Dakota Central Telephone Co. v. Spink County Power Co.

176 N.W. 143, 42 S.D. 448, 1920 S.D. LEXIS 18
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 30, 1920
DocketFile No. 4557
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 176 N.W. 143 (Dakota Central Telephone Co. v. Spink County Power Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dakota Central Telephone Co. v. Spink County Power Co., 176 N.W. 143, 42 S.D. 448, 1920 S.D. LEXIS 18 (S.D. 1920).

Opinions

GATE'S, J.

The ultimate concrete question now in this case is whether a telephone company using a low tension current of electricity and using the earth as a return circuit, the earlier occupant of a highway, or an electric power and light company, the 'later occupant, using a high tension current, shall bear the expense of installing a metallic return circuit in the telephone lines in order to eliminate the electromagnetic induction of the telephone lines by the power lines.

[1-3] Without going extensively into the scientific aspects of the case, it may be stated that the evidence shows that electric interference between these lines arises in two ways; by conduction and bjr induction. Induction is of two kinds; static and magnetic. Interference by conduction ma}^ be practical^ eliminated by the proper erection and maintenance of the power line. Interference by static induction may be overcome by a proper balancing of the electric current in the power line. We take it that there is no dispute in this case, but that the power company must eliminate interference by conduction and by static induction. If there is a dispute we nevertheless hold that it mu(st do so. Electromagnetic induction is the transmission of electricity from, one electric circuit to another by means of an electric field. See Curtis, Electricity, § 349. This kind of interference may be practically prevented by a co-ordinated transposition of the wires on both systems, but this may be accomplished only where the electric circuits on both systems are metallic; hence the remedy cannot be applied to an earth return telephone line. No other practical method of prevention of magnetic induction is' suggested in the evidence.

Plaintiff owns and operates certain telephone lines in South Dakota," both rural and toll linep, and in particular owns and operates rural lines on the highway between Ashton and Frankfort.

Defendant owned and operated an electric light and power [453]*453plant at Ashton, with lines to neighboring communities. In September, 1916, pursuant to permission of the county board, it set a line of poles between Ashton and Frankfort, and was about to install the necessary wires for the purpose of transmitting a current of about 6,600 volts, under what is called a 3-wire 60-cycle alternating" high power system:. Plaintiff sought injunction as an interference with its lines. The case was presented on its merits upon the application for a temporary' injunction, and in February, 1917, the trial court vacated the restraining order on condition that defendant should make certain changes in the construction of its line, take certain precautions to prevent interference by conduction, and move a portion of plaintiff’s line to the other side of the highway. Defendant then completed its line, and 'began the transmission of its high power current. In November, 1917, a' further hearing was had. Plaintiff submitted proof to show that further requirements were necessary to protect plaintiff’s lines. Defendant submitted proof that it had complied with the order of February, 1917. In August, 1918, the trial court filed its findings of fact and conclusions of law, and entered judgment denying" the injunction. Thereupon and from an order denying a new trial plaintiff appeals.

Appellant’s right to the use of the highway arose from section 554,. Rev. C. C. 1903 (section 9791, Rev. Code 1919), and it had been in the actual operation of its rural line on said highway since about the year 1910.

[4] Respondent’s right to the use of the highway arose from chapter 369, Laws 1913 (Rev. Code 1919, §§ 8591-8594), but said chapter contains the following proviso:

“Provided that such transmission line shall not interfere with the service of any telephone or telegraph lines already constructed on such highway.”

Notwithstanding the fact that the lines of the respective parties are on opposite sides of tire’ highway, it appear^ by the clear preponderance of the evidence that by reason of electromagnetic induction the service of appellant’s lines is, and will ■continue to be, substantially interfered with.

[5] Appellant rather faintly contends that the Legislature was without pow'er to authorize the occupancy of the rural high[454]*454ways for light and power transmission lines other than for the purpose of lighting the highways. We have no' hesitancy in holding that when land is taken or dedicated for use as a highway, such taking or dedication should be presumed to be, not merely for such purposes and usages as were' known and in vogue at the time oí such taking or dedication, but also for all public purposes present and prospective, then known or unknown, consistent withl the character of such highways and not actually detrimental to the abutting real estate. Cater v. N. W. Tel. Exch. Co., 60 Minn. 539, 63, N. W. in, 28 L. R. A. 310, 51 Am. St. Rep. 543; People v. Eaton, 100 Mich. 208, 59 N. W. 145, 24 L. R. A. 721; Com. v. Morrison, 197 Mass. 199, 83 N. E. 415, 14 L. R. A. (N. S.) 194, 125 Am. St. Rep. 338; Mordhurst v. Ft. Wayne & S. W. Tr. Co., 163 Ind. 268, 71 N. E. 642, 66 L. R. A. 105, 106 Am. St. Rep. 222, 2 Ann Cas. 967; Brandt v. Spokane & Inland Empire R. Co., 78 Wash. 214, 138 Pac. 871, 52 L. R. A. (N. S.) 760. Indeed it was the recognition of this principle that determined the decision of this court in Kirby v. Citizens’ Tel. Co., 17 S. D. 362, 97 N. W. 3, 2 Ann. Cas. 152.

Appellant contends that under the rule that priority in time carries w|ith it priority of right, recognized by this court, in view of the proviso above quoted in Tri-County Mut. Tel. Co. v. Bridgewater Elec. Power Co., 40 S. D. 410, 167 N. W. 501, its right to the use of the earth as a return circuit should be protected.

[16] Respondent contends, and our colleague agrees therewith, that under tire rule “Sic utere tuo,” etc. (Rev. Code 1919, §45), tire appellant must suffer the interference with its service caused! by electromagnetic induction, or must abandon the use of the earth as a return circuit, and at its own expense install a metallic return circuit on the lines interfered with, as substantially found by the trial court. If the Legislature had so declared, we believe no constitutional principle would have been violated. If there had been no legislative direction either way, we believe that under the excellent argument and authorities advanced this court, with perfect propriety, might have laid down that rule. Curtis, Electricity, §§ 356, 357; Cumberland T. & T. Co. v. United Electric Ry. Co., 93 Tenn. 492, 29 S. W. 104, 27 L. R. A. 236; Cumberland T. & T. Co. v. United Ry. Co. [455]*455(C. C.), 42 Fed. 273, 12 L. R. A. 544; Lake Shore & M. S. Ry. Co. v. Chicago, L. S. & S. Ry. Co., 48 Ind. App. 584, 92 N. E. 989, 95 N. E. 596; Cincinnati Inclined Ry. Co. v. City & Suburban Tel. Ass’n, 48 Ohio St. 390, 27 N. E. 890, 12 L. R. A. 534, 29 Am. St. Rep. 559; note Ann. Cas. 1916A, 135; Panton v. Holland, 17 Johns. (N. Y.) 92, 8 Am. Dec. 369.

But the Regislature did declare that the later transmission line should not “interfere with the service of any telephone or telegraph line already constructed on such highways.”

[7] We must presume that the Regislature of 1913 knew; of the extensive occupancy of the highways of 'the state by rural telephone lines using the earth as a return circuit. It is said there were then 20,000 miles of such lines in this state.

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Bluebook (online)
176 N.W. 143, 42 S.D. 448, 1920 S.D. LEXIS 18, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dakota-central-telephone-co-v-spink-county-power-co-sd-1920.