Section 10-5-2

Condemnation for ways and rights-of-way, etc., by railroad companies.

Railroad companies may, by condemnation, acquire real estate for ways and rights-of-way not exceeding 100 feet in width throughout the entire length of its lines, such other lands as may be necessary for ways and rights-of-way for switches, turnouts, sidetracks, extensions and branch roads not exceeding 100 feet in width throughout the entire length of such switches, turnouts, sidetracks, extensions and branch roads and such other lands as may be necessary in making heavy excavations or embankments or for the purpose of wasting material from excavations, for borrowing earth or other material for the construction of embankments or for protecting, making, keeping safe and perfecting its roadway, together with the rights to remove all such trees outside thereof as might by falling upon, or shading, the roadway, injure the same, and may relocate any portion of its line for purpose of straightening or otherwise improving the same and, for that purpose, may acquire by gift, purchase or condemnation all necessary rights-of-way over lands and abandon its original or constructed line, but it shall not change its termini or make an entire departure from its original line between such termini.

(Code 1907, §3484; Acts 1909, No. 52, p. 62; Code 1923, §7018; Code 1940, T. 10, §73.)