retain title and pos-
session of his shares, or shall pay to the stockholder the value
of his shares as ascertained by said appraisement; and upon
payment of the said last mentioned value the stockholder shall