Staton v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad

61 S.E. 455, 147 N.C. 428

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: April 22, 1908
• Status: Published

Opinion

CoNNOR, J.,

after stating the facts: It will be convenient to dispose of the several phases of this appeal in the order in which they are presented by the well-considered brief of the counsel for plaintiff. It may be conceded that the legal title to the soil over which the streets of the town of Tarboro are laid out is in the municipality. The deed from Howell to Moir and others vested it in them, and by successive acts of the Legislature it has passed to and remains in the corporation. The corporation holds the title in trust for the citizens and public to use and enjoy as public highways or streets, subject to the control of the town authorities, as prescribed .by the charter and public laws contained in Eevisal, ch. 13. The title is impressed with a further trust, subject, however, to the rights of the public, for the use and benefit of the owners of lots abutting on said streets. Moose v. Carson, 104 N. C., 431, and other cases. The rights of the original purchaser of the lots attaching by virtue of the trusts declared in the bond executed by Moir and others passed with the title to the lots as appurtenant thereto, and in respect to plaintiff’s lot vested in him. Cases may be found in other courts in which the right of an abutting owner to sue for damages sustained by reason of the use of streets is made to depend upon the ownership of the soil over which the street is laid out and established. Whatever distinctions in this respect may have been made by the courts in regard to the rights of abutting owners to redress for special injuries sustained have been generally abandoned. White v. Railroad, 113 N. C., 610, in which the cases and views of eminent authors are stated with clearness and force by Shepherd, C. J. Tate v. Greensboro, 114 N. C., 392; Brown v. Electric Co., 138 N. C., 533; 27 Am. and Eng. Enc., 181. Of course, we must not be understood as referring to actions for damages or compensation by reason of additional burdens imposed upon property condemned or dedicated by the owner to a public use, as in Phillips v. Tel. Co., 130 N. C., 513, and Hodges v. Tel. Co., 133 N. C., 225. In such cases the owner of the soil maintains an action for compensation for additional burdens imposed for public purposes. In addition to the rights of the plaintiff to the use of the streets as a member of the municipality or a citizen of the town, he has as an abutting owner of the lot rights peculiar to such ownership'. Burwell, J., in Tate v. Greensboro, supra, says: “It is not to be denied that the abutting proprietor has rights as an individual in the street in his front as contradistinguished from his rights therein as a member of the corporation or one of the public.” For an invasion of his rights as a member of the corporation — that is, to the use of the streets — he must seek redress through the corporate authorities or, upon their refusal to act, by an action in behalf of himself and all other members or citizens. Merrimon v. Construction Co., 142 N. C., 539. If the street is obstructed he may sue for any special damage sustained by himself different in character from other citizens, as in Downs v. High Point, 115 N. C., 182; Manufacturing Co. v. Railroad, 117 N. C., 579. Plaintiff in this appeal sues for an alleged injury by which he claims to have sustained special damages, different in character from such as are sustained by other citizens. That he may maintain the action, unless barred by the statute of limitations, is clear. 27 Am. and Eng. Enc., 183, in which it is said: “If he has suffered special injury from the use of the street by the railroad his remedy is by an action for damages.” Lewis Em. Dom. (2d Ed.), 240. Mr. Abbott, in the last edition of his work on municipal corporations (Yol. Ill, sec. 843), referring to the authorities cited in the first edition, says: “Since, then it has become very firmly established that the abutter, though he has not the fee in the street, has certain private rights of access, light and air, which are as much property as the lot itself; and, also, that any interference with such rights by a use which is not within the legitimate -purpose of a highway is a taking within the Constitution.” White v. Railroad, supra. Without multiplying authorities, we may with safety say that with us and the majority of other courts the principle is established that, without regard to the ownership of the fee in the soil, an abutting owner may maintain an action for any unlawful inter ference with or invasion of bis rights incident to bis ownership. We think it equally well settled that the municipal authorities have no right or power, certainly as against abutting owners, to grant to a railroad company an easement to lay its track upon and operate its trains over the streets of the town. It is immaterial whether the title of the street is in the municipality or the abutting owner. If in the former it is a breach of the trust reposed in the authorities, and if in the latter it is an additional burden. In either case damages or compensation will be awarded appropriate to the injury sustained. The law as held by us and sustained by the weight of authority is thus stated by Shepherd, C. J., in White v. Railroad, supra: “The principle, then, being established that the use of a street for steam railroads is not a legitimate use of the street for public purposes, it must, of course, follow that the city has no right in the exercise of its usual and ordinary powers relating to its highways to authorize the entry and occupation of the same by the defendant, and that the bare license of the city can afford no justification for the infringement of the rights of the plaintiff.” Mr. Lewis (Em. Dom., sec. Ill) says: “To us it seems so clear that a railroad is foreign to the legitimate use of a highway that we have never been able to understand how a court could reach a contrary conclusion.” After an exhaustive discussion of the decisions of various courts, he concludes: “It can now be safely said that the weight of authority is in support of the text.” We do not deem it necessary or pertinent to the decision of this appeal to consider or discuss the .effect of the action of the municipal authorities in granting an easement to the defendant, or to those to whose rights it has succeeded, in the streets upon the right of the plaintiff as a citizen of the town. lie is not suing for an invasion of such rights or for the occupation of any portion of the street or its use in the operation of its trains, lie sues for special damages to his property abutting upon the street. Conceding that the origi nal entry upon tbe streets, the construction of the road and the operation of the trains was with the consent of the municipal authorities, and that to the extent of the authority to do so they granted the easement over the street, we do not perceive how this can affect the plaintiff’s rights in this action. The authorities are uniform to the effect that neither the municipal authorities nor the Legislature can confer an easement or right to use the street as against the property of the citizen without providing for compensation. The question was considered by us in Brown v. Electric Co., supra, and the authorities examined. We are content to abide by what was said in that case.

