In this original proceeding in mandumus, relator, Sho-Me Power Corporation, seeks to compel certain action by respondent, Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, before whom is pending an action for damages styled Charles F. Watts, plaintiff vs. Sho-Me Power Corporation, defendant (hereinafter referred to as Case No. 1376),, in which plaintiff Watts alleges that, while working for Koss Construction Company on May 21, 1958, he sustained severe injuries when a mobile crane owned by Koss came into close proximity with one of Sho-Me’s high voltage electric transmission lines, under circumstances which (so Watts asserts) render Sho-Me liable to respond in damages.
On Febraury 1, 1960, Sho-Me’s counsel presented to respondent judge in Case No.
Having had the benefit of exhaustive briefs and enlightening argument by able counsel, and having given the case careful consideration and searching study, we have become convinced that our alternative writ issued improvidently. The only pleading in Case No. 1376 seeking an order permitting entry upon Koss’ premises and photographing of the crane in question was Sho-Me’s motion overrruled by general order on February 1, 1960. The prayer of that motion was for “an order directed to plaintiff (Watts) and to Koss Construction Company.” A copy of this motion was served upon, and timely notice of hearing was given to, attorneys of record for plaintiff Watts, but admittedly there was no service upon, or notice to, Koss. Sho-Me’s motion did not state specifically whether an order was sought under V.A.M.S. 510.030 (now, as amended, Rule 58.01) or in the exercise of the court’s inherent power to make reasonable orders requiring litigants to permit entry upon their lands and to submit property thereon to inspection and photographing by adversaries; but, in either event, reasonable notice to Koss would have been a prerequisite to lawful entry of an order such as that sought by Sho-Me.
If (as Sho-Me’s counsel earnestly contend, and as we here assume but do not decide) Koss was a “party” within the contemplation and meaning of subdivision 2 of V.A.M.S. 510.030 (in effect when Sho-Me’s motion was filed and ruled), authorizing the court to “(o)rder any party to permit entry upon designated land,” certainly Koss was likewise a “party” within the contemplation and meaning of the first paragraph in the same statute which clearly predicated the court’s authority to make such order “(u)pon motion of any party showing good cause therefor and upon notice to all other parties.” And, if Sho-Me’s motion sought to invoke exercise of the court’s inherent power, reasonable notice to Koss was no less essential. For, Sho-Me had no absolute right to the order sought in its motion and presentation of that motion did not impose upon respondent
For that matter, counsel for Sho-Me now concede, with the forthrightness we have come to expect of them, “that Koss was entitled to notice.” But, they counter with a denial that “the matter of notice is relevant to the issues here” and with the assertion that “the matter of notice is a premature issue” because (so they say) “the matter in controversy” in the instant proceeding is the power of respondent judge to make the order requested-in Sho-Me’s motion. In this, counsel lose sight of certain basic principles and, we think, “put the cart before the horse.” The function of the writ of mandamus is to enforce, not to establish, a claim or right;
Resourceful counsel for Sho-Me now argue that, “if respondent. had exercised his inherent power of discovery, * * * du'e process could have been satisfied by service of a conditional (show cause) order.” Without probing the legal merit of this unbriefed suggestion, it will suffice to point out that it does not appear that relator made any such request to respondent judge. Compare State ex rel. St. Louis Union Trust Co. v. Sartorius, 351 Mo. 111, 118, 171 S.W.2d 569, 573.
With the foregoing being, dispositive of this proceeding, we should not gratuitously reach for and needlessly rule other questions briefed by counsel, particularly in view of the state of the record. Compare State ex rel. Waterworth v. Clark, 275 Mo. 95, 107, 204 S.W. 1090, 1093. Our alternative writ is discharged and the peremptory writ is denied.
. Except as otherwise specifically stated, references to rules are to the new Rules of Civil Procedure, effective April 1, 1960, as found in Vernon’s Annotated Missouri Rules.
. State ex rel. Cummings v. Witthaus, 358 Mo. 1088, 1092, 219 S.W.2d 383, 386(2), 8 A.L.R.2d 1124; State ex rel. Iron Fireman Corp. v. Ward, 351 Mo. 761, 767, 173 S.W.2d 920, 922(7); State ex rel. Missouri Pac. R. Co. v. Hall, 325 Mo. 102, 105, 27 S.W.2d 1027, 1028; State ex rel. St. Louis County Transit Co. v. Walsh, Mo.App., 327 S.W.2d 713, 718.
