Every first or second class municipality shall have power to permit, regulate, or prohibit the constructing or laying of tracks of any street railway in any street, alley, or public place; but such permission shall not be for a longer time than twenty years, and any contract in pursuance thereof shall provide that at the option of the municipality, declared not more than three years nor less than one year before the expiration of such permission, the plant and property, if any, belonging to or used by the grantee named in such permission, or his successor in interest, shall, at the termination of such permit or franchise, upon the payment of the fair valuation thereof, exclusive of any franchise valuation, be and become the property of the municipality; but such option shall not be exercised unless the municipality shall then have authority to acquire and operate such a plant or property.

Source: SL 1890, ch 37, art V, § 1, subdiv 24; SL 1901, ch 221, § 1; RPolC 1903, § 1229, subdiv 24; SL 1907, ch 92, § 1; SL 1911, ch 96; SL 1913, ch 119, § 53, subdiv 24; RC 1919, § 6170 (2); SDC 1939, § 45.0202 (10); SL 1992, ch 60, § 2.