96. All corporations or persons, who cannot, in ordinary course of law, sell or alienate any lands so set out and ascertained, shall agree upon a fixed annual rent as an equivalent, and not upon a principal sum, to be paid for the lands.
If the amount of the rent be not fixed by voluntary agreement or compromise, expropriation proceedings shall be instituted.
R. S. 1964, c. 290, s. 96.