Jones v. . Seligman

81 N.Y. 190, 1880 N.Y. LEXIS 219

Opinion

Miller, J.

This action, was brought for equitable relief against the defendants as acting trustees of the bondholders of the Mew York, Boston & Montreal Bailway Company, and the complaint asks that the defendants be adjudged to specifically perform the duties imposed upon them by law in respect to the matters set forth, and that they be required to build and maintain fences on each side of the lands taken by them from the plaintiff for railroad purposes, and described in the complaint, on which their railway is constructed, and which runs through the plaintiff’s farm, in the manner required by law, and also a farm-crossing under said railroad.

Section 8 of the General Bailroad Act (ch. 282, Laws of 1854) requires, that “ every railroad corporation * "x" * shall, before the lines of such railroad are opened, erect and thereafter maintain fences on the sides of their roads of the height and strength of a division fence, as required by law, with openings or gates or bars for the use of the proprietors of the land adjoining such railroad,” and to construct and maintain cattle-guards at all said crossings, and declares that so long as such fences and cattle-guards shall not be made, and when not in good repair, the corporation and its agents shall be liable for all damages, and when such fences and cattle-guards shall have been made and kept in good repair, such corporation shall not be liable for any such damages, unless negligently and willfully done. This provision was intended as a protection to the public who might travel upon the railroad, as well as to the owners of lands adjoining, from injuries which might arise by reason of a neglect to comply with its terms. While the duty imposed upon the corporation may be regarded to some extent as intended for the benefit of the public, it was not designed to limit the redress to be obtained for injuries sustained to a mere statutory remedy, as is the case in reference to penal enactments. It is obvious that the statutory remedy would be entirely insufficient in all cases to secure full and ample indemnity against, the hazard, inconvenience and danger, arising from an exposure of lands adjoining a railroad, and to the consequences which might result from an absence of fences, cattle-guards and other adequate means of protection. These are not only essential for the protection of the railroad, but indispensable to the owner for a proper and reasonable enjoyment of his rights. Without fences, his land would run to waste; and without crossings, the owner would be unable to work and use his land in a manner which would tend to promote his interests and confer upon him the advantages to which he is fairly entitled. He should, therefore, be allowed a proper remedy to enforce his right to fences and crossings; and as it is conceded by the appellants’ counsel that an equitable action may be maintained for such a purpose, it is not necessary to discuss that question.

The right to compel a railroad corporation to erect and maintain fences along the sides of its road is quite clear, but the question arising as to the number and character of crossings to be made is of more difficulty. The solution of it must necessarily depend upon the facts and circumstances connected with the location of the farm, the necessity of the crossings and the accommodation of the proprietor of the land in the enjoyment of the same for ordinary farming purposes. In regard to the crossings in the case considered, the judge found that three farm crossings over the surface of the lands were necessary at the several places where they now exist, as completed since the commencement of this action, of which the southern and middle were sufficient, and that the northern needs a better graded approach to the east. He also found that a large portion of the plaintiff’s farm, lying easterly of and adjoining said railroad, was without water, and that a crossing, under the surface of the railroad, of sufficient size to allow cattle and horses to freely pass to and from the creek to the west thereof, was necessary where the railroad-bed crosses the old farm road, and where a culvert has been built under said railroad.

It is claimed that the three farm crossings now in. existence were all conveniently located, -properly made and sufficiently numerous, and that the additional crossing was not, therefore, required. It is a sufficient answer to this position, to say 'that the propriety of the additional crossing, as well as the condition of the other crossings and their convenience, was a question of fact for the decision of the judge upon the trial. The existence of the old farm road as found by the judge, as well as the necessity of a crossing for cattle at the place designated, was a matter to be determined by the evidence and the facts presented. The judge made a personal examination, with the consent of the parties, viewed the premises, and thus arrived at a conclusion. It is not apparent that he erred as to the location of the new crossing under the surface, or in any other respect.

