15 Mont. 159 | Mont. | 1894
— Condemnation proceedings were instituted by the Butte, Anaconda, and Pacific Railway Company, in the district court of Silver Bow county, pursuant to the provisions of title XV of the Code of Civil Procedure, to acquire title by Condemnation to right of way for its railroad upon and across a certain mining claim known as the Volunteer Lode claim, situate in said county, owned and in possession of relator, and therein the court duly appointed three commissioners, qualified as provided by statute, to ascertain and determine the amount of damage sustained by reason of such right of way. (Code Civ. Proc., § 607.) Thereupon the commissioners appointed performed their duties in that behalf, and awarded to relator the sum of six thousand four hundred dollars as damages for
Relator insists' that the district court exceeded its jurisdiction in allowing said railway company possession of the ground proposed to be taken and appropriated for such right of way previous to the final determination, and deposit of the amount awarded as damages, because section 14 of article III of the constitution of this state provides that “private property shall not be taken or damaged for public use without just compensation having been first made to, or paid into court for, the owner.” This is the pivotal point of contention. The view insisted on by relator is, that no just compensation has been ascertained and deposited in this case, because its appeal has, in effect, abrogated and set aside the- commissioner’s award, and leaves the payment of said six thousand four hundred dollars into court as a fact without vital force, and it is not a compliance with the exaction of the constitution in such a case.
Upon mature consideration of this question, and the authorities relating thereto, we are unable to concur in relator’s view. The compensation has been fixed by the tribunal instituted by law for that purpose as the just compensation for the damage proposed. The authorities hold that award to be a substantial fact which fixes the just compensation to which relato.r is entitled, until revised on appeal. (Lewis on Eminent Domain, § 581, and authorities cited in respondent’s brief.) This is
We find no ground for reversal or modification of the order of the trial court, complained of, and therefore affirm the same.
Affirmed.