§ 45:452 — Failure to relieve obstruction; landowner's right to do necessary work; committee to determine what work necessary

If any railway company operating a line or system of railroads in this state shall fail to act promptly to construct, open or maintain ditches, drains, or culverts, or crossings, as mentioned in R.S. 45:451, the owner of the land, farm, plantation, or improvements constructed or to be constructed on his land, which may be injured by the failure or neglect of a railway company to relieve promptly the obstructed natural drainage under its roadbed, or on its right of way, may do the necessary work to protect from injury or destruction his land, improvements, or growing crops on the land, farm or plantation, and collect the cost of this work from the railway company along whose line, system, or right of way the work is done in the manner provided in this Part. In any case where the railway company refuses or neglects to do such work as may be necessary to relieve obstructed natural drainage on its roadbed or right of way, the owner of the land, such improvements, farm, or plantation which may be injured by such failure or neglect, shall first notify in writing the agent of the railway company of the work necessary to be done and the approximate cost. If the railway company fails, neglects, or refuses within thirty days after this notice, to do the work, the owner of the land, farm, or plantation, or his authorized agent, together with an authorized representative of the railway company and a third disinterested party, selected by these parties, shall form a committee who shall meet promptly and determine what work is necessary to relieve the obstructed natural drainage and maintain proper drainage. The owner of the land, farm or plantation, or his authorized agent, may then proceed to do the necessary work as approved by this committee of arbitration, keeping an accurate account of the costs. This Section shall not apply to any new culvert or drain to be constructed under or along the railroad roadbed.