Smith v. Birmingham Water Works Co.

104 Ala. 315

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: November 15, 1893
• Status: Published

Opinion

COLEMAN, J.

The appellant, Joseph R. Smith, the owner of two separate buildings in the city of Birmingham, filed the present bill, praying that the respondent be enjoined from cutting off a supply of water from the buildings, and also that the respondent be enjoined from removing a meter from one of the buildings, and that it be required to restore a meter to the other building from which it had been removed. The bill also charges that the rates demanded for water by the respondent are unreasonable and oppressive, and prays relief in the alternative, that if the charges for water have not been fixed by contract with the city, the court would ascertain, fix and declare a reasonable rate of charges for water. Upon the filing of the bill, after notice, the court awarded a temporary injunction. The respondent moved to dismiss the bill for want of equity, and also moved to dissolve the injunction. At the hearing, the court decreed that the bill as framed was without equity, and dissolved the injunction which had been granted. The bill was not dismissed finally, and leave was granted to amend it, so as to give it equity. The appeal is prosecuted from the decree declaring that the bill was without equity, and from the decree dissolving the injunction.

The court held that the object of the bill was to obtain a construction of a contract in which there was no element of trust, and that under the rule held in Lakeview Mining & Mfg. Co. v. Hannon, 93 Ala. 87, there was no equity in the bill. We do not so interpret the bill. The complainant bases his right to relief upon a contract. If the terms of the contract and their meaning be as claimed in the bill and in argument, the complainant is entitled to relief. Chancery courts are continually constructing contracts, in order to determine the rights of suitors growing out of contract; and in adjudicating the rights of the parties in this case, it. becomes necessary to construe the contract. The case Lakeview Mining & Mfg. Co. v. Hannon, in 93 Ala. 87, supra, has no application. The alternative relief rests upon the theory, that if rates have not been fixed by contract with the city, the respondent is bound to furnish water at reasonable rates. The principle invoked in the alternative is, that the Water Works Co. by its charter and contract is bound to supply water to the inhabitants of Birmingham, andhas no authority arbitrarily to fix rates at unreasonable and ojopressive prices, in the absence of contract stipulation fixing the rate. The bill shows, that each of the buildings have three stories, and that mercantile business is carried on in the first floor of 'each ; that the second and third stories, are divided into many separate rooms, some of which are occupied in the day time as offices by lawyers, doctors and dentists, and that other rooms are occupied by unmarried men as sleeping apartments.

We will cite here so much of the contract between the city of Birmingham and the Water Works Company, as we think necessary for a proper consideration of the case :

“An ordinance to provide for a more efficient system of water works for the city of Birmingham, Ala.

“Section 1. Be it ordained by the Mayor and Aider-men of Birmingham: that the Birmingham Water Works Company, a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Alabama, the successors and assignees of the Elyton Land Company as to all of its rights, franchises and privileges, its successors and assigns, is hereby authorized and empowered to erect and maintain one or moro suitable water works pumping stations in or near the said city of Birmingham, and to lay down, maintain and use water mains, pipes, aqueducts and other fixtures to, in and through any of the streets, avenues, alleys and public grounds in said city, for the conveyance of water in, and through'said city, for the use of said city and its inhabitants as herein provided .

“Section 2. Be it further ordained: that the rights and privileges herein and hereby conferred are the subject of a contract between said Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham and the Birmingham Water Works Company, its successors and assigns as herein set forth.

“Section 3. Be it further ordained: that the water so furnished shall be clear, wholesome and suitable for all domestic and all ordinary manufacturing purposes, and sufficient in quantity for the uses of said city and its inhabitants and for all manufacturing purposes.

“Section 12. Be it further ordained: that from the first day of July, 1888, the domestic rates for water furnished under this contract to the citizens of Birmingham, shall never exceed the following rates per <mnum, viz. :

Dwellings of three rooms or less........ $8.00

Each additional room under ten........ 1.00

Each additional room over ten..........50

Water closet for private family......... 5.00

Additional closet for same family or servants ........................... 2.50

Bath tubs for private family........... 4.00

The company shall have the right to charge for water by measurement at rates not exceeding the average rates named below :

Measured water will be charged for as as follows :

For daily consumption of

1000 gallons or less...................30 cents.

