162 N.Y. 122 | NY | 1900
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The roadway in question is one of the approaches to the same bridge that was recently the subject of controversy in this court, and was built under the authority of the resolution then under consideration. (People ex rel. Howell v. Jessup,
Neither party challenges that decision, but both recognize it as sound law, so that no question now arises as to the power of the plaintiffs in the premises. They differ, however, as to the meaning and effect of the resolution, the plaintiffs claiming that it is a mere license, revocable at will, while the defendant insists that it is a franchise or easement, or, if a license, irrevocable after he had acted upon it at a large expense.
A license is a personal, revocable and non-assignable privilege, given by writing or parol to one, without interest in the lands of another, to do one or more acts of a temporary nature upon such lands. (Greenwood Lake, etc., R.R. Co. v.N.Y. Greenwood Lake R.R. Co.,
An easement is a permanent right conferred by grant or prescription, authorizing one landowner to do or maintain something on the adjoining land of another, which, although a benefit to the land of the former and a burden upon the land of the latter, is not inconsistent with general ownership. (LongIsland R.R. Co. v. Garvey,
A franchise is a grant by or under the authority of government, conferring a special and usually a permanent right to do an act, or a series of acts, of public concern, and, when accepted, it becomes a contract and is irrevocable, unless the right to revoke is expressly reserved. (People ex rel. Atty.-Genl. v. UticaIns. Co., 15 Johns. 357, 387; Bank of Augusta v. Earle, 13 Pet. 519, 595; California v. Pacific R.R. Co.,
The right in question is not a license, because it is neither *127 temporary nor personal, as the drawbridge and roadway authorized are substantial, fixed and permanent improvements, for the benefit of defendant's lands, and assignable therewith. It would fall under the definition of an easement if it had been granted by an ordinary landowner and not by a body holding lands under water in trust for the public. We think it is a franchise, because it was granted in the exercise of a governmental power conferred by royal charter in colonial days. (People ex rel.Howell v. Jessup, supra.) It is a special privilege, because it is not of common right; is permanent, because there is no limitation as to time, and is of public concern, because it relates to the public domain. A roadway necessarily includes a right of way, which, when granted by a legislative body, is a franchise. The resolution has the same effect as if a like privilege had been granted by act of the legislature in relation to similar lands held by the state for public use. A grant by the resolution of a legislative body is as effective as a grant by deed of an executive body and is the usual form in which franchises are conferred.
In construing this franchise we are not to lose sight of the principle that a grant from the public, so far as it is ambiguous, is to be construed in the interest of the public, and hence in favor of the grantor, and not, as in ordinary cases, in favor of the grantee. (Syracuse Water Co. v. City ofSyracuse,
The effect of a solid roadway in holding the water back, after a heavy storm, was not spoken of, so far as appears, and if the plaintiffs had wished protection from such a result, they doubtless would have made provision for it in the resolution, the same as they did with reference to protecting the navigation of the channel. They took no such precaution and cannot now enjoin the defendant because they failed to do what they might have done.
The doctrine of election, on which the Appellate Division relied to some extent, but upon the theory that the right conferred was only a license, does not apply to a franchise, and the doctrine of practical construction, relied upon by the Special Term, has no application, because the wooden structure was but temporary, as we must assume, since the defendant so testified, and by a ruling of the court based upon the objection of the plaintiffs, duly excepted to, was prevented from giving further evidence upon the subject. A temporary structure in the form of trestlework, for immediate use and as an aid in building a bridge, is common in improvements of this character, and as there was no express limitation as to time, the defendant had a reasonable time to complete the work. The injunction from the Federal court, which be was prevented from showing by the objections of the plaintiffs, was a material fact for the consideration of the court upon the question. The grant of an easement or franchise carries with it whatever is essential to its enjoyment and confers the right to repair and rebuild. (Roberts v. Roberts,
We think the defendant had the right to build any reasonable and ordinary roadway, such as an embankment of earth, but whether he could dig upon the land of the plaintiffs in *130 order to get the material is open to question, and as the matter has not been fully argued we do not now decide it. The evidence suggests, but does not show, that the earth and sand of the roadway may, unless confined in its place, ultimately wash away somewhat and result in the formation of sand bars which will obstruct navigation. We pass upon no question relating to this subject. The complaint should not be dismissed because the investigation upon the trial under review was not thorough enough to exhaust the facts and a new trial may develop a different situation in some respects.
The judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted, with costs to abide the event.
PARKER, Ch. J., GRAY, BARTLETT, MARTIN and WERNER, JJ., concur; CULLEN, J., not sitting.
Judgment reversed, etc.