Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad v. Chicago & North Western Railway Co.

188 F. Supp. 549, 1960 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4324
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Illinois
DecidedNovember 15, 1960
DocketCiv. A. No. P-2354
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 188 F. Supp. 549 (Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad v. Chicago & North Western Railway Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad v. Chicago & North Western Railway Co., 188 F. Supp. 549, 1960 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4324 (S.D. Ill. 1960).

Opinion

MERCER, Chief Judge.

Plaintiff, Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company, prosecutes this action for an injunction to stay the defendant, Chicago and North Western Railway Company, from building a proposed track leading into an area near Peoria, Illinois, known as Pioneer Industrial Park, and hereinafter referred to as the Park. The cause was taken under advisement upon the pleadings, the evidence and the briefs and arguments of counsel. The memorandum opinion which follows incorporates the findings of fact and conclusions of law of the court.

The area involved in this dispute was unimproved farm land until the latter part of 1959 although zoned as industrial. For many years the defendant has maintained a main line track between Chicago and East St. Louis, Illinois, which runs in a generally north-south direction at the point of contention. Plaintiff for many years has maintained a main line track between Peoria and Rock Island, Illinois, which runs in a northeast-southwest direction in the area of contention and is situated approximately two and one-half miles easterly of defendant’s main line track.

In September, 1959, the Park was dedicated by Peoria Industrial Enterprises, Inc., for the purpose of attracting industry to there locate. The Park, is situated northwesterly from the City of Peoria and, as presently proposed by the proprietor, Peoria Industrial Enterprises, contains some 640 acres of land. Of that proposed area, the proprietor has acquired approximately 340 acres, all of which lies westerly from and immediately adjacent to plaintiff’s Peoria-Rock Island main line track. As envisioned by the proprietor, the Park is ultimately contemplated to include lands which are easterly from and immediately adjacent to plaintiff’s track. Beginning in 1960, as industries were attracted to the Park, plaintiff built a spur track to serve the C. A. Reed Co., and is presently building a second spur track to serve the Super Valu warehouse which is under construction in the Park.

Defendant has obtained a right of way across open lands and proposes to build a track from Radnor, Illinois, on its Chicago-East St. Louis main line, into the Park to serve the Muirson Label Company, a division of International Paper Company. At the point of its closest proximity thereto, defendant’s main line is situated one and three-tenths miles west of the southwest corner of the Park. The trackage proposed to be built by defendant would extend in a northeasterly direction from Radnor one and nine-tenths miles across Section One (1), Township Nine (9) North, Range Seven (7) East [551]*551of the Fourth Principal Meridian, and Section Six (6), in Township Nine (9) North, Range Eight (8) East of the Fourth Principal Meridian, all in Peoria County, Illinois, to the site of the Muirson Plant. The proposed trackage is presently intended to serve the Muirson plant only, though defendant contemplates that additional trackage might be built to serve others, as new industries should move into the Park. Also, the character of the service contemplated is that commonly rendered to industries by spur or industrial tracks. Both Muirson and International have requested that defendant serve them, and officials of the Park desire to have defendant’s service available to their industrial area.

By its complaint Plaintiff contends that the trackage proposed to be constructed by defendant constitutes an extension of its line of railroad into an area which has not heretofore been served by defendant within the meaning and contemplation of paragraph (18) of Section 1 of the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C.A. § 1(18),1 and that such construction of trackage cannot lawfully be done without authorization therefor by a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Interstate Commerce Commission. Plaintiff prays that an injunction issue staying the proposed construction until and unless defendant shall have obtained a certificate of convenience and necessity from the Commission authorizing such extension of defendant’s line.

Defendant, by its answer, denies that the proposed trackage is an extension of its line. It avers that the proposed construction is merely a spur or industrial track for which no certificate of public convenience and necessity is required. 49 U.S.C.A. § 1(22).2

The court has jurisdiction of the parties and of the subject matter under paragraph (20) of Section 1 of the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C.A. § 1(20), and Section 1337 of the Judicial Code, 28 U.SC.A.

The only issue before the court for decision is whether the trackage proposed to be built by defendant is an extension of its line as plaintiff contends, or whether it is a spur or industrial track within the meaning of 49 U.S.C.A. § 1(22). If that construction is an extension of line as plaintiff alleges, it is unlawful until and unless defendant has obtained a certificate of convenience and necessity from the Interstate Commerce Commission. On the other hand, if the proposed construction is of a spur or industrial track only, the Commerce Commission has no jurisdiction and the complaint should be dismissed.

That issue presents a mixed question of law and fact. United States v. Idaho, 298 U.S. 105, 109, 56 S.Ct. 690, 80 L.Ed. 1070. The legal considerations bearing upon the question were stated by Mr. Justice Brandeis in Texas & Pacific Ry. Co. v. Gulf, C. & S. F. Ry. Co., 270 U.S. 266, at pages 278-279, 46 S.Ct. 263, at page 266, 70 L.Ed. 578 in the following language:

“When the clauses in paragraphs 18 to 22 are read in the light of this congressional policy, [to foster the development and maintenance of an adequate railway system, by means including restrictions upon competition] the meaning and scope of the [552]*552terms extension and industrial track become clear. The carrier was authorized by Congress to construct, without authority from the Commission, ‘spur, industrial, team, switching or side tracks * * * to be located wholly within one state.’ Tracks of that character are commonly constructed, either to improve the facilities required by shippers already served by the carrier or to supply the facilities to others, who being within the same territory and similarly situated are entitled to like service from the carrier. The question whether the construction should be allowed or compelled depends largely upon local conditions which the state regulating body is peculiarly fitted to appreciate. Moreover, the expenditure involved is ordinarily small. But where the proposed trackage extends into territory not theretofore served by the carrier, and particularly where it extends into territory already served by another carrier, its purpose and effect are, under the new policy of Congress, of national concern. For invasion through new construction of territory adequately served by another carrier, like the establishment of excessively low rates in order to secure traffic enjoyed by another, may be inimical to the national interest. If the purpose and effect of the new trackage is to extend substantially the line of a carrier into new territory, the proposed trackage constitutes an extension of the railroad within the meaning of paragraph 18, although the line be short, and although the character of the service contemplated be that commonly rendered to industries by means of spurs or industrial tracks.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
188 F. Supp. 549, 1960 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4324, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chicago-rock-island-pacific-railroad-v-chicago-north-western-railway-ilsd-1960.