25 Vt. 49 | Vt. | 1852
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The very great importance of the principal ¡question involved in this case, led, with great propriety, to an elaborate discussion at the bar, and the court have devoted all the time, at . their command, to an extended examination of all the cases cited, .and some others. It is certain there is not, as yet, a perfect coincidence of views in regard to the rights, duties, and obligations of railway corporations, either in this country or in England. But legislation is every day removing more or less of those uncertainties which have hitherto existed, and in some instances led to more or less of injustice, on the one hand or the other.
Legislation, in the infancy of all new undertakings, is more imperfect than it will be likely to be, when such projects are more fully matured. This is especially applicable to our legislation in regard to railroads. And the consideration, that many, perhaps most of the early charters granted in this State, were, at the time, regarded as experiments merely, and the roads not likely ever to be built, certainly not until extension of their charter limitations would be required, which would enable the legislature further to guard the rights of those likely to be injuriously affected by them,
We have been led to these reflections partly, by what we may explain more fully hereafter, but chiefly to correct a very common misapprehension upon this subject, with parties certainly, and the profession sometimes, that if the law is not made always, to effect the most perfect justice, the fault is in its application, the law itself being always supposed perfect.
The important question in the ease is, how far tills railroad company is liable for consequential damage, to lands near their track, but no part of which is taken, by them, for any purpose; It seems to be conceded in the argument for the plaintiff,-and assumed- on all hands,' that nothing in the company’s charter, or in any general statute of the State, in force at the time, in terms made them liable for such damage. Indeed, this assumption seems indispensable to enable the plaintiff to get along with his case. For if such remedy is given by statute, it is probably exclusive, or at all events, it would doubtless often have been resorted to, long before this. But no such claim has ever been made, by any one; and this may be regarded as pretty satisfactory that no such express provision exists. The English courts seem to consider a provision in the charter for assessing damages, in a summary way, exclusive and not accumulative remedy. East and West India Docks &c. Gattke, 3 Eng. Law & Eq., R. 59. Watkins v. Northern R. W. Co., 6 Ib. 179.
If, then, the legislature have purposely exempted this company from such an obligation, we do not well perceive how the plaintiff will be fairly able to deprive them of the benefit of the exemption, unless he can show that such an exemption is a violation of the constitutional restrictions upon the power of the legislature, or else that it is exempting a particular person from the general liability, by law attaching to all other persons, similarly situated, and in such case, the exemption would be void, probably, as an act of special legislation, upon general principles of reason and justice, like a' particular act, allowing one citizen perpetual exemption from punishment for all offences, or from all liability for torts.
Perhaps it may be useful to consider this latter ground first. It should be premised, in the very outset, that it is no fair test of the general liability of a railroad company for their acts, to argue from what natural persons may lawfully do, and what, if done by them, becomes a nuisance. There is no doubt, that if an individual, or a mere partnership, should do all, that the defendants’ company do daily, in the village of Burlington, they would become indictable for the continuance of a common nuisance, and a mere statute of exemption from liability to prosecution for crime would not affect their liability. And any citizen suffering special damage, by means of such nuisance, might have his action, or enjoin the offenders ordinarily, in equity.
But here the sovereignty of the State have seen fit to confer upon this company, an important franchise, a considerable portion of that sovereignty which themselves possess, the right to construct and continue a railway, almost from one extreme of the State to the other, with slight limitations, as to its course, and providing no tribunal, but their own engineers, to determine its location. The location, which they adopt then, is conclusive of their rights to build the road in that place, as to every one, unless resisted by some proceeding, taken at the time of the location, and brought to bear directly upon the question of the locating of the road. If the plaintiff, or others interested, in the location of this road, would insist, that it is improperly located, inasmuch as it is in a too populous portion of the village, to allow of such a work, this should have been done, by mandamus, or injunction, or some proper pro
It will therefore scarcely be claimed that the operations of the defendants, in the village of Burlington, are a mere nuisance. There was nothing in the proof tending to show, that they were so conducted as to be made such, by reason of mismanagement as to the .time and manner of carrying on their operations, as seems to have ■been held in some of the New York cases, where the operation of engines, near a church, on Sunday, during the time' of public worship, was regarded as actionable, as a common nuisance, causing special damage to this church, as a corporation. The First Baptist Church, &c. v. Sch. & Troy R. R. Co., 5 Barb. Sup. Ct. R. 79. But the precise contrary doctrine was held, it seems, in The First Baptist Church &c. v. Utica R. R. &c., 7 Barb. Sup. Ct. R. And in Drake v. Hudson R. R. §c., 7 Barb. Sup. Ct. R. 508, it was held generally, that a road running through streets in a city, does not amount to the infringement of private rights, provided the passage is left free to travel. The owners of property bounded on streets have no exclusive right of property in them It belongs to the corporation, the legal owners of the soil, to manage and regulate the use of the streets. See note to 7 ed. Kent’s Com. 2 vol. 398, by Kent & Eaton. It is said, in the last case, that for any injury done to the adjoining proprietors, they may have an action on the case.
