Article XVII — Railroads, Canals And Turnpikes

All railroads, canals and turnpikes shall be public highways, and all railroads and canal companies shall be common carriers. Any association or corporation organized for the purpose shall have the right to construct and operate a railroad between any points within this State, an…

Every railroad, canal or turnpike corporation operated or artly operated in this State shall maintain one office therein, where transfers of its stock shall be made and where its books shall be kept for inspection by any stockholder or creditor of such corporation, in which shall…

Al individuals, associations and corporations shall have equal right to have persons and property transported over railroads, canals and turnpikes, and no undue or unreasonable discrimination shall be made in charges for, or in facilities for transportation of freight or passenge…

No railroad, canal or other corporation, or the lessees purchasers or managers of any railroad, canal or corporation, shall consolidate the stock, property or franchises of such corporation with, or lease or purchase the works or franchise of, or in any way control, any other rai…

No president, director, officer, agent or employe of any railroad or canal company shall be interested directly or indirectly, in the furnishing of materials or supplies to such company or in the business of transportation as a common carrier of freight or passengers over the wor…

No discrimination in charges or facilities for transportation shall be made between transportation companies and individuals or in favor of either by abatement, drawback or otherwise, and no railroad or canal company or any lessee, manager or employe thereof shall make any prefer…

The General Assembly shall prevent by law the granting of free passes by any railroad or transportation company to any officer of this State, legislative, executive or judicial.

The General Assembly shall not remit the forfeiture of the charter of any corporation now existing, or alter or amend the same or pass any general or special law for the benefit of such corporation, except on condition that such corporation shall thereafter hold its charter subje…

The exercise of the right of eminent domain shall never be abridged or so construed as to prevent the General Assembly from taking the property and franchises of incorporated companies and subjecting them to public use the same as the property of individuals.

The General Assembly shall pass laws to correct abuses and prevent unjust discrimination and excessive charges by railroad, canal and turnpike companies for transporting freight and passengers, and shall provide for enforcing such laws by adequate penalties and forfeitures.

The rolling stock and all other movable property belonging to any railroad company or corporation in this State shall be considered personal property, and shall be liable to execution and sale in the same manner as the personal property of individuals, and the General Assembly sh…

All railroads which are now or may be hereafter built and operated, either in whole or in part, in this State shall be responsible for all damages to persons and property, under such regulations as may be prescribed by the General Assembly.

The directors of every railroad corporation shall annually make a report under oath to the Auditor of Public Accounts of all their acts and doings, which report shall include such matters relating to railroads as may be prescribed by law, and the General Assembly shall pass laws …