147 P. 378 | Or. | 1915
delivered the opinion of the-court.
The pleadings of this case deal largely in historical recitals, in which there is, fortunately, but slight, if any, divergence. Since these historical facts are of large importance in determining the issues herein, it will be well to state briefly such as we deem of value in elucidating the questions involved.
In 1849 D. H. Lownsdale purchased of one Pettvgrove his claim to 640 acres of land on the west side of the Willamette River where the City of Portland now stands. He then sold to Stephen Coffin and W., W. Chapman each an undivided one-third interest therein. In the spring of 1850 these proprietors had the claim surveyed by R. Y. Short, who laid out a portion of the property into blocks, and made a map thereof. John Brady then made two copies of this map, thus affording each proprietor a copy. This map has since been known as the “Brady map” or “Short-Brady map.” The plat included block No. 132, but bore no reference
“Plat of D. H. Lownsdale’s claim, including map or plat of the original town of Portland (on what is known as the Portland claim of land, which claim is held under record, in the territorial record books in the name of Daniel H. Lownsdale; recorded on the 23d day of September, A. D. 1848, at Oregon City by Theophilus McGruder, recorder, and proven up before the surveyor general of Oregon at Oregon City on the 28fch of October, 1852, by the said claimant, Daniel IT. Lownsdale) together with enlargements. Now, know ye that so much of said claim as is covered with said original town plat or map and the enlargements are included within the marginal lines and the northern claim line and the river Willamette, inclusive, may and by my permission be subject to the by-laws of a corporation for said town or city under charter from the legislature of Oregon Territory so far as making regu*389 lations for the public streets as laid down by their particular width (but not further), also any public square for ornamental purposes (but not otherwise), also any public parks. The several public streets are particularly marked with their names and widths. Those running eastward and westward commence at low-tide water mark at the margin of the Willamette River (except south of Market Street), and are all 60 feet in width, and no more. The wharves and wharfing privileges are all specially reserved to the bolder of the claims, and never (except by deed) subject to any but the laws of the territory of Oregon or ordinances of town or city corporation as other town (private) property. The marginal above referred to are marked (A, B, O, D, E, G, H, I, J, K, on or not far from center of each line). N. B. All rights as claim holder and not particularly described above or quitclaimed to others to private individuals are specially reserved to me and my heirs forever. Given under my hand and seal this 3d day of December, A. D. 1852. Daniel IT. Lownsdale. [L. S.]
“Blocks 54 and 55 appropriated for public square. O. Church appropriated to the Congregational Church No. 23, North half B. Church appropriated to the Baptist Church No. 62 North half F. Seminary appropriated to Female Seminary No. 205. Blocks having other marks are unappropriated, but left subject to the uses as follows: At any time they will be substantially improved for the following purposes: B. 150 Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance and Lyceum; block 132 and 172 for markets; North half block 134 district school; block 211 for Male Seminary; South half block 208 for Daughters Temperance. The parks of 80 feet in width are already appropriated for public parks.
“Received for record December 9th. Recorded December 16th, A. D. 1852. W. S. Caldwell,
“Clerk and Recorder.”
Some time after the making of the Brady map, but' prior to 1854, a map of the City of Portland was made
It is conceded that W. W. Chapman, the patentee of the land in controversy, sold lots and blocks as represented upon the Brady map, but there is no satisfactory evidence that he ever knew of, or used, the Lowns
“Blocks having other marks are unappropriated but left subject to the uses as follows: At any time they will be substantially improved for the following purposes : B. 150 Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance and Lyceum; block 132 and 172 for markets,” etc.
There is nothing in this statement inconsistent with private ownership. In a similar ease the Supreme Court of Iowa says:
“The phrase ‘Garden Square’ does not express or necessarily imply a dedication to the public. The implication from the expression is rather the other way. There seems, however, to be nothing conclusive either for or against the dedication in the words used”: City of Pella v. Scholte, 24 Iowa, 288 (95 Am. Dec. 729).
The same has been the holding as to a “hotel site” (Hanes v. Land Co., 129 N. C. 311 (40 S. E. 114), and “wharf”: Palen v. Ocean City, 64 N. J. Law, 669 (46 Atl. 774). And in the case of Harris v. City of St. Helens, 72 Or. 377 (143 Pac. 941), this court held that the plat of a town site upon which a tract of land is
“The phrase ‘reserved for wharves,’ written in that part of said plat marked ‘Strand,’ signifies.that the owner retained or kept back the tract represented by that space for wharves. Wharves may be private property; and hence the words ‘reserved for wharves’ do not manifest an intention on the part of the owner to part with the title to the Strand or to devote it to public use. He may have intended to retain it until it should be needed for wharves, and then sell it to persons desiring to engage in the business of operating wharves. There is nothing in the words used to indicate that he intended to devote said property to the public use as a place for wharves. The use of the word ‘reserved’ tends to negative such an intention.”
This very clear and accurate expression of the law is strikingly pertinent to this discussion. It will be remembered that the Lownsdale plat, referring, among others, to block No. 132, says:
“Unappropriated, but left subject to the uses as follows: When they will be substantially improved for the following purposes: * * Blocks 132 and 172 for markets. ’ ’
Every market in Portland to-day is private property. The above statement, as it impresses us, seems to negative any intention to devote to a public use; but, if it were otherwise, if the statement upon the Lownsdale map did constitute a dedication to the public use as to Lownsdale, there is no persuasive evidence in the record tending to connect Chapman therewith.
“Pettygrove and Love joy had no interest in the soil, never aquired any, and had nothing to dedicate. They simply held the naked possession of the land under the laws of .the provisional government, according to the custom of the country at the time they gave up and abandoned the possession to D. H. Lownsdale, who took it as though the foot of man had never been upon it, except as to the extent of its boundaries, or personal liability he might take upon himself by special agreement with said Pettygrove and Love joy in relation to their'past acts concerning it.”
This quotation is quite relevant in the case at bar, in speaking of the dealings of Lownsdale and Chapman, in relation to block No. 132. Neither party contends that the city had any title to this land by virtue of the town-site patent. It follows that Chapman
As to the threatened acts of the city in expending a greater sum for an auditorium than the amount limited by the vote of her citizens for that purpose, it is needless to say more than that the evidence discloses no purpose upon the part of the authorities to do so. There are a number of contentions presented by counsel which we have not discussed, but views herein expressed render their consideration unimportant.
The decree of the lower court is affirmed.
Affirmed.