The question still recurs, what is to be regarded as a legal injury ? If the operations of the railroad in that place are to be regarded as altogether legal, and the adjoining proprietors have no interest in the soil under the street, as in the case of an ordinary highway in the country, which seems to be the view taken by the
But upon general qjrincijdes the defendants may conduct their lawful business, in a reasonable and prudent manner, “ with as little injury to plaintiff’s premises as was consistent,” &c. in the language of the bill of exceptions in this case. It seems to be well settled law, that the first occupier of land acquires no right (within the period of prescription for presuming a grant) to exclude an adjoining proprietor, from the free use of his land, in any proper mode, by erections^ or excavations. A building, which has stood more than twenty years, is presumed to have a grant to have its walls supported by the adjoining land, and that its ancient lights shall not be darkened; 1 Bar. Ab. 77, citing 22 H. 6, 15, 9 Co. 59. Bland’s case, Bulstrode 115, 2 Rolle’s Ab. 107, 143. 3 Leon 93. The same rule is laid down in all the elementary writers, and generally recognized in the English Reports. But in some of the American States, this doctrine of ancient lights is questioned, or denied. Parker & Edgerton v. Foote, 19 Wendell 309. But when no such, question arises, the adjoining proprietors may excavate, or put up erections, to any extent, with impunity, using proper precautions, to cause no unnecessary damage. Prior occupancy gives no exclusive rights. Panton v. Holland, 17 Johns. R. 92. Thurston v. Hancock, 12 Mass. R. 220, where the subject is very elaborately discussed, and' satisfactorily determined, It is here held, that if one, by digging into his own soil, cause the surface of his neighbor’s land to slide into the pit, or cause damage to his neighbor’s erections, by not using proper and reasonable precautions, in making his excavations, for such damage, an action will lie, but not for removing his earth in a prudent manner, whereby his neigh bor’s soil or erections caved and fell, by reason of'extraordinary weight, put upon the land.
And this same principle has been extended to the construction of public works in England and this country. Governor of Plate Manufacturers v. Meredith, 4 T. R. 790. Lord Kenyon says, “If “ the legislature think it necessary, as they do, in many cases, they “ enable the commissioners, to award satisfaction to the individuals, “ who happen to suffer. But if there be no such power (given the “ commissioners,) the parties are without remedy, provided the com“missioners do not exceed their jurisdiction.” This was a case where the jdaintiffs had been hindered in the free access, to their business premises, by the raising of the street opposite them, by the defendants, who were commissioners^ for paving the street; not very dissimilar, in principle, from the plaintiff’s case. Sutton v. Clark, 1 E. C. L. R. 229. Boulton v. Crowther, 9 Ib. 229. King v. Pegham, 15 Ib. 237. The same, or similar principles, have been repeatedly declared in this country. Henry v. The Pittsburgh and Allegany Bridge Co. 8 S. & Watts R. 85. But in this case the plaintiff recovered damages, for the negligent manner, in which the street was altered, thereby throwing water needlessly upon plaintiff’s land. Shrunk v. Schoolkill Nav. Co., 14 S. & R. 71. Commonwealth v. Fisher, 1 Penn. R. 467, and other cases stated more at length in the note.
