Chap. 258.—An ACT prescribing the liability of common carriers, railroads, or
transportation companies for any loss, damage, or injury to property caused by
its negligence, or the negligence of any other common carrier, railroad, or trans -
portation company to Which such property may be delivered, or over whose lines
such property may pass.

Approved May 16, 1903.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virgima, That whenever
any property is received by a common carrier to be transferred from one
place to another, within or without this State, or when a railroad or
other transportation company issues its receipt or bills of lading in this
State, the common carrier, railroad or transportation company issuing
such bill of lading shall he liable for any loss or damage or Injury to
such property caused by its negligence or the negligence of any common
carrier, railroad: or transportation company operating within any terri-
torv or State of the United States to which such property may Le de-
livered, or over whose lines such property may pass: and the fact of loss
or damage In such case shall itself be prima facie evidence of negligence,
and the common carrier, railroad or transportation company Issung any
such receipt or bill of lading shall be entitled to recover in a proper ¢ «ction
the amount of any loss, damage, or Injury it may be required to pay to the
owner of such property from the common carrier, railroad or transporta-
tion company aforesaid through whose negligence the loss, damage or in-
jury may be sustamed. No ‘contract, receipt, rule, or re ulation shall
exempt any such common. carrier railroad or transportation company
from the Nabilitv of a common carrier which would exist had no cen-
tract been made or entered into.

The receipt of goods destined to a point bevond the line or route ef
the initial carrier or the acceptance of through freight on same, shall be
deemed to be a contract for carriage to ultimate destination and de Very
of such property at that point. And unless the common carrier, railroad
or transportation company first receiving such property shall, within
a reasonable time after loss or damage thereto, pay to the consignor,
his agent, or assignee the amount of damage sustained thereby, then such
consignor, his agent, or assignee may by proper action recover of such
common carrier, railroad or transportation company first receiving such
property the amount of such loss or damage.

2. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent. “with this act are hereby re-
penier

This act shall be in foree from and after July first, nineteen lun-
are and three.