Sec. 3. When such fence, barrier and cattle-guards are completed, such railroad corporation, lessee, assignee, receiver or other person or corporation operating and controlling the same shall keep the same in good repair and sufficient to answer the purposes for which constructed, and if any such corporation, lessee, assignee, receiver or other person or corporation shall permit any part of the fence, barrier or cattle-guards to get out of repair so that it will not turn cattle, horses, mules, sheep, hogs or other stock, the owner of the land abutting upon the land or right of way of such railroad may notify the agent, in writing, for receiving and shipping freight at the station nearest the tract of land so owned by such person, that a portion of the fence is out of repair, stating where the same is out of repair, and the probable cost of making such repair, and if such railroad corporation, lessee, assignee, receiver or other person or corporation shall fail, for thirty (30) days, to make or commence such repairs, such abutting landowner shall have the right to enter upon the land, right of way and railroad track, and make such repairs, and shall furnish a sworn itemized account of the cost of such repairs, including the material necessarily used and the labor, to the agent aforesaid, and if such bill is not paid within sixty (60) days from the time the same was so furnished to such agent, the said party so making such repairs may recover the reasonable value of such repairs so made from such railroad corporation, lessee, assignee, receiver, or other person or corporation so controlling and operating the same, together with reasonable attorney's fees: Provided, That in case the said railroad corporation or person operating the same, liable for such repairs, shall, within said sixty (60) days, tender to such person so making such repairs a sum of money in satisfaction of such repairs made by him, and such person shall refuse to accept the same, and shall sue for the recovery of the value of such repairs, and shall not recover more than was so tendered, he shall not recover attorney's fees in such suit.
Formerly: Acts 1885(ss), c.91, s.3.