From all which we must infer, that the defendants are not lia
If this question were entirely new, it would certainly be attended with more difficulty, and would justify a far more extended examination than would now seem, excusable. The article embracing this subject in' our State constitution is in these words: — Part I. Ait. II. “ That private property ought to be subservient to pub- “ lie uses, when necessity requires it; nevertheless,-- “ the owner ought to receive an equivalent in monet.” The corresponding provision in the United States constitution is in these wordsNor shall private property be taken for public use, with- “ out just compensation.” Reference to the United States constitution, is important only, as showing how similar provisions are expressed in different constitutions, all having the same general object in view. This constitutional provision is not of American origin. It existed in the Roman Empire, and in the English constitution, and in most, if not all, the modern European States. In the Code Napoleon, Book II, Title II, 545, it is thus expressed: “ No one “ can be compelled to give up his property, except for the public “ good, and for a just and previous indemnity.” This subject is discussed much at length by the civil .law writers referred to in Chancellor Kent’s elaborate note upon the subject, 2 Comm. 7 ed. 393. It is scarcely needful to go much at length into the general subject here. The learned commentator contends, very strenuously, for compensation in money, to the extent of the value of the land taken. And how the Vermont constitution can fairly bear any other construction, is to me difficult of apprehension. That view is maintained in Vanhorne & Dorrance, 2 Dallas R. 304, by Justice Patterson. And as the subject of the mode of compensation was discussed in this country, at an early day, it seems probable, that it was limited in this State, to a money compensation, de industria. And that probably.led the court to adopt a rather anomalous view of the subject, as it might seem to some, in Livermore v. Jamaica, 23 Vt. R. 361, limiting the constitutional provision, to the taking the fee of the land. That seemed to be the practical con
But altogether aside from any express provision of the constitution, a statute taking property, without necessity of a public character, or without compensation in some form, would doubtless be regarded as entirely without the just limits of legislative power. It is so regarded in North Carolina, where they have no express constitutional provision upon the subject. Railroad Company v. Davis, 2 Dev. & Batt. 451. But in South Carolina, where no such constitutional provision exists, it was decided by a divided court, that compensation was not indispensable. But the better law is regarded as embodied in the dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice Richardson, State v. Dawson, 3 Hill R. 100. Assuming, then, that it is necessary, upon general principles, to make compensation'to the proprietor in some form, even where a less interest in land than a fee is taken, the extent of the compensation is still open. See also Wilkenson v. Leland, 2 Pet. R. 656, Story, Justice.
It seems little better than an evasion to say, that no compensation is required, where a perpetual easement in the land is taken, for public use. There is the same reason and justice, in allowing compensation in such case, as where the absolute fee is taken. And it has always been so regarded. But the general rule may now be regarded as settled in this country, that any advantages accruing to the proprietor of the land taken by the contemplated public work, may be taken into the account in appraising the damage. So, too, where any portion of the land is taken, the commissioners may doubtless estimate consequential damages, to the remaining portion of the land. It is scarcely possible to come fairly, at the value of the land taken, or the actual damage suffered, in any other mode. — Symonds v. The City of Cincinnati, 14 Ohio R. 147, Justice Read dissenting. The charter of defendants, Sec. 7, requires the commissioners to appraise such damage to the owner of land taken, as he may have sustained, or shall be liable to sustain, by the occupation of the land for the purpose aforesaid. It is not now regarded as essential that the damages should be paid in advance of assuming possession of the land, as required by the code Napoleon, and in some American cases.—Bloodgood v. M. & H. Railroad Co., 14 Wendell 51, S. C., in error and reversed, 8
But in the absence of all statutory provision to that effect, no ease, and certainly no principle seems to justify the subjecting a person, natural or artificial, in the prudent pursuit of his own lawful business, to the payment of consequential damage, to other persons, in their property or business. This always happens, more or less, in all rival pursuits, and often where there is nothing of that kind. One mill or one store, or school, often injures another. One’s dwelling is undermined or its lights darkened, or its prospect obscured, and thus materially lessened in value, by the erection of other buildings, upon lands of other proprietors. One is beset with noise, or dust, or other inconvenience, by the alteration of a street, or more especially by the introduction of a railway, but there is no redress in any of these cases. The thing is lawful in the railroad, as much as in the other cases supposed. One would not care if they were altogether excluded from cities and large villages. But the legislature have determined otherwise, and the plaintiff must be content to take his chance with other citizens. These public works come too near some, and too remote from others. They benefit many, and injure-some. It is not possible to equalize the advantages and disadvantages. It is so with everything, and always will be. We do not expect to have the consolation, if conso
