All railroad companies operating railroads through the Territories of the United States over a right of way obtained under any grant or Act of Congress giving to said railroad companies the right of way over the public lands of the United States shall be required to establish and maintain passenger stations and freight depots at or within one-fourth of a mile of the boundary limits of all town sites established prior to August 8, 1894, in said Territories on the line of said railroads by authority of the Interior Department.
(Aug. 8, 1894, ch. 236, §1,