Stinson v. Fishel

93 Iowa 656 | Iowa | 1895

Kinne, J.

I. Plaintiff owns certain real estate lying south of a public highway. Defendant ownsJand which adjoins the highway immediately north of plaintiff’s land. Plaintiff charges that in May, 1892, defendant, without authority therefor, or permission of plaintiff, dug open ditches upon his land, whereby the surface water and drainage of a large area of land was collected together into one ditch, thereby changing its flow, and the manner and volume of its flow, from what it originally was, and discharging the same into the highway, from whence it flowed on to plaintiff’s land, to her damage. The answer denies that by any ditch. or ditches defendant changed the flow of water which' flowed over the highway on to plaintiff’s land; that he in no way changed the-natural flow or course of the water, and only collected the surface water on his own land into .shallow ditches^ to prevent the same from spreading over the entire surface, which surface water only was discharged Where it would naturally flow and accumulate before flowing upon plaintiff’s land; that the water which accumulated upon defendant’s land and flowed in said shallow ditches was water which fell from heavy and unusual rains., and which would have flowed over plaintiff’s land in the same manner had said ditches not been dug; denies that plaintiff has sustained damages. Defendant, in an amendment, avers that if plaintiff has been damaged by reason of water which defendant caused to flow through ditches, shie ■could have largely, if not .entirely, prevented such damage by running a furrow, with a plow, upon her land, at a trifling expense. By way of cross petition defendant avers that his land lies, higher than plaintiff’s, and the surface water caused by rains and snow upon defendant’s land passes upon plaintiff’s land down a natural swale; that said water has cut and formed a ditch down said swale upon plaintiff’s land, which receives the water from a portion of defendant’s land; that .in 1871 said ditch was enlarged by a former owner of said land; that plaintiff obstructed said ditdh. in th!e fall of 1892, so as to interfere with the natural flow of surface water from defendant’s land, causing the same to back up and stand in pools in the highway, and threatens to so obstruct said ditch as to cause said surface water to flow back into the ditches cut upon defendant’s land, thereby causing his land to become wet, and unfit for cultivation, to his damage. Both parties pray for an injunction. Plaintiff, in a reply, denied tibe material averments of defendant’s cross petition. March 9, 1893, plaintiff withdrew her claim for damages, and the cause was submitted to the court. The issues were found for the plaintiff, and a decree entered enjoining defendant from -maintaining or keeping open the ditches heretofore referred to-, or any ditches or drains whereby the wlater collecting or standing upon Ms land shall be gathered in one stream, and discharged upon the plaintiff’s land, or on the highway, from wMch it can flow unobstructed upon plaintiff’s land, in a manner different or in greater quantities than it did prior to- May, 1892; also- ordering def endant to fill the ditches. Defendant’s cross petition was dismissed. From this action of the court, defendant appeals'.

II. WMle, in some particulars, the evidence is conflicting, we think the following facts are established: Plaintiff and defendant own adjoiMng farms: They are separated by a Mghway running east and west Defendant’s land lies from the center of the Mghway north, and plaintiff’s land lies from the center of the Mghway south. This Mghway was laid out a year prior to the commencement of this action, and prior to the digging of the ditches complained of. The defendant’s land lies Mgher than plaintiff’s, and there is a general slope to the southeast. There is a swale beading west of defendamt’s west line tbat runs southeast, which, as it nears the highway, becomes depressed, so that it becomes a small pond or basin from ten to fifteen feet wide and a few inches deep. Prior to the digging of the ditches complained of, and when it rained hard, the water would flow naturally down the swale, over the rim of this basin or pond, and spread out over plaintiff’s land. The water thus discharged upon plaintiff’s land was the surface water and drainage from several acres of land of defendant. The water thus discharged on to plaintiff’s land, prior to the digging of the ditches, did not pass upon the same in a regular channel, .but spread out over plaintiff’s ground. The following plat will show the location of the ditches, the highway, and the land of the parties:

The land where defendant’s ditches were dug was low and wet, and water would stand in this basin for some days after rains had ceased, and until it had evaporated, or percolated into the ground. The land where the ditches were located was, prior to their being dug, nearly unfit for cultivation. Plaintiff’s land below had for many years been in pasture, but had recently been put under cultivation, — a portion of it some nine years before this action was begun, and the rest about two yeans before this suit was commenced. In May, 1892, defendant, for the purpose of draining his land, dug the ditcheis indicated upon the plat, and gathered all of the surface water, as well as what would stand in the basin, into one open ditch, which extended a few feet into the highway. The water accumulating in these ditches passed down the main ditch upon the highway, and over it, in a single stream, upon 1 plaintiff’s land. The effect of the ditches was to collect in a single channel all of the water which fell upon several acres of defendant’s land, and which otherwise would have flowed over a considerable area of ground, or have been absorbed in the soil, or have disappeared by evaporation, and to discharge it on to plaintiff’s land at one place, in a single channel, and with much force and rapidity, carrying dirt and sediment with it, thereby destroying a number of evergreen trees, and rendering several acres of her ground unfit for cultivation. There is a conflict in the evidence as to whether, by reason of these ditches, a greater quantity of water was cast upon plaintiff’s land than would otherwise have passed over it. We think that it appears that the quantity of the water passing upon plaintiff’s land was increased by reason of these ditches. But, however that may be, it is certain that the water was cast upon the plaintiff’s land in a manner essentially different than it was prior to the digging of the ditcb.es, a.nd to plaintiff’s detriment. Tbe facts seem to bring the case clearly within the rule laid down in Livingstone v. McDonald, 21 Iowa, 160. It was there held that, if the ditch increased the quantity of water discharged upon the plaintiff’s land, to his injury, or if, without increasing the quantity, it cast it upon plaintiff’s land in a different manner from what the same would naturally have flowed upon it, to his injury, the defendant would be liable in damages, even though the ditch was constructed by defendant in the course of the ordinary use and improvement of Ms farm. The same principle was recognized in many other cases. Vannest v. Fleming, 79 Iowa, 641, 44 N. W. Rep. 906; Dorr v. Simerson, 73 Iowa, 91, 34 N. W. Rep. 752; Wharton v. Stevens, 84 Iowa, 107, 50 N. W. Rep. 562; Collins v. City of Keokuk, 91 Iowa, 293, 59 N. W. Rep. 200; Williamson v. Oleson, 91 Iowa, 290, 59 N. W. Rep. 267. It follows that the decree of the superior court was in all respects proper. — Affirmed.