118 Mich. 133 | Mich. | 1898
This is a proceeding in chancery, where complainant-seeks to have defendants enjoined from hindering or interfering with the operation of complainant’s cars over the ‘ ‘ Y ” switch at the intersection of Cass avenue and South Gratiot streets, and the “ Y ” on Butler street, in the city of Mt. Clemens. The case was heard in open court. Complainant’s bill was dismissed by the circuit judge. From his decision, complainant has appealed.
The complainant for some time has been operating an electric line of street railway from the City of Detroit to Mt. Clemens. It obtained a right of way over the highway occupied by the Detroit & Erin Plank-Road Company from that company. In 1894 an ordinance was granted authorizing complainant to construct a railway track—
“On, along, and through Gratiot street, in this city, from its intersection with the southerly city limits to the southerly line of Cass avenue, and upon such other streets and highways as may be hereafter agreed upon, * * * with all necessary and convenient * * * tracks, turnouts, side tracks, switches, bridges, and culverts.”
Section 4 of said ordinance is as follows, viz.:
“ That the authority granted by section 1 hereof shall be construed to be authority only to lay a single track on said street, together with such turnouts, side tracks, and switches as may be necessary for the successful operation of said road: Provided, however, that the location of said turnouts, switches, and side tracks shall be first approved by the street committee.”
It will be noticed this franchise gave to the company no rights north of the southerly line of Cass avenue. ,
After the franchise was obtained, the company constructed its road. For a time its cars were operated from both ends. While this was done, the company did not have at Mt. Clemens a “Y” or turntable upon which it could turn its cars. Later its cars were equipped to run but one way, and it became desirable to have a “ Y” upon which its cars could be turned. Application was made to
At this time the Mt. Clemens & Lake Side Traction Company was operating an electric line of railway on Cass avenue, which passed near the terminal of the complainant. At the intersection of South Gratiot street and Cass avenue is one of the most important business centers of the city. Without consulting the common council, the complainant made an agreement with the president and manager of the Traction Company authorizing it to put in a “ Y ” at the intersection of South Gratiot street and Cass avenue, which would allow it to turn all its cars. The president and manager were not authorized by any vote of the directors or stockholders to make this contract, and, before the “ Y” was put in, they were instructed by the directors not to allow it to be done. The testimony shows this instruction was not communicated to the complainant. It is claimed the mayor and one of the aldermen who was on the street committee had knowledge of the making of this contract. They both testified that, while they knew a connection was to be made between the tracks of the two companies, they did not know it was proposed to put in a “ Y ” for the purpose of using it as a turning place for the cars. The “Y” was put in between midnight Saturday night and midnight Sunday night. On the following Monday night, the common council forbade the use of this “ Y,” and it was not used except to a very limited degree. Later the Traction Company refused to allow it to be used at all. Negotiations were had between the two companies and the city looking to the settlement of the differences between them. These negotiations failed. The common council ordered the “ Y ” on Butler street taken up, as well as the one at the intersection of South Gratiot street and Cass avenue.
It is claimed, the city having conferred the right to construct the “Y” on Butler street, it cannot now deprive the company of the use of it; citing Electric Ry. Co. of Grand Rapids v. Common Council of Grand Rapids, 84 Mich. 257. We do not think that case applicable to this one. The city was under no obligation to confer the right to construct a “Y” on Butler street, and, when it conferred that right, it was competent for it to attach conditions which must be observed. Suppose the franchise to construct and operate the road had been limited to 20 years; could it be claimed the company could operate the road after the 20 years had expired, even though the city refused to grant them a franchise to do so ? If not, how
It is claimed the “ Y” at Cass avenue was convenient and necessary to the operation of the road of the Traction Company; that it was competent for that company to make the contract it did with the complainant, and therefore the “ Y ” should be allowed to remain. In our view of the case, it will not be necessary to express any opinion upon the question of whether the president and manager of the company were authorized by the directors and stockholders to make the contract which they made. Whatever rights the Traction Company had to the use of Cass avenue it obtained by mesne conveyances of the rights given by an ordinance to Le Duke and Bishop, and its amendments. The ordinance which conferred the right to Le Duke and Bishop to put in “ such turnouts, switches, and side tracks as may be deemed necessary,” etc., also provided, in section 7: “The whole length of the road authorized by this ordinance shall be deemed one route, and the rate of fare over said route shall not exceed five cents for each person over five years of age.” This indicated very clearly that a connection with some other railway was not contemplated when turnouts and switches were referred to, but that the turnouts and switches needed by the railway to which the franchise was given were intended. This ordinance was amended so as to allow the use of a different kind of rails from those allowed to be used by the original ordinance, and had this proviso: “ The, manner of laying said tracks and rails and the alignment of same on the street to be subject to the inspection and approval of the common council and the city engineer.” The common council and city engineer had no knowledge of the putting in of this work until after it was done, and never approved of it. Whatever may be the
The contract made between the Rapid Railway Company and the Traction Company indicated very clearly the purpose of the Rapid Railway Company in making it. It reads:
“ Whereas, the said Rapid Railway Company desires to put in a ‘ Y ’ at the intersection of Cass avenue and South Gratiot avenue, in the city of Mt. Clemens, for the purpose of connecting its line with the line of the Traction Company at this point, so that said Rapid Railway Company may turn its cars: Now, therefore,” etc.
The contract also provided:
“The said Rapid Railway Company is to have the privilege of using so much of the track of the said Traction Company as may be necessary to ‘ Y ’ its cars at this point, not to exceed a distance of 150 feet east and west from the line of' said Rapid Railway Company, and to maintain and renew so much of said track as it may use, if it becomes necessary during the life of this agreement, including paving and repaving.”
One cannot read this agreement without coming to the conclusion that the purpose of the Rapid Railway Company in making it was to allow it to turn its cars at this place. The Rapid Railway Company was not authorized by its charter to go north of the southerly line of Cass avenue. This “ Y” was put in to make a turning point for the Rapid Railway Company. It was not authorized by the franchise of the Traction Company. Booth, St. Ry. Law, § 56.
Is it possible that the right to turn cars 47 feet long, and weighing 22 tons, at the intersection of the two principal business streets of a city like Mt. Clemens, can be acquired without obtaining the right to do so from the common council ? To state the proposition is to suggest the answer. The common council was not consulted.
It is claimed some rights were obtained by virtue of some action of the common council taken in September, 1896. At this time a contract was entered into between the two companies, giving the Rapid Railway the right to run over the tracks of the Traction Company to the lower part of the city. The contract was not to be binding unless the city granted to the Traction Company an ordinance satisfactory to it, nor unless the franchise rights of the Rapid Railway Company were extended so as to permit it to make a loop around the Avery House Square, and other concessions acceptable to the city and the Rapid Railway Company. Afterwards an ordinance was adopted which conferred certain rights upon the Traction Company. It provided the ordinance should be of no effect unless accepted in writing by the Traction Company within 30 days from the passage of the ordinance. The time for its acceptance was afterwards extended, but the company declined to accept the ordinance, and “never has accepted it. At the same time this ordinance was adopted, one was passed giving certain rights to the Rapid Railway Company. Among other rights conferred was the right to construct the loop around the Avery House Square, conditioned upon its being done within 90 days; the ordinance not to be binding unless accepted in writing within
The decree is affirmed, with costs.