142 Wis. 292 | Wis. | 1910
The following opinion was filed February 1, 1910:
By his deed of conveyance to Barkhausen, Finnegan conveyed all of a certain described parcel of land except two strips, each 214 feet in width, one lying immediately north and the other immediately south of the parcel conveyed. The deed was silent as to the ownership of these two parcels. It did not expressly state that the right-of-way clause was inserted therein because of the benefit that would result therefrom to the parcels of land in question or to either of them. The writing was sufficiently ambiguous to warrant the admission of extraneous evidence to show the circumstances which surrounded the parties at the time it was executed. Bridger v. Pierson, 45 N. Y. 601; 2 Page, Contracts, § 1123; Merriam v. Field, 29 Wis. 592; Lego v. Medley, 19 Wis. 211, 48 N. W. 375; Mayer v. Goldberg, 116 Wis. 96, 92 N. W. 556, and cases cited. 'From such evidence it appeared that Finnegan was in fact the owner of the south strip when the deed was made, and that it was valuable chiefly for factory sites. A spur track is a valuable, if not an indispensable, adjunct to such a site. The construction of such a track can be compelled only when the owner or lessee of the industry pays the cost of building the spur and of securing the right of way therefor. Ch. 352, Laws of 1907 (secs. 1797—11m, 1797—12n, Stats.). So, when the circumstances which surrounded the parties are
In construing deeds, as in construing other contracts, the fundamental inquiry is, "What was the intention of the par-: ties? Wherever this intention is apparent, the language used will be so construed as to effectuate it, provided such language is reasonably susceptible of such interpretation. Fischer v. Laack, 76 Wis. 313, 320, 45 N. W. 104; Pritchard v. Lewis, 125 Wis. 604, 610, 104 N. W. 989; Chicago, M. & St. P. R. Co. v. H. W. Wright L. Co. 123 Wis. 46, 50, 100 N. W. 1034; Williams v. Jones, 131 Wis. 361, 366, 111 N. W. 505; Western L. & C. Co. v. Copper River L. Co. 138 Wis. 404, 412, 120 N. W. 277; Martin v. Cook, 102 Mich. 267, 60 N. W. 679, and cases cited; Coudert v. Sayre, 46 N. J. Eq. 386, 19 Atl. 190; Whitney v. Union R. Co. 11 Gray, 359. We entertain no doubt that Einnegan inserted the clause in question in his deed to Barkhausen for his own benefit as owner of the tract of land afterwards conveyed to Keogh, which adjoined that sold and which could not well be reached by a spur track that did not pass over the land conveyed to Barkhausen. This parcel of land was purchased by Keogh for a manufacturing site, and he was about to erect a manufacturing plant thereon when the spur track was built. The able trial judge was right in holding that the right-of-way provision in the deed was one which inured to the benefit of the grantor therein, and which was in fact inserted for his benefit as owner of the adjacent parcel of land.
It is no less apparent that the language used is a covenant. The word “understood,” as used in the sentence in question, is synonymous with the word “agreed.” Higginson v. Weld, 14 Gray, 165, 170. By accepting the deed, the agreement contained therein, in form, became as binding upon the grantee as if he had in fact signed the instrument. Hutchinson v. C. & N. W. R. Co. 37 Wis. 582, 602. Words of cove
Whether or not the language used in the deed technically created a reservation is immaterial. Einnegan had a perfect right to make a reservation for his own benefit, and we do not feel called upon to decide, on the record presented, whether a reservation in a grant of land for the benefit of a third person is void, as is stated in Strasson v. Montgomery, 32 Wis. 52.
“When it appears by the true construction of the terms of a grant that it was the well-understood purpose of the parties to create or reserve a right, in the nature of a servitude or easement, in the property granted, for the benefit of other land owned by the grantor, no matter in what form such purpose may be expressed, whether it be in the form of a condition, or covenant, or reservation, or exception, such right, if not against public policy, will be held to.be appurtenant to the land of the grantor, and binding on that conveyed to the grantee, and the right and burthen thus created and imposed will pass with the lands to all subsequent grantees.” Coudert v. Sayre, 46 N. J. Eq. 386, 395, 19 Atl. 190; Hagerty v. Lee, 54 N. J. Law, 580, 25 Atl. 319.
This rule is stated in substantially the same language in Whitney v. Union R. Co. 11 Gray, 359, 365, and in substance in Avery v. N. Y. C. & H. R. R. Co. 106 N. Y. 142, 12 N. E. 619; Post v. Weil, 115 N. Y. 361, 375, 22 N. E. 145; and Boyden v. Roberts, 131 Wis, 659, 669, 111 N. W. 701.
The easement in question, having been created for the benefit of the adjoining land of the grantor, is appurtenant to. such land, and passed to Keogh by the conveyance of the dominant estate without express mention in the deed of conveyance. Karmuller v. Krotz, 18 Iowa, 352, 358; Tinker v. Forbes, 136 Ill. 221, 242, 26 N. E. 503; Boyden v. Roberts, 131 Wis. 659, 669, 111 N. W. 701; Borst v. Empie, 5 N. Y. 33; Morgan v. Mason, 20 Ohio, 401; Kent v. Waite, 10 Pick 138; Hinchliffe v. Kinnoul, 5 Bing. N. C. 1; U. S. v.
