portant items concerned in the capitalization, in the assets, in the mileage, the receipts from different sources, the expenditures, the public functions performed and many others, are arranged in tabuJated form opposite the name of each company, so that the informa tion which is desired from any source can easily be ascertained without the necessity of examining the separate reports from each company. A careful examination of these tables and reports enables one to form some idea of the large amount of laborious and painstaking duties of the faithful and efficient clerks of the Bureau. B-8-1907 NEW RAILROAD LEGISLATION. Railroad signals. Interference of electric or other lights. Petition. Hearing. Decree. AN ACT Regulating the placing of electric or any other lights interfering with railroad signals, in this Commonwealth. Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That from and after the passage of this act, it shall be unlawful to locate, maintain, or allow to remain, any light or lights at any place, within this Commonwealth, in such a place or manner that said light or lights interfere with the view of any railroad signal to an extent which causes danger in the operation of trains. Section 2. Whenever any light or lights have been located, maintained, or allowed to remain, in such a place or manner that it or they interfere with the view of any railroad signal to an extent which causes danger in the operation of trains, the railroad company affected may file a petition in the court of common pleas of the proper county, setting forth the facts. If, on final hearing, it shall be established to the satisfaction of the court that the light or lights complained of interfere with the view of any railroad signal to an extent which causes danger in the operation of trains, and that it is not practicable for the railroad company to alter the position of the signal or signals interfered with, the court shall order the removal or relocation of the light or lights, so complained of, and shall exercise, for this purpose, all the powers of a court of equity in enforcing injunctions and decrees. Approved-The 4th day of April, A. D. 1907. Railroad companies. Passenger rates. Proviso. AN ACT To regulate the maximum rate and minimum fare to be charged for transportation of passengers by railroad companies, and prescribing the penalty for violation thereof. Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That after the thirtieth day of September, one thousand nine hundred and seven, no company operating a railroad, in whole or in part in this Commonwealth, shall demand or receive more than two cents fare per mile, or for a fraction thereof, contracted to be traveled or traveled by any passenger on such railroad in this Common Proviso. charged by such company need not be less than five cents: Provided, further, That passengers paying fare in cash upon the trains of said companies may Rebate checks. be charged a sum not to exceed ten cents, in addition to the regular fare, as herein before provided, and for such excess payment shall be given a rebate check, redeemable in cash at any ticket office of the company issuing said check. Section 2. Any railroad company which shall charge, demand, or receive any greater compensation for the transportation of any passenger or person than is authorized by this act shall be subject to a penalty of one thousand dollars for each and every Penalty. offence, which shall be payable to the county where such illegal charge is made, and shall be recoverable by said county as debts of like amount are now recoverable by law. Section 3. That all acts or parts of acts, either Repeal. general or special, inconsistent herewith be and the same are hereby repealed. Approved-The 5th day of April, A. D. 1907. EDWIN S. STUART. AN ACT Authorizing contracts between cities, boroughs or townships, of the one part, and street passenger railway companies, surface, elevated or underground, or motor power companies leasing and operating the franchises and property of such companies, of the other part, affecting, fixing and regulating the franchises, powers, duties and liabilities of such companies, the management of the same, the relations and respective rights of the contracting parties, and the ultimate acquisition by such cities, boroughs and townships of the property, leaseholds and franchises of said contracting companies. railway companies. Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That it shall and may Street passenger be lawful for any city, borough or township, of the one part, and any street passenger railway company, surface, elevated or underground, or motor power company leasing and operating the franchises and prop erty of such company within the limits of such cities, boroughs or townships, of the other part, to enter Contracts with into contracts with each other affecting, fixing, and municipalities. regulating the franchises, powers, duties, and liabilites of such companies, and the regulations and respective rights of the contracting parties. Such contracts may, inter alia, provide for payments by the companies to the local authorities, in lieu of the performance of certain duties or the payment of license fees or charges imposed in favor of such city, borough or township by the charters of the respective companies or by any general law or ordinance, for the appointment by the local authorities of a certain num Payments. Directors. ber of persons to act as directors of such company, in conjunction