. State ex rel. Schlueter Mfg. Co. v. Beck, 337 Mo. 839, 846, 850, 855, 85 S.W.2d 1026, 1029, 1031, 1034; Polk v. Missouri-Kansas-Texas R. Co., 346 Mo. 793, 799-800, 142 S.W.2d 1061, 1064. Compare State ex rel. St. Louis Public Service Co. v. McMullan, Mo., 297 S.W.2d 431, 435, 62 A.L.R.2d 1281; State ex rel. American Mfg. Co. v. Anderson, 270 Mo. 533, 194 S.W. 268, 271, L.R.A. 1917E, 833.
. See also Hoppe v. St. Louis Public Service Co., 361 Mo. 402, 235 S.W.2d 347, 350, 23 A.L.R.2d 846; Dougherty v. Manhattan Rubber Mfg. Co., 325 Mo. 656, 29 S.W.2d 126, 127(1); George v. Middough, 62 Mo. 549, 551(2); In re Jackson’s Will, Mo.App., 291 S.W.2d 214, 225(22, 23); Baker v. Baker, Mo.App., 274 S.W.2d 322, 325-326(10).
. State ex rel. and to use of Crites v. Short, 351 Mo. 1013, 174 S.W.2d 821, 823(5); State ex rel. Frank v. Becker, 320 Mo. 1087, 9 S.W.2d 153, 154; Houts’ Missouri Pleading and Practice, Yol. 4, § 1091, p. 265.
. State ex rel. Phillip v. Public School Retirement System of City of St. Louis, 364 Mo. 395, 262 S.W.2d 569, 573; State ex rel. School Dist. No. 24 of St. Louis County v. Neaf, 344 Mo. 905, 130 S.W.2d 509, 511(4); State ex rel. Frank v. Becker, supra, 9 S.W.2d loc. cit. 154; State ex rel. Standefer v. England, Mo.App., 328 S.W.2d 732, 737(15); State ex rel. Walton v. Miller, Mo.App., 297 S.W.2d 611, 615; State ex rel. Lyons v. Bank of Conception, 174 Mo.App. 589, 163 S.W. 945, 946(1) ; Ferris on Extraordinary Legal Remedies, § 194, loc. cit. 229; 55 C.J.S., Mandamus, § 51, loc. cit. 86.
. State ex rel. Priest v. Gunn, Mo., 326 S.W.2d 314, 325(8); State ex rel. Phillip v. Public School Retirement System of City of St. Louis, supra, 262 S.W.2d loc. cit. 574(5); State ex rel. and to use of Crites v. Short, supra, 174 S.W.2d loc. cit. 823(4); State ex rel. Spratley v. Maries County, 339 Mo. 577, 98 S.W.2d 623, 624(6); State ex rel. Whitehead v. Wenom, 326 Mo. 352, 32 S.W.2d 59, 63 (8); State ex rel. Poole v. City of Willow Springs, Mo., 183 S.W. 589, 592(1); State ex rel. and to use of Markwell v. Colt, Mo.App., 199 S.W.2d
. State on inf. Barker ex rel. Kansas City v. Kansas City Gas Co., 254 Mo. 515, 163 S.W. 854, 857 (5); State ex rel. Porter v. Hudson, 226 Mo. 239, 126 S.W. 733, 740; State ex rel. Dietz v. Carter, Mo.App., 319 S.W.2d 56, 57(2); State ex rel. Cook v. Kelly, Mo.App., 142 S.W. 2d 1091, 1094.
. State ex rel. St. Louis Union Trust Co. v. Sartorius, 350 Mo. 46, 164 S.W.2d 356, 359 (8); State ex rel. Horton v. Bourke, 344 Mo. 826, 129 S.W.2d 866, 868-869 (5) ; State ex rel. Coffman v. Crain, Mo. App., 308 SW.2d 451, 454(3) ; High on Extraordinary Legal Remedies (3rd Ed.), § 9, p. 12.,