Logan v. . R. R.

It is settled law in this State that railway companies are private, as distinguished from public, corporations. Hughes v.Commissioners, 107 N.C. 598; Durham v. R. R., 108 N.C. 399. But when the power of eminent domain is delegated for the purpose of enabling other companies to discharge duties for the public benefit, they occupy a different relation to the State and the people from that of ordinary private corporations, the powers of (945) which are given and exercised exclusively for the profit or advantage of their stockholders, and are therefore called quasi-public, though they fall within…