Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 484. Telephone, Telegraph and Radio § 484.4

Sec. 4. Every such corporation shall have power to construct and maintain lines of wire or other material, for use in the transmission of telephonic messages along, over, across, or under any public places, streets and highways, and across or under any of the waters in this state, with all necessary erections and fixtures therefor: Provided, That the same shall not injuriously interfere with other public uses of the said places, streets and highways, or injure any trees located along the line of such streets or highways nor shall the same interfere with the navigation of said waters, or the running of railway trains; to construct, provide and furnish instruments, devices, and facilities for use in the transmission of such messages, and to construct, maintain and operate telephone exchanges and stations, and generally to conduct and carry on the business of providing and supervising communication by telephone, and also the business of furnishing messenger service in cities and towns: Provided further, That whenever any corporation organized under the provisions of this act for the purpose of constructing any public telephone line in the upper peninsula of this state finds it impracticable to construct its said lines upon any of the public places, streets and highways and across or under any waters in this state, on account of which it may desire to acquire any right of way for its said lines over, through, under and across any lands needed therefor, and is unable to agree with the owner of such lands for the purchase of said right of way, such corporation shall have the right to acquire the title to said right of way, outside of the corporate limits of cities and villages, upon making just compensation to the owner of such lands, in the same manner and by the same proceedings as provided for in chapter 164 of the Compiled Laws of 1897 of this state  1 for the condemnation of lands for right of way by railway companies: Provided further, that whenever the owner of any lands which are not traversed by any railway objects to having any telephone company run its line of right of way across his lands at any point, then the said telephone company shall confine its line of right of way to established subdivision lines. Whenever the owner of any lands which are traversed by any railway shall object to having any telephone company run its line of right of way across his lands at any point then the said telephone company shall confine its line of right of way to established subdivision lines or immediately adjoining and along the right of way of said railway. And it shall be lawful for any such corporation to purchase and hold a portion of the stock of any corporation owning or controlling by patent, or otherwise, the use of any instrument or device necessary or convenient for use, in the transmission or reception of telephonic messages, and to purchase and hold all real property necessary to carry out the purposes of its organization.