1000 to 1500 gallons.................27i cents.

1500 to 2000 gallons.............. 25 cents.

2000 to 3000 gallons.................22i cents.

3000 to 4000 gallons...................20 cents.

4000 to 5000 gallons..................17i cents.

In excess of 5000 gallons daily :

For 1st 5,000 gallons daily, 15 cents per 1000.

“ 2nd 5,000 “ “ 14 . “

“ 3rd 5,000 “ 13 “

“ 4th 5,000 “ 12 “ “ “

“ 5th 5,000 “ 11

“ 6th 5,000 “ 10 “ “ “

“ 7th 5,000 «

“ 8th 5,000 “ 8 “ “ “

All in excess of 40,000 gallons daily 8 cents per thousand gallons.

The company reserves the right to put in meters at its option, for which an annual rental will be charged as follows :

.Í” Meter............. $ 3.00 per annum.

f ” Meter............. 5.00 ll It

1 ” Meter............. 7.50 l l l l

li” Meter............. 12.00 It It

2 ” Meter............. 20.00 It l l

3” Meter....'......... 30.00 l l It

4” Meter............. 50.00 l l l l

We think it clear from these provisions of the contract, that the Water Works Company is bound to furnish water in sufficient quantity “for the uses of the city and its inhabitants, and for all manufacturing purposes.” We think it clear, also, that the rates at which the water should be furnished were fixed by the terms of the contract ; that for the city by a different section of the contract, “for other purposes than fire protection and practice of firemen, at the rare of fifteen cents for one thousand gallons.” The contract plainly means that the company should charge for all water furnished to the inhabitants of Birmingham, and for manufacuring purposes, by measurement in all cases, except where special provision was otherwise made,. The only cases in which water furnished to the ‘ ‘inhabitants” is not to be charged for by measurement, are specified in the first part of section 12, supra, and include only “dwellings,” and then for “water closets” and “bath tubs” for private families. For these the contract fixes a definite amount for water furnished without regard to measurement. We would not be understood as holding that the designated classes could abuse the privileges by unnecessary extravagance or waste of water ; but for the use of water in reasonable quantities, sufficient without inconvenient economy for the purposes mentioned, the rates are fixed. The difficulty arises in determining what the word “dwelling” signifies, as used in this contract. We think it clear that the lower rooms used as stores, and the rooms occupied as offices by lawyers, doctors, &c., are not dwellings, and the water furnished for these, must be paid for by measurement. The bill shows that many rooms are occupied by gentlemen as sleeping apartments, and the question arises whether rooms thus occupied are dwellings within the meaning of the contract. A dwelling may consist of but one room, and where the entire building has but a single room and is occupied by-a single person as a home or residence, that is his dwelling. Several families may furnish separate apartments in the same building and occupy the same separately and independently of each other, and each family may thus acquire several dwellings in the same building. A person without a family may have a dwelling. A house rented and resided in as a home by the tenant to the exclusion of the owner becomes a dwelling. In the case of Cerf v. Home Insurance Co., 44 Cal. 320, 13 Amer. Rep. 165, the building was destroyed by fire. The back room of the building was used by the owner and his clerk as sleeping apartments, and the front as a store. The policy permitted the use of kerosene oil for light in a dwelling, but prohibited its use as a light in the store. On the night of the fire a lamp supplied with kerosene oil was left burning on the counter in the store for protection against burglars. It was held that although the small back room might in itself be a dwelling, it was distinguishable from the large room, which was held to be unquestionably-a store.

In the notes to 6 Amer. & Eng. Encyc. of Law, pp. 101-105, may be found many citations where tenants of rooms have acquired a “dwelling” within, the meaning of certain statutory provisions. The use and purpose for which a building or rooms are acquired must be considered in determining whether it is a dwelling. A person confined in a building, as when • imprisoned in a jail, or a mere transient occupancy of a building or rooms, to which no definite right is acquired, to the exclusion of control by the owner or landlord, does not impress the building, or room with the character of a dwelling.

