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244 CHAPTER III. Concessions and Prohibitions.

Article 21.

To aid the construction of the lines of railroad and telegraph to which this contract refers, the Government binds itself to give to the Company or Companies a subsidy of $9,500 for each kilometre of the road constructed and approved by the Department of Public Works, according to the terms of this law. This subsidy shall commence to be paid after the completion of the first one hundred and fifty kilometres on the line from Mexico to Leon, and successively for each section of twenty-five kilometres.

On the section from Mexico to Huehuetoca, and from Celaya to Irapuato, and generally on all the narrow gauge lines already built, and which, according to Article 52, may be acquired by the Company or Companies the Government shall only allow a subsidy of $1,500 per kilometre.

Article 27.

The Mexican Government will exact no taxes which are not expressed in the following article, for the simple traffic of passengers, correspondence, and merchandise, over the international and inter-oceanic lines during the period of twenty-five years, counting from the conclusion of each one of said lines; and all effects and merchandise destined solely to traverse the road, and not for consumption in the country, shall be free from every kind of customhouse and port duties as well as from taxes and imposts of every class.