32 Iowa 47 | Iowa | 1871
Tbe charter of tbe city of Dubuque gives to tbe city council power to “ open, alter, extend, widen, establish and vacate the sidewalks, streets, alleys, wharves, docks, landings and other public grounds of tbe city.” Also, “ to regulate tbe use of wharves and public landings, fix tbe rate of wharfage, and regulate tbe stationary anchorage and mooring of all boats and rafts within tbe city.” At tbe time tbe wharfage sued for in this action is claimed to have occurred, tbe only ordinance which bad been passed by
Where the city, pursuant to its charter, has provided wharves and designated the uses to which they shall be appropriated, it is very clear, upon both principle and authority, that it may require all boats, rafts, lumber and merchandise to be landed there and collect reasonable wharfage therefor, or ■ if landed elsewhere, even on the premises of the owner, may require the payment of the same, or other reasonable wharfage from such owner. The right to prohibit the use of other places as wharves, and to collect wharfage if boats, rafts, etc., are landed there, is essential and necessary in order to the beneficial enjoyment of the power to provide wharves and fix the rate of wharfage. The right of the owner of property within a city, to use it for any purpose he pleases, is necessarily subordinate to the public interest, and to the exercise of the rightfully granted municipal authority. The instances in which this same power has been exercised by cities, and upheld by courts, in respect to markets, manufactories, auction sales, saloons, etc., are numberless, and we need not refer to them. Sed vide for the authorities, and a more extended 'discussion of this question, the opinion of Miller, J., in a case between these same parties, post, 80.
Affirmed.