(1) Any railroad corporation existing under the laws of this state, or by consolidation under said laws and the laws of other states, may consolidate with any other railroad corporation, and possess all of the powers, franchises and immunities, and be subject to all the liabilities and restrictions of railroad corporations generally, and such, in addition, as the combining corporations peculiarly possessed or were subject to at the time of consolidation. Articles of consolidation shall be approved by each corporation, by a vote of a majority of the stock at an annual meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose or by the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the stock annexed to such articles; and such articles, with a copy of the records of such approval or such consent and accompanied by lists of the stockholders and the number of shares held by each, duly certified by their respective presidents and secretaries, shall be filed for record with the department of financial institutions before any such consolidation shall have validity or effect. (2) Any such railroad corporation may upon like approval lease, or purchase the railroad, franchises and immunities, and all other property, and the stocks or bonds, or both, of any railroad corporation, or any portion thereof, when the road so purchased or leased will constitute a branch or feeder of, or be connected with or intersected by any line maintained or operated by such purchasing or leasing corporation, or which it is authorized to build, own, or maintain and operate. Any corporation taking such conveyance or lease shall have all the rights, privileges and immunities, and be subject to all the duties and restrictions of the lessor or grantor. (3) Any domestic railroad corporation may purchase and may upon like approval purchase and hold the stock or bonds of any other railroad corporation described in this section, or may purchase and hold the stock or bonds of any railway company to which it has furnished the money for the construction of its railway; or for money so furnished, or for such other consideration, as may be agreed upon between the companies, by their respective boards of directors, and take a conveyance of the whole or any portion of the franchises of any other such corporation and of the railway, property and appurtenances thereof. Any stock or bonds which shall have been issued by any purchasing corporation in consideration of any property by it purchased as autho- rized by this section, shall be deemed fully paid, but securities hereunder shall be issued only upon compliance with the law which requires a permit or certificate of authority. (4) All acts and purchases and conveyances made prior to April 24, 1897, by or to any domestic railway company which are authorized by this section, and all conditions and agreements upon which the stock and bonds of any such corporation have been and are to be issued including any and all terms and conditions as to price, voting power, dividends and trustees or otherwise, and as between different classes of stock or otherwise and all issues of stocks and bonds in accordance with such terms, conditions and agreements, are hereby in all things legalized, ratified and confirmed. (5) But no railroad corporation shall consolidate with, or lease or purchase, or in any way become owner of or control any other corporation, or any stock, franchises, rights or property thereof which owns or controls a parallel and competing railroad to and with the railroad owned or controlled and operated by such purchasing railroad corporation, to be determined by jury.
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