King v. Carmichael

87 P. 1120, 45 Wash. 127, 1906 Wash. LEXIS 934

• Court: Washington Supreme Court
• Decided: December 21, 1906
• Docket: No. 6238
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

This appeal presents a contest over the location of the dividing line between the southeast and southwest quarters of section six, in township twenty-four, north of range six east of the Willamette Meridian. The line marking the south boundary of the section was reported by the government surveyor, who originally surveyed it, as being practically of full length. Subsequent measurements, however, established the fact that its actual length was some 942 feet short of a mile. The appellant contended at the trial that the southeast quarter of the section was originally of full width, leaving all of the shortage in the southwest quarter, and he sought to establish his contention by showing the original location of the quarter section corner. The respondent contended that the original comer was lost and could not be found, and that its location must be determined according to the rules laid down by the Interior Department for the establishment of lost corners. A dividing line had been run by the county surveyor according to these rules, apportioning the shortage between the two quarter sections.

The case presented a question of fact only. If the place of location of the original corner has been preserved, then unquestionably it marks one of the points from which the dividing line between the quarter sections must be run, no matter at what point on the line it is found. On the other hand, if the corner is lost, then it must be established according to the rule followed by the county surveyor, or by some rule equally satisfactory and which will produce an equitable result. On the question of fact we are not-inclined to disturb the findings of the trial court. While two witnesses did testify positively that they found the original corner some ye,ars ago while the original bearing trees were standing and marked its place with a cedar stake, we think their evidence was overcome by the evidence on the part of the witnesses for the respondent, as well as by certain physical facts shown in the record. The judgment appealed from is right and will stand affirmed.