37-9-101. Mortgages; issue of corporate bonds; provisions as to bonds.
Every railroad company organized under the general incorporation laws of this state shall have power and is hereby authorized to mortgage or execute deeds of trust, in whole or in part, of the real and personal property and franchises, including its lands or other property granted to said company by the United States, or any state or territory, to secure money borrowed by them for the construction and equipment of their roads, and may also issue their corporate bonds in sums not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00); to make all of said mortgages or deeds of trust payable to bearer or otherwise, negotiable by delivery, bearing interest at rates not to exceed ten percent (10%) per annum, convertible into stock or not, at the option of the holder, and may sell the same at such rates and prices as they may deem proper, and if said bonds shall be sold below their nominal or par value, they shall be valid and binding upon the company, and no plea of usury shall be put in or allowed by said company in any suit or proceeding upon the same. The principal and interest of said bonds or either of them may be made payable within or without this state, at such place as may be determined upon by said company.