City of St. Louis v. Terminal Railroad

109 S.W. 641, 211 Mo. 364, 1908 Mo. LEXIS 104
CourtSupreme Court of Missouri
DecidedApril 2, 1908
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 109 S.W. 641 (City of St. Louis v. Terminal Railroad) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
City of St. Louis v. Terminal Railroad, 109 S.W. 641, 211 Mo. 364, 1908 Mo. LEXIS 104 (Mo. 1908).

Opinions

VALLIANT, J.

— This is an action on a bond in which the plaintiff is seeking to recover $150,000 to he used in the- construction of a bridge designed for a public viaduct over the tracks of defendants along the line of what was Clark avenue extending from Eighteenth to Twentieth street, to restore, to that extent, to the public for use as a highway that much of Clark avenue which was vacated by the city for the use of the defendants under the contract hereinafter considered.

In 1891 the defendants had conceived the purpose of building a great structure to he known as the “Union Station” with appropriate appurtenances and facilities. It was to extend from Eighteenth street on the east to Twentieth street on the west, and from Market street on the north to as far south as was necessary. In the execution of this purpose it was desired by the defendants to occupy with their structure the areas contained in certain streets south of and parallel with Market street between Eighteenth and Twentieth, one [378]*378of which was Clark avenue, and, by contract with the defendants, the city by an appropriate ordinance vacated those streets to that extent. In the contract it was stipulated that “should the city of St. Louis at any time provide by ordinance for the building of a bridge over Clark avenue between Eighteenth street and Twentieth street the said Union Depot Company and Terminal Railroad Association shall pay into the city treasury as part payment of the construction of said bridge the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.” Under that contract the streets were vacated and turned over to defendants to be occupied for their use, the Union Station was built, and the vacated streets are now occupied by defendants and covered with their railroad tracks. In 1897 the city passed an ordinance providing for the construction of the bridge and demanded of defendants the payment of the $150,000 specified, which defendants refused and the city brought this suit.

In their answer the defendants admit the enactment of the ordinance vacating the streets and their obligation to pay into the city treasury the sum of $150,000 in part payment of the expense of constructing the bridge when the city should by ordinance provide for its construction, but they deny that the city has lawfully so provided, and they point out many features of the ordinance and the proceedings in relation thereto which they deem defects that render it invalid. The ordinance vacating the streets for the benefit of the defendants is No. 15989 passed in 1891. The Union Station was finished in 1894. In 1897 the city passed the ordinance 18834, which the plaintiff contends'provided for the construction of the bridge. This suit was begun in 1899.

Section 7 of the ordinance 15989 under which the bond sued on was executed is as follows:

“In consideration of the rights and privileges [379]*379herein granted, said Union Depot Company of St. Louis and said Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis or their successors or assigns, hereby agree, that should the city of St. Louis at any time provide by ordinance for the building of a bridge over Clark avenue between Eighteenth street and Twentieth street, the said Union Depot Company and Terminal Railway Association shall pay into the city treasury as part payment of the construction of said bridge the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and said Union Depot Company and Terminal Railroad Association shall for each bridge hereafter constructed across its railroad tracks between Ninth street and Eighteenth street, pay into the city treasury the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, said payments to be made within thirty days after the construction of said bridge or bridges is commenced. It is further provided, that upon the acceptance of this ordinance, the Union Depot Company and the Terminal' Railroad Association of St. Louis, will file with the City Register its penal bond, in the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, for the faithful compliance of the provisions of this section. Said bond to be approved by the Mayor and Council. The city of St. Louis reserves the right to occupy such space as shall be necessary for said bridge and supports thereunder, and the said companies hereby grant to said city such rights and privileges as may be necessary to construct and operate said bridge or bridges, provided the same shall be so constructed as not to interfere with the operation of trains. Said Union Depot Company and said Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis also agree to relinquish any right or claim for damages against said city of St. Louis, that may accrue by reason of the erection and construction of said bridge and approaches or change of grades of streets adjacent thereto to any real estate which they may now own or may hereafter acquire.”

[380]*380Ordinance 18834 is as follows:

“An ordinance authorizing the building of a bridge over Clark avenue, between Eighteenth street and Twentieth street, and providing for the cost thereof.

“Be it ordained by the Municipal Assembly of the city of St. Louis, as follows:

“Section 1. The Board of Public Improvements is hereby authorized and directed.' to cause a bridge to be built over Clark avenue, between Eighteenth street and Twentieth street, over the tracks of the Union Depot Company of St. Louis and of the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, including approaches along Eighteenth street and Twentieth street, in accordance with plans adopted by said Board of Public Improvements.

“Sec. 2. The bridge shall have- a width of not less than fifty-four feet and shall be constructed of steel, and the roadway shall consist of steel sheathing, concrete and a brick pavement. The piers and retaining walls shall be built of Portland 'cement concrete and shall rest on piling wherever required.

“Sec. 3. "Whereas, the Union Depot Company of St. Louis and the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, their successors or assigns, are obligated, by the terms of ordinance number fifteen thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine, approved February twenty-fifth, eighteen hundred ninety-one, to pay into the city treasury as part payment of the construction of the bridge herein authorized the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars; therefore said sum of one hundred and fifty thousand, dollars, when so paid into the city treasury, is hereby appropriated and set apart to: the fund for the construction of Clark avenue bridge. The total cost of the work contemplated by this ordinance, being estimated at one hundred and fifty-one thousand d.olla.rs, the portion thereof to be [381]*381paid by the city of St. Louis, out of municipal revenue, is estimated at one thousand dollars, and said sum of one thousand dollars is hereby appropriated and set apart out of the fund, Street, Bridges and Culverts— new work — to the fund for construction of Clark avenue bridge, to begin the construction of said bridge.

“Sec. 4. There is hereby appropriated and set apart out of municipal revenue to fund for Street, Bridges and Culverts — new work — the sum of one thorn sand dollars.

“Sec. 5. As soon as the Union Depot Company of St. Louis and Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis shall pay into the city treasury, as part payment of the construction of said bridge, the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, as provided for and agreed to, as the consideration for certain rights and privileges granted to the said Union Depot Company, of St. Louis and the Terminal Railroad Association of St.

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Bluebook (online)
109 S.W. 641, 211 Mo. 364, 1908 Mo. LEXIS 104, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/city-of-st-louis-v-terminal-railroad-mo-1908.