But some of the cases seem to justify some limitation upon the right of railway companies, or other grants, for public purposes, in regard to diverting water courses, rivers and other streams. Broughton v. Carter, 18 Johns. R. 404, seems to require, that such public companies should not needlessly injure the adjoining proprietors, by turning the water upon them in such a manner, and at such points, ás materially to injure them. Where it is practicable, within the range of any reasonable expense, to save the adjoining proprietors from damage, by the water flowing from the road, or from a natural stream of water, and this is not done, and the land owner su'ffiei's damage, the company is liable to an action. The case of Hooker v. New Haven & Northampton Company, 14 Conn. R. 146, goes upon this ground, and extends the right of action to the land owners below the works, no part of whose land is taken, but which is materially injured, by the defective manner ift which the public works are constructed. It was held, too, by Kent; chancellor, in Gardner v. Newburgh, 2 Johns. Ch. R. 162, that' one could not be deprived of the benefit of a stream of water, by the State even, without compensation, and the defendants were
But in the present case, it seems such a culvert or sluice, was needful, every year, and that this became known to defendants before constructing their embankment, and that they attempted to build one, which was so imperfectly built, that it filled up. We think, therefore, the plaintiff is entitled to have such damages of defendants, as he has sustained by reason of their not building such a culvert, as would be ordinarily needful, in that place, such as prudent men, under the circumstances, would have been likely to build. We cannot regard the deed of Freeman and wife, as amounting to a license to build their road upon the land granted, in any different manner, from what they would have been entitled to do, had they taken the right of way merely, in the ordinary mode. Indeed, such a deed of the fee of the land has been sometimes held only to convey the right of way to such corporation, that being all which it can properly hold. But not to discuss that point, it certainly could not be fairly regarded as giving a right to build the road upon the land, in any other mode, than that defined in their charter, restoring water courses to their former state as far as practicable.
The result of all which would seem to be, that, in the case of Hatch, the judgment must be affirmed, unless the plaintiff thinks it an object, of some importance to him, to have the question submitted to the jury, whether the road was built in a manner to do him no unnecessary damage. And this would seem to confine the claim for damage pretty much to the turning the water upon him,
We have taken no notice of certain cases, where it has been held, that railroad companies are not liable for cutting off springs of water, in making their excavations. For it is presumable, that such cases go mainly upon the ground, that such springs could not have been restored to their former state, or else they were covert, like a spring supplying a well. Aldrich v. Cheshire R. R. Co., 1 Foster N. II. R. 359, or perhaps, that the payment of damage covered the loss which the party had sustained, by having the spring cut off, where it was impossible to restore it. The case of Francis Dodge v. County Commissioners of Fssex, 3 Metcalf R. 380, seems to sustain the leading views which we have here taken.
Note. Trustees of the Presbyterian Society in Waterloo v. Aub. & Roch, R. R. Company. 3 Hill 567, decides, that the legislature cannot give to the company the right to construct their road over a public highway, without paying damages to the proprietor of the land covered by the highway. The fact that he has had his damages for the highway appraised, does not entitle the public to build a railroad over the same land. And this is certainly plausible and equitable. And the Supreme Court of N. Y. hold in this case, that the railroad having built the road without causing damages to be appraised by the commissioners, were liable in trespass. The charter of that company was similar to this, giving the power to pass highways, restoring them to their former state and usefulness.
The case of Fletcher v. The Auburn & Syracuse R. R. Co., 25 Wendell 462, is a case certainly very much in point for the plaintiffs. It seems to go upon the general ground that the company are liable to consequential damages for building their road through a street adjoining plaintiff’s land. This case might perhaps have been put upon the ground that the plaintiff*, owning adjoining the street, owned to the middle of the street, and that consequently the company built their road over a portion of his land, and he was entitled to all the additional damages he thereby sustained; but the case is not put upon any such ground. But this case must be regarded as shaken, if not overruled, by subsequent cases in that State, and by others in other States, referred to in the opinion.
The Seneca Road Co. v. The Auburn & Rochester R. R. Co., 5 Hill 170, only decides, that the railway company are liable to damages for crossing a turnpike company’s road, notwithstanding the charter gives that right; but it would seem not to the consequential damages to the turnpike company by means of the construction of the railway. This is reasonable and just, and for anything I can perceive, altogether sound.