Tbe circuit court held, in substance, that the petitioner was not entitled to recover any damages because of an extension of the spur track to the parcel of land purchased by Keogh, provided it was built at Keogh’s request and was used exclusively to serve any legitimate business that might be conducted on such site. Further, that any other or additional use to which the spur track might be put imposed an additional servitude on the land sold to Barkhausen, for which he was entitled to compensation, and commissioners were appointed upon the theory that, on the record made, an additional burden had been in fact imposed. This conclusion was reached because the defendant railway company asserted in its answer the right to use the twenty-foot strip for railway purposes generally, and because it was not shown that the spur track was built at Keogh’s request. The record is barren of all proof to show that the spur track had been used for any purpose except to serve Keogh. Such track terminated upon his land; it did not extend to the river; it does not appear that it was used for the storage of cars, and it is difficult to see how it could have been used for any other purpose than to serve Keogh, except for the storage of cars. In any event, if it were so used, it should not be difficult to show that fact by proof.
There is much force in the reasoning of the learned trial judge to the effect that the railway company could not rely on the covenant under consideration unless it showed that the spur track was actually built at Keogh’s request, which it failed to do. But the real question would seem to be whether the spur track was necessary for the beneficial use of the land conveyed to Keogh. On this point Keogh states, in his verified answer to the petition for condemnation, that he bought the 274-foot strip in question for manufacturing purposes and is about to erect and operate a large manufacturing
The railway company having the right to build the spur track for Keogh’s accommodation, it was incumbent upon the petitioner to show a taking of the right of way for some other and additional purpose before he was entitled to have commissioners appointed. After issue was joined, and before the order appealed from was entered, the railway company filed a .writing in court by which it disclaimed any right, title, or interest in the twenty-foot right-of-way strip in •question, save such right, title, or interest as it had therein by virtue of the provision contained in the Barhhausen deed. By virtue of the covenant in the Barhhausen deed the railway company had the right to build a spur track across petitioner’s land for the purpose of serving the wants of Keogh as owner of the 274-foot strip on the south. Besides the assertion contained in Keogh’s answer there is at least some proof to show that the track was essential to enable Keogh to use his land for the purpose for which he purchased it The railway company did build such a spur track. There is no showing made that it was used for any purpose other than to serve 'the real estate to which the right of way over the Barh-hausen land was appurtenant. The railway company disclaims any purpose or intention of using it for a purpose not ■contemplated and not authorized by the covenant contained in the deed to petitioner. Under such conditions we fail to see where the petitioner had shown any taking of his land by the railway company, or wherein he was entitled to recover ;any damages.
Erom the view we take of the case it is apparent that
By the Gowrt. — Tbe order of tbe circuit court is reversed on tbe appeal of tbe Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company and John W. Keogh, but without prejudice to the-right of tbe petitioner to institute other condemnation proceedings in tbe future in case tbe right-of-way strip across bis land is being used for a purpose not warranted by tbe covenant contained in bis deed, and tbe cause is remanded with direction to dismiss tbe condemnation proceeding. Ordered further that petitioner take nothing by bis appeal.
Tbe following opinion was filed April 5, 1910:
Tbe petitioner has filed a brief containing sixty-eight pages of printed matter in support of a motion for rehearing, in which it is argued with elaboration and reiteration that tbe decision of this court deprives tbe petitioner of bis property without reward or compensation, and is contrary to well-settled legal principles. If this be true, an egregious blunder has been committed which should be remedied while it may be. But is it true ? When tbe petitioner bought his land he bought it under an agreement contained in bis deed that tbe railway companies should have a “joint right of way twenty feet wide across the whole of lot 1 at a place where the track is now located, extended in a straight line across said lot.” It is admitted that the side track is-built on tbe line indicated. Now, did petitioner buy and pay for the fee in the land, or did he buy and pay for the fee subject to the easement agreed upon? Did Einnegan sell him the fee, or sell only the fee subject to such easement? What did petitioner purchase and pay for, and what did Finnegan sell and receive pay for? Einnegan owned the factory site lying to the south of the land sold petitioner. Its value might largely depend on side-track facilities. . Indeed,
This court held, as did the trial court, that the clause in the deed was a covenant, and nothing has been said to shake our conviction that such view was correct. It also held that the clause was sufficiently ambiguous to admit parol evidence of the circumstances which surrounded the parties when the deed was made, and we see no reason for receding from this view. Those circumstances disclosed the interest which Finnegan had in providing for the easement. It was valuable in connection with the other land which he owned, and it was a logical and correct conclusion to draw that the easement created or reserved was appurtenant to such land and passed with it to Finnegan’s grantee. The decisions cited in support of this proposition of law are directly in point and we believe are correct in principle.
From this point the case presents a very simple question, notwithstanding the claim of petitioner that he was misled
By the Court. — The motion for a rehearing is denied, with :$25 costs.