Dean v. Ann Arbor Railroad

100 N.W. 773, 137 Mich. 459, 1904 Mich. LEXIS 594
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 13, 1904
DocketDocket No. 91
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 100 N.W. 773 (Dean v. Ann Arbor Railroad) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dean v. Ann Arbor Railroad, 100 N.W. 773, 137 Mich. 459, 1904 Mich. LEXIS 594 (Mich. 1904).

Opinion

Moore, C. J.

A reference to the plat and a reading of the opinion filed by the circuit judge will give an understanding of the questions involved in this case. The opinion reads:

“ The bill in this case is filed to enjoin the Ann Arbor Railroad Company and the city of Ann Arbor and its officers from building an embankment in and across First street, in the city of Ann Arbor, and from closing or. diverting First street, and for.a decree compelling the defendants to keep First street from Williams street to Liberty street in good repair and in a condition reasonably safe for public travel. A long time prior to 1882, William S. Maynard’s Addition to the village (now city) of Ann Arbor had been made, and the streets therein, including First street, had been opened and used as public streets.
“In 1872 the common council of the city of Ann Arbor granted permission, by ordinance, to the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern Railroad Company, the predecessors of the present corporation, to construct its tracks through the city of Ann Arbor and across many of its streets, fixing the grade of the railroad at the then existing grade of each street crossed. At this time Roger Mathews and Mary Mathews were owners of lots 12, 13, and 14 of block 3 south of Huron street, range 2 east, according to the plat of Wm. S. Maynard’s Addition. These lots are situated on the east side of First street, in the middle of the block between Williams street on the south and Liberty street on the north, and had a frontage of 150 feet on First street, with no frontage on any other street. After the passage of said ordinance, the owners of these three lots conveyed to the railroad company a right of way across said lots, described as being 25 feet wide on each side of the center line of the railroad as located.
“ The railroad was constructed between 1872 and 1876, its general course through the city of Ann Arbor being north and south, but at the point where it crossed First street its course was north, 22 degrees west; the crossing at First street'being at an angle of 22 degrees. The right of way took the westerly part of lot 14 and the southwest corner of lot 13, the easterly line of the said right of way intersecting the easterly line of First street near the center of lot 13. The grade of the railroad as then constructed was at the grade of the street, which was but little, if any, above the level of the surrounding lots. In [462]*4621882 the complainants purchased from the said Roger and Mary Mathews said three lots ‘ except ’ the land in the southwest corner conveyed to the railroad company. This land purchased by the complainants exclusive of the railroad right of way had a frontage of about 75 feet on First street. The complainants, who are dealers in groceries, crockery, and oils, doing a wholesale and retail business in the city of Ann Arbor, built warehouses and oil tanks upon these lots, which are used in storing goods handled in their business. The defendant railroad company furnished a siding so that cars could be unloaded at the warehouse on these premises. The freight house of the railroad company stands upon the east side of First street, south of Williams street, and the complainants in shipping out goods from the warehouse truck them south on First street, across the railroad tracks and across Williams street to this freight house. Their business has gradually increased since 1882, and they are now handling very large quantities of merchandise each year in these warehouses and oil tanks. The buildings and improvements placed upon these lots by complainants for the purpose of accommodating their business cost about $8,000. The grade of the railroad has remained substantially as first constructed at the crossing of First street.
“On October 1, 1902, the common council of the city of Ann Arbor passed an ordinance entitled:
“ ‘ An ordinance relative to changing the course and grade of certain streets, and elevating the tracks of the Ann Arbor Railroad Company.’
“ This ordinance was duly approved, published, and accepted by the railroad company as therein provided. A copy of this ordinance is attached to the bill of complaint, and it provides, in brief, for raising the grade of five east and west streets in the southerly portions of the city, at the points where they are intersected by the tracks of the railroad company, from 1 \ to about 7 feet, for lowering the grades of other streets at the intersection of the said railroad tracks from 2 to 3 feet. It provides for steel viaducts above Felch street, Miller avenue, Huron, Washington, and Liberty streets, and at the foot of Ann street. These last-mentioned streets are east and west streets, and are north of the premises of complainants. This ordinance contemplates the raising of the grade of the Ann Arbor Railroad from Williams stfeet north from 9 to 15 feet above [463]*463its present grade. The provision in said ordinance in relation to First street is as follows:
“‘That First street be diverted so as to intersect Liberty street west of the present right of way of the said company.’
“The next day after the passage of this ordinance the complainants notified the defendant railroad company that they would resist by legal proceedings, if necessary, any ■attempt to do the work contemplated, and that they claimed that said ordinance was not valid.
‘1 The defendant railroad company proceeded to do work in preparation for raising its grade, and had done a small amount of work on its grade in the way of surveys, testing the foundations, and the like, prior to the filing of this bill. This bill was filed March 7, 1903. Upon its filing a preliminary injunction was issued, restraining the defendant from building any embankment either in First street, in said city of Ann Arbor, between Williams and Liberty streets, or in front of the premises of the said complainants, and from in any wise closing or diverting First street, or placing any obstructions therein, and from interfering with or obstructing the said complainants, or either of them, in their free use of said First street, in either direction, north or south, from their said premises. This injunction was later dissolved on motion of the defendants.
“The defendant railroad company has continued to do wtork in raising its grade, and has raised a portion of its grade north of Liberty street, and put in foundations for the abutments in the streets over which viaducts are to be constructed. It has purchased and has upon the ground a large amount of steel and material for the construction of the viaducts, and is going forward in the work in raising its grade. It has now expended large amounts in doing the work and buying the material. At the time this case was heard no change had been made at the intersection of First street or south thereof. The evidence in this case shows that it is the plan and purpose of the railroad company to put in all the viaducts provided in the ordinance except perhaps the one at the foot of Ann street, which street does not cross the railroad track, and to provide for the separation of the grades of their track and the streets on Felch street, Miller avenue, Huron, Washington, and Liberty streets. In each case the street is to pass under the railroad track. That the east and west .streets south of Liberty street will cross the railroad track [464]

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
100 N.W. 773, 137 Mich. 459, 1904 Mich. LEXIS 594, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dean-v-ann-arbor-railroad-mich-1904.