Miller v Aub. & Syracuse R. R. Co., 6 Hill 61, is much like the present case, the gravamen of the complaint being, that a large embankment was built opposite the plaintiff’s house or land, thereby interrupting plaintiff’s ingress and egress to certain lots belonging to him. It seems to be assumed that the defendants were liable, and perhaps they would be, on general principies, upon the terms of their charters.
Zimmerman v. Union Canal Co., 1 Watts & Sergeant 346, is an application for damages, occasioned to land which was in plaintiff’s grantor, at the time the defendants built the dam, complained of as destroying a fording place on the land. The court held that the grantor was entitled to damages if any one, but that in fact, the stream being a -public highway, no one of the adjoining land owners is entitled to ask damages for any act of the State or their agents, in improving the use of it as a highway. The persons adjoining a highway or street must submit to any necessary improvement, as a highway, without additional damage.
Shrunk v. Schoolkill Navigation Co., 14 Serg. & Rawle 71, decides that rivers above tide water, are still highways, and that a riparian proprietor whose privilege of fishery is damaged by a dam built by a navigation company, within their charter, cannot sustain an action against the company therefor.
Railroad Co. v. Heiser, 8 Barr. 366, decides that laird owners, through whose land the road runs, and where damages are assessed, “and other inconveniences likely to result to the owner of the land,” cannot recover of the company for damages caused to his woods, by reason of sparks emitted by the company’s engines. The case goes upon the ground that such a damage is the unavoidable result of the use of engines, which the company may lawfully use upon their road, and of course they are not liable except for negligence.
In Commonwealth v. Fisher, 1 Penn. R. 467, it is held that the State may give to individuals the right to deepen the channel of the Susquehannah river, and that an individual who thereby loses the use of a spring, which comes out below high water mark, is not entitled to damages, such river being public property.
Case of the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad, 6 Wharton R. 25, (1845,) establishes the principle that the State may allow the railroad to do an act which causes consequential injury to those whose land is not taken, without compensation. That the prohibition in the Constitution does not extend to such property, but only to the taking of the thing by the State. This was the case of a railway laid along a public street, and thereby causing damage to individuals of a consequential character, and the court held, that it could make no difference, if it were conceded that the persons complaining, owned to the middle of the street, the fee of,.the land which had been dedicated to the public use, for the purposes of a common highway. I might, perhaps, hesitate to follow this case to the full extent.
Monongahela Navigation Co. v. Coons, 6 Watts & Sergeant 101, (1843.) This
But if the company accept an amended charter, reserving to the legislature the right to amend the charter of the company, doing them no injustice, the legislature may then make them liable by a subsequent act, for damages already accrued. Same v. same, 6 Barr. 379, (1847.)
Susquehannah Canal Co. v. Wright, 9 Watts & Sergeant 9. This case holds, that a grant to an individual to build a dam and take water from the Susquehannah river for private use, is subject to the right to improve the navigation of the river. And if subsequently they grant this privilege to a company, and the company in the necessary pursuit of the grant, damage the mills of the first grantee, he is not entitled to recover therefor.
Mayor v. Randolph, 4 Watts & Serg. 514, only shows that the Mayor is not to be made liable for the manner of grading streets, by referring it to a jury, whether it was not done in that mode to benefit the corporation.
The revised statute of Mass, is very broad, including “all damage” “occasioned by laying out, making or maintaining said road, as well as by taking any land or materials therefor.” It was held, under this provision, that the company were liable to damages for draining a spring, by digging on their own land.
In Mass., it would seem, that by statute, the company is liable for fires communicated by their engines.
Lansing v. Smith, 8 Cowen 146, decides that when docks of private persons are injured by the construction of a basin in the river, at Albany, under a grant of the legislature, they could recover nothing for such consequential damage, — that it was damnum absque injuria.
Aldrich v. Cheshire R. R. Co., 1 Foster R. 359, decides, that the assessment of damages to a land owner precludes him from recovering for the loss of a spring,- in consequence of an excavation, subsequently but lawfully made.
We have thus carefully reviewed all the cases, bearing upon the question, which have been brought to our notice, and we find no reason to doubt the perfect soundness of the conclusion to which we have arrived.