P. Bannon Pipe Co. v. Illinois Central Railroad

262 S.W. 1110, 203 Ky. 659, 1924 Ky. LEXIS 987
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kentucky
DecidedJune 10, 1924
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 262 S.W. 1110 (P. Bannon Pipe Co. v. Illinois Central Railroad) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
P. Bannon Pipe Co. v. Illinois Central Railroad, 262 S.W. 1110, 203 Ky. 659, 1924 Ky. LEXIS 987 (Ky. Ct. App. 1924).

Opinion

Opinion op the Court by

Sandidge, Commissioner

Affirming.

In 1917, the general council of the city of Louisville, by ordinance, granted to appellee, Illinois Central Railroad Company, tbé right to construct certain railroad tracks on Fourteenth street in the city of Louisville, Kentucky. Shortly thereafter appelle began the construction of the tracks in question. Thereupon appellant, P. Ban-non Pipe Company, filed a petition in equity in the first division, chancery branch, of the Jefferson circuit court, by which it sought to enjoin appellee from constructing the railroad tracks in question where, according to the plans for same, they would be laid on Fourteenth street north of Garland avenue in front of a lot owned by appellant. It appears that appellant owns a lot lying between Garland avenue and Breckinridge street fronting on Fourteenth street 425 feet, which is 210 feet in depth. The railroad tracks, the construction of which it sought to enjoin, as planned, would strike Fourteenth street in front of appellant’s lot at Garland avenue and extend north on Fourteenth street a distance of approximately 200 feet. The tracks proposed to be built were spur tracks leading from a main line of railroad which seems to extend the full length- of Fourteenth street through the city of Louisville. The proposed tracks necessarily and as planned would leave the main line at an angle .and [661]*661from the main line they were planned to rnn south, on Fourteenth street. At the intersection of Fourteenth street with Garland avenue, the outer rail of the proposed tracks would'cut four feet in on the twelve-foot section of that street reserved for sidewalk purposes, in front of appellant’s lot. Appellant based its right to have appellee enjoined from constructing the tracks in question upon the alleged fact that it owned the lot of land fronting on Fourteenth street between Garland avenue and Breckinridge streets, and that the construction of the tracks would destroy its ingress to and egress from its lot and its easement in Fourteenth street, which would constitute the taking of its private property for public use without its consent and without just compensation having first been paid. Appellee denied- that the construction of the tracks would destroy appellant’s ingress to or egress' from its lot or its easement in Fourteenth street or would constitute a taking of its private property for public use. It sought to justify the construction of the tracks in question by the consent given it so to do by the general council of the city of Louisville, under the ordinance above, and pleaded that if appellant should be injured in anywise it had an adequate remedy at law.

A motion for a temporary injunction made by appellant when the action was instituted was overruled by the chancellor and the construction of the tracks in question was completed by appellee. The case was prepared and the proof taken, however, and upon the trial on the merits the chancellor refused the injunctive relief sought by appellant and dismissed its petition, This appeal has been prosecuted from that judgment.

None of the pleadings for appellant alleged that the tracks in question would encroach upon the lot owned by appellant and the proof shows, without contradiction, that they were not constructed upon any portion of appellant’s lot. They were laid within the limits of Fourteenth street. The proof further showed beyond question that the tracks were constructed in such a way that they of themselves did not in anywise interfere with appellant or anyone else using Fourteenth street for any of the purposes for which it was dedicated when opened as a public street. The ties were sunken in the bed of the street and, from the interséction of Garland avenue with Fourteenth street to the point where the tracks in'question cut into the main line which runs down the center of the street, were planked over both between and outside of the rails in such a way that any character of vehicle [662]*662might pass over them without inconvenience or danger. Photographs taken before the tracks were constructed and after they 'were completed were introduced in evidence and they disclose that in so far as the tracks themselves are concerned, as they were constructed, they offer no impediment or obstruction to the use of Fourteenth street for any purpose. This street appears to be a railroad street. Between Garland avenue and Breckinridge street it is sixty feet wide. There is a twelve-foot section on either side of the street set apart for sidewalk purposes and this is defined by a stone curb placed along either side of the street. The street proper has never been improved and its level is about level with the top of the curb defining the sidewalks. No sidewalks have been constructed along either side of the street between Garland avenue and Breckinridge street. In so far as the testimony in this case shows this street may be used with the same convenience and facility since the railroad tracks in question have been constructed as it could have been used before. The construction of the railroad tracks in question has in nowise impaired appellant’s easement in Fourteenth street or its ingress to and egress from its lot. It is possible for appellee to put the railroad tracks constructed by it on Fourteenth street in front of appellant’s lot to such use as will impair its easement in Fourteenth street and its ingress to and egress from its lot, but the construction of the railroad tracks themselves bad no such effect. Appellant’s sole cause of action was directed to enjoin appellee from constructing the railroad tracks in question. Its right to do so was based upon the theory that their construction would be a taking of private property for public use. The tracks were constructed within the streets of the city. The tracks, as constructed, in nowise interferred with appellant’s peculiar property rights in Fourteenth street. . Hence, we conclude that upon this ground alone the judgment of the chancellor may be affirmed.

However, we will go further with the matter. The right of a city to authorize a railroad company to construct tracks along its streets has long been a settled one in this jurisdiction. With reference to that question, in Fulton, etc. v. Short Route Railway Transfer Company, etc., 85 Ky. 640, we said:

“Indeed, the right under legislative authority to permit the construction and operation of a railroad by steam along or upon a street is not now an [663]*663open question in this state, however much conflict of authority may exist elsewhere; and this without regard to whether the fee subject to the public use is in the adjoining owner or not. Beginning with the case of the L. & O. Railroad Company v. Applegate, &c., 8 Dana 289, followed by the cases of Wolf v. C. & L. R. R. Company, 15 B. M. 409; L. & F. R. R. Company v. Brown, 17 B. M. 772; Newport & Cincinnati Bridge Company v. Foote, 9 Bush 264; Cosby v. O. & R. Railroad Company, 10 Bush 288; E. L. & Big-Sandy R. R. Company v. Combs, 10 Bush 382; and the J. M. & I. R. R. Company v. Esterle, 13 Bush 675, this doctrine has been. repeatedly announced, and must now be regarded as firmly established in Kentucky, and we think it is supported by reason and public necessity, while at the same time individual right is preserved.”

Further, in the same opinion, pointing out the distinction between the mere existence of the tracks' in the street and the use to which they may be put, we said:

“It follows that the construction of a railroad along a street is not, per se,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
262 S.W. 1110, 203 Ky. 659, 1924 Ky. LEXIS 987, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/p-bannon-pipe-co-v-illinois-central-railroad-kyctapp-1924.