61 N.W. 1030 | N.D. | 1894
The judgment appealed from denied plaintiff’s application for a peremptory writ of mandamus. An alternative writ was issued. To this writ defendant interposed an answer. The proceeding was tried, and the court made its findings of fact and conclusions of law. Upon them the judgment appealed from rests. We will first consider whether these findings of fact, so far as they are unchallenged, warrant the judgment. The unchallenged facts which they embody are substantially the following: The defendant, the City of Ellendale, constructed a system of water works within its corporate limits for the benefit of its citizens. This system consisted of an artesian well and water mains laid in its streets. The construction of lateral service pipes was not a part of this system. These were to be constfucted at the expense of the persons who desired to make connections with
This proceeding was instituted to compel the city and its officers to restore such connection. We have neither statutory provision nor ordinance to aid us in the settlement of this case. Upon the vital points, we are left entirely to general principles. In the first place, there is no express declaration-in any ordinance as to the ownership of these service pipes after they are constructed. Neither is there any legislation on the subject. But it is provided in the ordinance referred to that the owner of the land shall pay all expenses of making the connection. His ownership of the service pipe naturally follows, there being nothing to call for a different conclusion. The water system established by the city, and which it must maintain, stops at the main. It does not embrace service pipes. These are to be paid for and owned by the one who makes the connection with the main. This work is to be done under the control of the city, to prevent the waste of water from leakage because of bad wormanship or poor material. But the fact remains that it is the owner of the property who makes and pays for the connection, and who there
The record discloses numerous specifications of errors of law, but they all relate to matters which are foreign to the material facts of the case. The material facts are undisputed, and there is no claim of any error connected with the proof of such facts. The only attack upon the findings is with respect to a matter which may be eliminated from the findings without affecting the judgment. These alleged errors are therefore not prejudicial.
The judgment is affirmed,