Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls & Northwestern Railway Co. v. Ryan

| Minn. | May 12, 1887

Gileillan, C. J.

There was no error in the trial of either of these cases. In each the evidence tended to show that the land of the respondent, consisting of several 40-acre pieces lying along-side each other, made and was used as one farm, thus bringing the case within the rule, always followed by this court, that where, in condemnation proceedings, several distinct lots or subdivisions are in fact united by being used for one purpose, so that they are practically one tract or piece, as, for instance, one farm, the damage to the whole is to be allowed, though but a part of only one lot or subdivision be taken. It was therefore proper to show that, not merely the particular lot or subdivision, but the whole farm as a unit, viras injured by the taking, and to what extent. And to prove the extent of the damage to the farm, it was proper, as this court has always held since Simmons v. St. Paul & Chicago Ry. Co., 18 Minn. 168, (184,) to prove the value of the farm without the railroad, and its value with the railroad on it.

■ The point made in the Kelly Case, that his only title to one of the forties was under a certificate of sale from the state land-commissioner on a sale of school lands, is not well taken.. If he had any interest in that forty, and any injury was done to the forty by the taking, he was entitled to damages on account of that forty. What part of the damages done to it he was entitled to., might, of course, be affected by the character or extent of his title. But that question does not seem to have been presented to the court below. No objection nor request to charge was made which would call the court’s attention to it. Had that been done, the respondent would have had an opportunity, and perhaps would have been able, to prove that he had paid the entire purchase price of the forty, when, of course, he would have been entitled to all the damages done it.

Order affirmed.