with the directors elected by the stockholders of such company, and, further, may provide for the ultimate acquisition by the local authorities, upon terms mutually satisfactory, of the leaseholds, property and franchises of the contracting companies. Approved-The 15th day of April, A. D. 1907. EDWIN S. STUART. Bridges over streams forming boundary lines. Section 1, act of May 13, 1901, cited for amendment. AN ACT To amend the first section of an act, approved 'the thirteenth day of May, Anno Domini one thousand nine hundred and one, entitled "An act to amend the first and second sections of an act, entitled 'An act authorizing the county commissioners of the several counties of this Commonwealth to rebuild bridges on sites owned by corporations or by private persons, or built by public subscription, over any stream or river forming the boundary line between two counties, where the same have been destroyed by ice, flood or otherwise, at any time, or which have been or may be abandoned by the owners thereof and rebuilt on another site, and which were previously used exclusively for vehicles and foot purposes, and providing for the cost of reconstructing the same,' approved the sixth day of May, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven," striking therefrom the proviso that such bridge shall be used only for general public travel and shall not be occupied by any railway, transportation company, or private corporation. Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the first section of an act, approved the thirteenth day of May, Anno Domini one thousand nine hundred and one, entitled "An act to amend the first and second sections of an act, entitled 'An act authorizing the county commissioners of the several counties of this Commonwealth to rebuild bridges on sites owned by corporations or by private persons, or built by public subscription, over any stream or river forming the boundary line between two counties, where the same have been destroyed by ice, flood or otherwise, at any time, or which have been or may be abandoned by the owners thereof and rebuilt on another site, and which were previously used exclusively for vehicles and foot purposes, and providing for the cost of reconstructing the same,' approved the sixth day of May, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven," which now reads as follows: "Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the county commissioners of the several counties of this Commonwealth are hereby authorized to take charge of and rebuild and reconstruct any bridge over any stream or river forming the boundary line between two counties, when the same is on the line of a public highway, or deemed necessary for the use of the traveling public, private persons, or which was built by public subscriptions, used exclusively for vehicles and foot purposes, which has been destroyed by ice, flood or otherwise, at any time, or which has been or may be abandoned, and the site or location and piers and abutments no longer used by the owners of said bridge, and the same rebuilt by said corporation or private persons or by public subscription on another site, or on new foundations at another point. And the said commissioners of the respective counties are hereby authorized to take charge of and rebuild and maintain jointly such bridge as a county bridge, and the costs and expenses of such joint reconstruction shall be paid by the said counties, respectively, in the proportion of the population thereof as ascertained at the last census: Provided, That any such bridge, after having been constructed by the county commissioners at public cost, shall be used only for free travel of the general public, pedestrians and vehicles; but shall not be occupied nor used by any railroad, railway, transportation company, or private corporation, nor shall any right of way be allowed thereon to any corporation chartered for purposes of private gain: Provided further, That just compensation shall be made to the owners of the former bridge for the taking or impairment of the rights and franchises of such owners, in the same manner as is provided in this act for ascertaining the compensation due for the piers and abutments," shall be, and the same is, hereby amended to read as follows: Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the county commissioners of the several counties of this Commonwealth are hereby authorized to take charge of and rebuild and reconstruct any bridge over any stream or river forming the boundary line between two counties, when the same is on the line of a public highway, or deemed necessary for the use of the traveling public, and owned and maintained by corporations or by private persons, or which was built by public subscriptions, used exclusively for vehicles and foot purposes, which has been destroyed by ice, flood or otherwise, at any time, or which has been or may be abandoned, and the site or location and piers and abutments no longer used by the owners of said bridge, and the same rebuilt by said corporation or private persons or by public subscriptions on another site, or on new foundations at another point. And the said commissioners of the respective counties are hereby authorized to take charge of and rebuild and maintain jointly such bridge as a county bridge and the costs and expenses of such joint reconstruction shall be paid by the said counties, respectively, in the proportion of the population thereof as ascertained at the last census: Pro |
