Horace Gray

“ The charter of a corporation, read in connection with the general laws applicable to it, is the measure of its powers, and a contract manifestly beyond those powers will not sustain an action against the corporation. But whatever, under the charter and other general laws, reasonably construed, may fairly be regarded as incidental to to the objects for which the corporation is created, is not to be taken as prohibited. Thomas v. Railroad Co. ”

“ These statutes show that the legislature of Wisconsin, recognizing the fact that, from the geographical situation of the state, the railroads which traverse it from east to west form part of a line of transportation extending across the continent, intended to confer upon the corporations owning such railroads very large powers of contracting with other corporations owning railroads or steam-boats, whose course includes connecting parts of the same great line of transportation. ”

“ The plaintiff further alleges that it duly put the propellers on the route and kept them running thereon, in connection with the defendant's business and in accordance with the contract, during the seasons of 1876 and 1877, and in all respects duly performed all the conditions of the contract on its part; that the gross earnings of each propeller for each season fell short of the amount guarantied by a certain sum named, which thereupon became due and payable to the plaintiff from the defendant, according to the contract on the first of January following ”