2011 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 63: Railroads and Communications
Article 2: Powers and Construction of Roads, 63-2-1 through 63-2-18
Section 63-2-7: State lands; granting right-of-way over and right to appropriate water thereon.

63-2-7. [State lands; granting right-of-way over and right to appropriate water thereon.]

There is hereby granted to every railroad corporation formed under the laws of New Mexico a right-of-way for its railroads and telegraphs to the width of one hundred feet on each side of the center line of the track over and through any of the swamp or overflowed lands or other lands, which belonged to the territory of New Mexico, and in cases where deep excavations, or heavy embankments, or other cuttings, ditches, drains, canals, culverts or structures to protect the road beds and to facilitate the use and enjoyment of the same, is or may be required for the grade or other uses of said roads, then, at such places, a greater width of such lands may be taken by such corporation, and the same is hereby further granted to such corporation, not exceeding, in addition, five hundred feet wide. And the right is hereby further granted to such corporation to locate, occupy and hold so much of said lands as may be necessary for sites and grounds for watering places, depots, stations or other buildings or structures, along the line of said railroads necessary for the accommodation of the public, the operating of said roads and the transaction of the business of such corporation. And the further right is hereby granted to such corporation to appropriate to its use, by means of pipes, ditches, aqueducts or other conduits, so much of the waters of any springs or streams on said lands as may be necessary to the operating of the roads and the transaction of the business of such corporation, together with the right-of-way over said lands to such springs or streams for such pipes, ditches, aqueducts or other conduits.