The location of a crossing is to be made somewhat with ■reference to the needs, necessities and convenience of the owner of the farm, and he is entitled to be reasonably and fairly accommodated. ' The circumstances -are to be considered, and the crossings should be located in view of all the surroundings, and according to the situation of the adjacent land. The railroad corporation, in the exercise of its duty in providing farm crossings, is not vested with any such absolute discretion or arbitrary power that its decision is final and conclusive and cannot be reviewed or disturbed. While under the provision of the G-eneral Railroad Act, requiring the corporation to erect farm crossings, etc., for the use of the proprietors of lands adjoining, the interest of neither party is alone controlling, the power must be exercised in a proper manner, having due regard to the convenience of the owner of the land, and without subjecting him to needless and unreasonable injury. (Wademan v. The A. & S. R. R. Co., 51 N. Y. 568.) In the case cited, where it was shown that the crossing was inconvenient for the plaintiff and not easy of access, and that the proper place for a farm crossing was at the point where the plaintiff desired it to be made, it was held that an action would lie to compel the defendant to build a suitable crossing. If the crossings made are insufficient in number, or improperly constructed, no reason exists why they should not be increased or improved so as to be made convenient and useful. While their number or the conveniences furnished should not be unlimited, extravagant, or burdensome upon the corporation, the owner of the land is entitled, in a certain degree, to the advantages to be derived from a proper and fair exercise of this power. The nature of his rights must depend greatly upon the situation of the farm, and must be determined with a due regard to the rules already laid down. The court may decide as to the kind and character of the crossing to be constructed, its necessity, and the place where it should be located. It appears that there was an embankment at the place where the last-mentioned crossing was located; and we may infer that a crossing over the surface would be difficult, if not impracticable. The owner of the land was entitled to such a crossing as was suitable under the circumstances, and the judge, in view of the facts, had a right to direct that the crossing should be under the surface of the road. The right to a crossing under the track was a necessity if, for sufficient reasons, a construction over the xX surface of the road was not practicable, or would not answer the purposes intended. The principle referred to has been a subject of consideration in the courts, arid the right to relief must rest in the sound discretion of the judge, and must be entirely equitable and just. (Clarke v. R. L. & N. F. R. R. Co., 18 Barb. 350; Wademan v. A. & S. R. R. Co., supra; Wheeler v. R. & S. R. R. Co., 12 Barb. 227.) We think that there was no error in the findings of the court, to which reference has been had, and discover no ground for interfering with the conclusion arrived at.

The proceedings taken to condemn the land, and the damages paid by reason thereof, do not necessarily preclude the plaintiff from maintaining an action to compel the corporation to provide suitable and proper crossings, in case it has failed to fulfill the duty imposed upon it by law. As we have seen, the crossings are to be located and made, having in view the rights of all the parties; and as the corporation may not always conform to this rule, and those provided may not ánswer the pur poses designed, there must be a remedy to enforce the obligation which devolves upon it. If it had entirely failed to make any crossing’s whatever, most manifestly the courts would be authorized to grant the proper relief. For the same reason it should be compelled to make such crossings as are .suitable and necessary for the proper and reasonable use of the farm by the proprietor. The proposition that when lands are taken compulsorily, the proceedings for condemnation contemplate and provide for every form of damage or inconvenience to the owner, is not well founded and cannot be upheld. In Smith v. N. Y. & O. M. R. R. Co. (63 N. Y. 58), it was held that a conveyance to a railroad corporation "of a right of way to a road across a farm is not a waiver or release of the obligation imposed by the General Railroad Act to erect and maintain farm crossings. Church, Ch. J., says: “ It is said that when lands are acquired compulsorily, farm crossings are deemed a part of the compensation. I am not prepared to assent "to this proposition.” We think that such an item is not a proper subject of consideration in estimating damages for land taken for railroad purposes, and that they have once been made cannot affect the right of the owner to additional ones where these' are insufficient.

The objection urged that the trustees, who only represent the bondholders, cannot be held for the performance of a duty imposed upon the corporation, and which it had neglected to fulfill, is not well founded. By the mortgage executed to them they have authority to make such reparation of and such additions to the railroad, or its branches, as they may deem expedient. This would confer power to erect and maintain .fences, and to provide crossings. They have taken possession, completed the road over the plaintiff’s land, and are obligated to protect it, and to perform such work as is required to be done for such a purpose. We think that the defendants are within the terms of the act, and bound to comply with its provisions, as the representatives of those who have an interest in the corporation. We discover no error upon the trial, and are of the opinion that the judgment should be affirmed.

All concur; Rapallo, J., concurs on the concession of counsel that an equitable action can be maintained to enforce the performance by a corporation of a statutory requirement. Judgment affirmed.