Moore v. State

8 Ill. Ct. Cl. 686, 1935 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 251
Court of Claims of Illinois·Decided June 1, 1935·No. Nos. 1957 to 1964, both inclusive, and No. 1974, consolidated·Published

Opinion

Per Curiam:

All of the above claims, as well as certain other claims now pending in this court, arise by reason of the construction by the respondent of the approach to the Cedar Street bridge in the city of East Peoria, all of which cases are known as East Peoria bridge cases.

All of the claimants herein are represented by the same counsel, and inasmuch as all of the cases grow out of the same transaction and involve the same questions, it has been' agreed by counsel for the respective parties, that the cases be consolidated for the purpose of this hearing.

The facts as to local conditions at and during the time involved in these cases, as well as the facts which apply generally to all of such cases, have been fully set forth in the consolidated cases of George Treharne and Rosie Treharne vs. State of Illinois, No. 1934, and Russell Youngman and Laura M. Youngman vs. State of Illinois, No. 1935, to which reference is made therefor.

The following facts with reference to drainage facilities prior to and subsequent to the construction of the improvement in question have special reference to the cases other than the Treharne and Youngman cases:

Richland Place Addition prior to thn construction of the improvement, was level, flat land with but little natural drainage. The drainage facilities consisted entirely of open ditches, there being no drain tiles whatsoever.

The improvement as originally contemplated provided for no surface drainage except by means of two 18-inch culverts, one beneath the fill on Clark Street and one beneath the fill on Sanford Street. However, after the completion of the improvement, and after the filing of some of the claims herein, a system of tile drains was installed by the State at a cost of approximately $6,000.00, in order to more adequately take care of the surface water. Such system consisted of approximately 3,730 feet of vitrified tile, with joints sealed with oakem grout laid as follows: a 10-inch tile along the south line of S. B. I. Route 121, commencing at Washington Street and extending to the intersection thereof with Monson Street; then a 12-inch tile from the last named point to the north and south alley between Clark and Monson Streets where it emptied into a large catch basin. There was also a stretch of 10-inch tile coming from the west entering into such catch basin. From such catch basin an 18-inch tile was extended south, to the east and west alley north of Maple Street; thence along said alley to the east line of Sanford ■Street, thence south on Sanford Street to connect with the drainage district ditch. There were numerous catch basins installed along the line of the fill to take care of the surface water which might flow north toward the fill or south from the side of the embankment.

There is a sharp conflict in the evidence as to the natural fall of the land and as to'drainage conditions both before and after the construction of the improvement in question. The witnesses for claimants testified that prior to the construction of S. B. I. Route 121, the natural drainage was toward the north to Roosevelt Street, then westerly along the south side of Roosevelt Street to the drainage district ditch. Witnesses for the respondent testified that the natural drainage in a general way was to the west and southwest; that the high point in the addition was a line running east and west about eighty feet south of the south line of the alley which parallels S. B. I. Boute 121; that this line formed a sort of watershed and that the lots north of said line drained naturally toward Boosevelt Street and those south of such line drained to the south and west.

The witnesses for the State maintain that the surface drainage is much better now than it was at any time prior to the construction of the improvement; that the sewer system in question is properly constructed; that there is ample fall for the same; that it is maintained by the State and is under the supervision of local highway officers; that the inlets are kept free from debris; and that all surface water properly drains off within a short time after a rain.

The witnesses for the claimants, however, state that the drainage system is improperly constructed, that it does not properly carry off the water, that the inlets or openings thereto are a substantial distance above the level of the ground and therefore do not afford proper drainage for the surface water; also that the drainage system is not properly maintained; that the openings become clogged with weeds and dirt, and that as a result thereof water stands upon claimants’ property for a considerable time after a heavy rain. Claimants whose houses have basements state that after a heavy rainfall their basements remain wet and damp for a considerable length of time, whereas such conditions never existed prior to the construction of the improvement in question.

Witnesses for the respondent contend that if there is any failure of the surface water to properly drain off, it results from the failure of the property owners to properly connect their open ditches with the sewer system installed by the State, and from the failure to keep such open ditches free from obstruction.

The facts which apply particularly to the several cases under consideration herein, to-wit, the facts as to the location of the several properties, and the character of the improvements thereon, if any, are as follows, to-wit:

No. 1957.

Albert J. Moore and Belle Moore.

Claimants, Albert J. Moore and Belle Moore, filed their claim herein as owners in joint tenancy of Lot No. 582. Since the filing of such claim Albert J. Moore died, and Belle Moore thereby became the sole owner of said lot. Upon her motion it has heretofore been ordered that the cause proceed in her name as sole claimant.

Said Lot No. 582 is located on the west side of Monson Street between S. B. I. Route 121 and Maple Street, being approximately ninety-five (95) feet south of said S. B. I. Route No. 121, and eighty (80) feet north of Maple Street;— and has a frontage of forty (40) feet on Monson Street and a depth of one hundred twenty-seven and one-half (127%) feet. The east or front line of the lot is six hundred (600) feet east of the Sanford Street fill.

This lot is improved by a six-room frame bungalow with two porches. There is a concrete block foundation, and a basement under the entire house; also an extra room for bath but bath fixtures have not been installed. The building is equipped for electricity but not for gas. There is no furnace, no sewer connection, no cesspool, and no plumbing fixtures. There is an outside toilet. The exterior side walls are of wood, and the roof is of asbestos shingles. The floors are of hardwood and the interior walls are of plasterboard construction.

The south end of the fill on the Monson Street approach to S. B. I. Route 121 is a short distance north of the north line of claimant’s lot. The surface of the lot is level with the adjoining street, and there is no direct interference with ingress or egress over Monson Street as the result of the construction of the improvement in question.

No. 1958.

Claimants, Albert J. Moore and Belle Moore, filed their claim herein as owners in joint tenancy of Lot No. 590. Since the filing of such claim Albert J.

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Moore v. State, 8 Ill. Ct. Cl. 686, 1935 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 251 (Ill. Super. Ct. 1935).

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