Sec. 14. (a) Every such corporation shall possess the general powers, and be subject to the liabilities and restrictions, expressed in the special powers following:

(1) To cause such examination and surveys for the proposed railroad to be made as may be necessary to the selection of the most advantageous route for the railroad, and, for such purposes, by their officers, agents, and servants, to enter upon the lands or waters of any person, but subject to responsibility for all damages which they shall do thereto.

(2) To receive, hold, and take such voluntary grants and donations of real estate and other personal property as shall be made to it to aid in the construction, maintenance, and accommodation of such railroad; but the real estate thus received by voluntary grants shall be held and used for the purposes of such grants only.

(3) To purchase, and, by voluntary grants and donations receive and take, and, by its officers, engineers, surveyors, and agents, enter upon, take possession of, hold, and use all such lands and real estate and other property as may be necessary for the construction and maintenance of its railroad stations, depots, and other accommodations necessary to accomplish the objects for which the corporation is created; but not until the compensation to be made therefor, as agreed upon by the parties or ascertained as prescribed in this chapter, shall have been paid to the owner or owners thereof, or deposited as directed by this chapter, unless the consent of such owner be given to enter into possession.

(4) To lay out its road, not exceeding six (6) rods wide, and to construct the same; and for the purposes of cuttings, embankments, and procuring stone and gravel, or the improvement of its road by the construction of additional main tracks, switches, or passing sidings, it may take as much more lands, within the limits of its charter, in the manner provided in this chapter, as may be necessary for the proper construction, improvement, and security of the road.

(5) To construct its road upon or across any stream of water, watercourse, highway, railroad, or canal, so as not to interfere with the free use of the same, which the route of its road shall intersect, in such manner as to afford security for life and property; but the corporation shall restore the stream or watercourse, road, or highway thus intersected to its former state, or in a sufficient manner not to unnecessarily impair its usefulness or injure its franchises.

(6) To cross, intersect, join, and unite its railroad with any other railroad before constructed, at any point on its route and upon the grounds of such other railroad company, with the necessary turn-outs, sidings, switches, and other conveniences, in furtherance of the objects of its connections; and every company whose railroad is intersected on or after May 6, 1852, by any new railroad shall unite with the owners of such new railroad in forming such intersections and connections, and grant the facilities aforesaid; and if the two (2) corporations can not agree upon the amount of compensation to be made therefor, or the points or manner of such crossings and connections, the same shall be ascertained and determined by commissioners, to be appointed as is provided in this chapter in respect to the taking of lands; but this section shall not affect the rights or franchises granted before May 6, 1852.

(7) To purchase lands or take them in order that it may change the line of its road, whenever a majority of the directors shall so determine, as is provided in this chapter, but no change shall vary the general route of such road.

(8) To take, transport, carry, and convey persons and property on its railroad by the force and power of steam or animals or of any mechanical power, or by any combination of them, and receive tolls or compensation therefor.

(9) To erect and maintain all necessary and convenient buildings, stations, depots, fixtures, and machinery for the accommodation and use of their passengers, freight, and business, and obtain and hold the lands necessary therefor.

(10) To regulate the time and manner in which passengers and property shall be transported, and the tolls and compensation to be paid therefor.

     (b) In all proceedings authorized by this chapter to take land for the construction of additional main tracks, switches, or passing sidings, the burden of proof shall be upon the corporation to prove in a court of competent jurisdiction its right to take such land and the necessity therefor, preliminary to assessment of damages; and in estimating damages, the damages of all persons, firms, limited liability company, or corporations shall be computed as in other cases, to which shall be added compensation for all such injuries, interruptions, and destruction to any trade, business, contract, occupation, residence, or industry involved, the expense and difficulty in obtaining a new location and in relocating such business or industry, as may not be elements of damage under any law other than this chapter; provided, that nothing contained in this chapter shall repeal, affect, or modify any powers or duties of the commission or any obligations imposed upon railroads by statute other than this chapter, nor impliedly nor expressly repeal, affect, or modify any other statute of this state.

Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.83, s.13; Acts 1911, c.82, s.1. As amended by P.L.62-1984, SEC.38; P.L.23-1988, SEC.82; P.L.8-1993, SEC.140.