Williamson v. Gordon Heights Railway Co.

Citations

• 8 Del. Ch. 192

Syllabus

<p>Where a street railway charter required that the construction of the railway should be commenced within six months after the passage of the act and completed and in operation within two years thereafter, otherwise the charter to become void, and all rights, privileges and franchises therein granted to cease; and a supplement passed two years later authorized the construction of a branch line and provided that with respect to such branch line, the corporation should have all rights and privileges and be subject to all the duties and responsibilities which devolved upon it with respect to the road constructed and maintained under the original charter; held, that a failure to construct the branch line, within two years from the passage of the supplement to the charter, resulted in a forfeiture of the rights granted by it.</p> <p>There is no rule of construction more fixed and unyielding than that requiring strict construction of grants to corporations.</p>