37-9-106. Aid to other companies; extension outside of state; sale or lease to other railroads permitted; foreign railroads; taxation.

Any railroad company now or hereafter incorporated pursuant to the laws of this state, or of the United States, or of any state or territory of the United States, may at any time, by means of subscription to the capital stock of any other railroad company, or by the purchase of its stock or bonds, or by guaranteeing its bonds, or otherwise, aid such company in the construction of its railroad within and without this state; and any company owning or operating a railroad within this state may extend the same into any other state or territory, and may build, buy, lease, or may consolidate with any railroad or railroads in such other state or territory, or with any other railroad in this state and may operate the same, and may own such real estate and other property in such other state or territory as may be necessary or convenient in the operation of such road; or any railroad company may sell or lease the whole or any part of its railroad or branches within this state, constructed or to be constructed, together with all property and rights, privileges and franchises pertaining thereto, to any railroad company organized or existing pursuant to the laws of the United States or of this state or of any other state or territory of the United States; or any railroad company incorporated or existing under the laws of the United States, or of any state or territory of the United States, may extend, construct, maintain and operate its railroad, or any portion or branch thereof, into and through this state, and may build branches from any point on such extension to any place or places within this state; and the railroad company of any other state or territory, or of the United States, which shall so purchase or lease a railroad or any part thereof in this state, or shall extend or construct its road or any portion or branch thereof in this state, shall possess and may exercise and enjoy, as to the control, management and operation of the said road, and as to the location, construction and operation of any extension or branch thereof, all the rights, powers, privileges and franchises possessed by any railroad corporations organized under the laws of this state, including the exercise of the power of eminent domain. Such purchase, sale, consolidation with, or lease may be made or such aid furnished upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the directors or trustees of the respective companies; but the same shall be approved or ratified by persons holding or representing a majority in amount of the capital stock of each of such companies, respectively, at any annual stockholders' meeting or at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose, or by approval in writing of a majority in interest of the stockholders of each company respectively; provided, that nothing in the foregoing provisions shall be held or construed as curtailing the right of this state or of the counties through which any such road or roads may be located to levy and collect taxes upon the same and upon the rolling stock thereof in conformity with the provisions of the laws of this state upon that subject; and all roads and branches thereof in this state, so consolidated with, purchased or leased, or aided or extended into this state, shall be subject to taxation and to regulation and control by the laws of this state, in all respects the same as if constructed by corporations organized under the laws of this state; and any corporation of another state or territory, or of the United States, being the purchaser or lessee of a railroad within this state or extending its railroad or any portion thereof into or through this state, shall establish and maintain an office or offices in this state at some point or points on its line, at which legal process and notice may be served as upon railroad corporations of this state; provided, further, that before any railroad corporation organized under the laws of any other state or territory or of the United States shall be permitted to avail itself of the benefits of this act [section], such corporation shall file with the secretary of state a true copy of its charter or articles of incorporation. Any consolidation by sale or otherwise, or any lease or agreement to sell, consolidate with or lease the whole or any part of any railroad and its branch lines, organized under the laws of Wyoming with the franchises appertaining thereto, to any railroad company organized or existing under the laws of the United States or of Wyoming or any other state or territory, or any consolidation between such companies organized under the laws of the United States or of Wyoming or any other state or territory, and a corporation organized under the laws of Wyoming executed prior to February twenty-seventh, A.D. 1890, by the proper officers of the companies, parties to such sale, lease or consolidation or contract, is hereby legalized and made in all respects valid and binding from the date of its execution.