Section 12 declares that water furnished under this contract to the citizens of Birmingham, shall never exceed the following rates per annum, viz.: Dwellings of three rooms or less $8.00 ; each additional room under ten, $1.00 ; each additional room over ten, .50. Whether the building is of a single room with one occupant, or three rooms with a dozen occupants, the rate is fixed-át $8.00 per annum, for either and then there is an - additional charge for each room over three and under ten, and then for each room over ten. The owner of a building may, if suitably constructed, devote a portion of it to manufacuring purposes, another part to stores, another to offices, and another to dwellings. The water rates are fixed by the contract accordingly. The averments of the bill negative the fact that any part of the buildings are occupied by families, or are used for a hotel or boarding house. Its averments are that the lower rooms are used for stores, and the second and third stories are occupied and used as offices, and for sleeping apartments by gentlemen. Water used in either would come under the head of domestic purposes as distinguished from manufacturing purposes. We do not think it permissible to appropriate a portion of a building to purposes of business or trade, and a part to dwellings, and as it may be to the interest of the owner claim that it is altogether the one or the other ; nor is such a privilege granted to the Water Works Company. The contract between the city and respondent, which is not assailed, distinguishes the one from the other, by different rates, and the parties are bound by its terms. Construing section 12 in connection with sections 1, 2, and 3 of the contract, our conclusion is that the word “citizen,” as used in section 12 has the same meaning and operation as “inhabitant,” and that all the water to be furnished was classed under the heads of “domestic” and “manufacturing purposes,” and the rates for all purposes was the subject of contract between the city and the respondent, and regulated by it.

In all cases where the defendant has the right to charge for water by measurement, and demand pay for water furnished, it is incumbent on the respondent to furnish meters. There is no authority to the respondent to refuse to furnish meters, and fix an arbitrary price, where water is to be paid for by measurement, and unless payment is made according to such arbitrary rate, to cut off the supply of water. The damage in such a case would be irreparable, and a court of equity would not hesitate to interfere by injunction. It follows from these conclusions that the water which should'be furnished to complainant’s buildings are provided for and regulated by contract, and that it is unnecessary to determine whether a court of equity has jurisdiction to declare and fix a rate of charges when none have been fixed, or to declare that the charges made by respondent were unreasonable. On this question see case of Reagan v. Farmers’ Loan & Trust Co., 14 Sup. Ct. Rep., No. 33, p. 1047.

The complainant is not entitled to the alternate relief prayed for on the facts stated in the bill. Does the complainant offer to do equity?

We can not consider the conclusion of the pleader except so far as sustained by the averments of facts. Construing the pleadings strictly against the pleader, the facts as stated fail to show that the buildings in part were not used as “dwellings” within the meaning of the contract. It is "not necessary that a room or rooms or building be occupied by a family, to constitute a dwelling . If the owner has appropriated and devoted certain rooms of these buildings to such uses, and they are thus used, as that if there were no other rooms in the building than those thus occupied, the building would thereby be a “ dwelling’ ’ within the meaning of the contract as we have declared, and to such extent they must be regarded as dwellings.

In the bill it is averred that complainant has tendered and has always been ready to pay for all water furnished to these buildings by measurement at the rates fixed for measured water by the contract. The bill does not show that complainant has offered to pay, nor does he offer in the bill to pay, at the rates fixed by the contract for dwellings. In this respect, as at present framed, the bill is defective. It may be that the complainant may so amend his bill as to give it equity, either by averring such tender, or by so stating the facts as to show that no part of either of said buildings is devoted to such purposes and use as to come within the provision of the contract which prescribes a. rate to be paid for water for “dwellings.” The appellee seems to be amply secured against all damages. A. decree will be here rendered reinstating the injunction and granting to complainant thirty days within which to amend the bill as he may be advised, with directions that unless amended so as to give the bill equity, within the time prescribed, upon motion of the respondent made in the court below, after notice as prescribed in the rules of chancery practice, the injunction shall be dissolved and the bill dismissed.

The appellant will pay the costs of this appeal in this court' and the court below.

Modified, affirmed and remanded.