State ex rel. Heil v. Jakubowski

38 N.W.2d 26, 151 Neb. 471, 1949 Neb. LEXIS 112
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedJune 10, 1949
DocketNo. 32616
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 38 N.W.2d 26 (State ex rel. Heil v. Jakubowski) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. Heil v. Jakubowski, 38 N.W.2d 26, 151 Neb. 471, 1949 Neb. LEXIS 112 (Neb. 1949).

Opinion

Simmons, C. J.

This is a mandamus action in which the county supervisors of Sherman County are respondents. Relator - sought a writ to compel respondents to repair a bridge across the Middle Loup River about midway between Loup City and Rockville in Sherman County. An alternative writ was issued. Answer was made and trial had. The trial court found generally for respondents and denied the writ. Relator appeals. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

On March 12, 1948, the relator filed in the district court for Sherman County his application for an alternative writ of mandamus. In it he alleged that he was a resident, taxpayer, and elector of Sherman County; that the respondents were the supervisors of said county and had general supervision, charge, and control of the highways and bridges of the county and were required by law to keep and maintain the highways and bridges open and in proper repair for use and travel by the public; that the “Austin Bridge,” describing its location, was a part of a public road in the county; that during the summer of 1947, it was wrecked by high waters and made impassable for travel; that respondents closed said road to the public; that on February 6, 1948, the relator and others served written notice on the respondents McFadden and Ogle, the two supervisors in whose district the bridge was located, to repair the bridge and put the same in safe condition for travel; that the respondents failed, neglected, and refused to repair the bridge and highway and restore the same to a safe condition for travel; that the bridge and road had been for 25 years on the star route of the United States mails, out of Rock-ville, and as a result of the bridge being impassable the patrons now receive triweekly instead of daily mail service; and that relator and the public are denied the use [473]*473of the road and put to great inconvenience. The notice pleaded is attached to the application and service is recited as having been made on February 6, 1948. It is directed to the two-named supervisors, gives notice that the bridge is out of repair and unsafe for travel, and demands that the board of supervisors “* * * proceed to repair said bridge and put the same in a safe condition for travel, as provided by Section 39-831, Revised Statutes of Nebraska, 1943.”

The alternative writ was issued on March 20,1948.

The respondents answered, admitting the allegations as to the relator’s qualifications, the legal existence of Sherman County, respondents’ position as supervisors, the wrecking of the bridge by high waters which made it impassable for travel, and the service of the notice of February 6, 1948, and denied other allegations. Answering further, the respondents alleged affirmatively facts which they contended justified their action and a denial of the writ. The facts as alleged will be covered.in the recital of the evidence.

The trial court found generally for the respondents and against the relator and “from the evidence and pleadings” denied the writ.

The relator’s case-in-chief was stipulated. The stipulation set forth facts admitted by the answer that during the summer of 1947 the bridge “was wrecked by high water and made impassable for travel”; that the road is on the star route rural free delivery from Rockville; that the road is impassable; that the bridge has not been repaired; and that respondents have taken no action to repair it. The service of the written notice of February 6, 1948, on the two supervisors was admitted, and a copy of the notice was offered and received in evidence.

The evidence as to the. bridge is that in the year 1906 it was built of lumber on wooden piling driven into the sand from 15 to 20 feet and that there is no hardpan or rock foundation upon which piling can be made to rest. The bridge was 480 feet long. The piling in it was ex[474]*474tensively replaced in 1916. Thereafter it was damaged by floods and ice and repaired from time to time. Several years before 1947 it was in a bad state of disrepair due to damage and deterioration, and traffic on it was limited to light loads. It was last extensively repaired by a “half sole” operation in 1945. On June 20, 1947, as a result of extreme high water 120 feet of the bridge were washed out and carried over 2 miles downstream. At the same time about 20 feet of the approach at the east end were washed away.

Some 200 yards to the west of this long bridge was a smaller 32-foot-long bridge over a channel of the river. This bridge was also washed away, together with its approaches. Apparently at the same time many other roads and bridges in the county were substantially damaged or destroyed.

Respondents’, evidence is to the effect that the old bridge cannot be repaired; that there is no salvage of materials in it, save some of the piling and “half soling” lumber; and that to meet the carrying capacity required by section 39-803, R. S. 1943, it would require the building of two new bridges and approaches, and grading between the bridges at an estimated cost of $26,350, and to insure permanency ice breakers should be installed at an estimated added expense of $500 or $600.

Relator’s evidence is that the bridge can be put back in the condition, as to carrying capacity, in which it had been before the June 1947 flood for $4,000. The evidence as to foundation for this estimate is not assuring as to accuracy. This estimate included use of salvage materials, and expenses on approaches, but did not include the cost of filling in the smaller channel which the witness proposed should be done. Relator offered an estimate of about $11,000 as the cost of a new bridge of reduced length at a new location on the section line north of the present location.

The evidence of the respondents is that there is little, if any, need for a bridge at the location involved, save [475]*475for the mail route and neighborhood use. The evidence of the relator is that the bridge was used somewhat more than respondents contend, and that if a 10-ton capacity-bridge were built, it would be extensively used.

The evidence also is that before the bridge went out the star route proceeded daily from Rockville up one side of the river, across the bridge and returned on the other side. It-now goes up and back one day on either side so that triweekly and not daily mail service is had. The patrons have made no effort to secure other or a rearranged service.

It further appears from the respondents’ evidence that there are several bridges along well-used roads in the county that have not yet been repaired or replaced, and that a number of those are on mail routes.

The conflicts in the evidence must be here considered as having been established in respondents’ favor in the light of the court’s finding and the rule that “Finding of fact in a mandamus proceeding, based on conflicting evidence, will not be disturbed on appeal unless it is clearly wrong.” State ex rel. Lackey v. Gering & Ft. Laramie Irrigation District, 129 Neb. 48, 260 N. W. 568. See State ex rel. McMillin v. Boyd County, 130 Neb. 898, 266 N. W. 764.

It was stipulated that for the fiscal year beginning July 1947, the legal limit was levied in the bridge and emergency bridge fund in the sum of $21,896.23; that there was a balance of $9,868.47 on June 30, 1947; and that the estimatéd receipts from the state from the gasoline tax, etc., were $5,505.30, or a total of $37,270 for the fiscal year if all levies were collected in full.

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Bluebook (online)
38 N.W.2d 26, 151 Neb. 471, 1949 Neb. LEXIS 112, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-heil-v-jakubowski-neb-1949.