The defendant says that, conceding a cause of action accrued to plaintiff or to those from whom he purchased the property for the interference with their rights as abutting owners, he is barred by the lapse of time and the statute of limitations. It is clear that the Williamston and Tarboro Railroad Company or its successors could under the grant of the right of eminent domain have condemned a right of way over Albemarle Avenue, and by paying compensation or permanent damages to the abutting owners have acquired the right to construct and operate its road pursuant to the rights, privileges and franchises conferred in the charter. The owners of the property would not have been entitled to' an injunction to restrain such condemnation or use. Whatever may have been the rights of the owner of the property in 1870, when the road was constructed along Albemarle Avenue, it is clear that the plaintiff, having purchased the property after the road was constructed and while it was being operated, will not be allowed to enjoin its use in a proper manner. The spur track was constructed in 1889 and has been in use seventeen years. The map and the statutes put in evidence show that the defendant’s road between Tarboro and Plymouth constitutes part of a system of railroads; that to enjoin the use o’f the track over Albemarle Avenue would destroy property of immense value and seriously interfere with and, until a new connection be made involving the construction of a new iron bridge over Tar River, render it impossible for the defendant to perform its duties to the priblic. That the public would in many ways be seriously injured is manifest. Courts never enjoin the construction or use of public utilities and improvements at the suit of private individuals unless the damage is both serious in amount and irreparable in character. Navigation Co. v. Emery, 108 N. C., 133. It is a sufficient answer to the demand for an injunction that plaintiff has by his inaction for so long a period permitted an expenditure of large sums, not only in the construction of the road, but in connections, bridges and otherwise, both by the defendant and others, rendering it inequitable to destroy the value of the property and impose the immense inconvenience which would result from restraining the use thereof. In regard to the spur track, while the reasons are not so conclusive, we can see from the map and the evidence that to prevent its use in a proper way — that is, as a ¡sassage to and from the electric light plant and waterworks of the town — would seriously affect public interests. If plaintiff regarded the injury to his property by the construction of the spur track serious and irreparable he should have objected to it before or at the time it was constructed. He may not wait seventeen years and then invoke the equitable power of the court. The plaintiff says that while he may not have injunctive relief he is entitled to his action for damages sustained by reason of the invasion of his rights of access, air, light, shade trees, quiet and rest of his family and himself. That the construction of the road along Albemarle Avenue and of the spur tracks and the running of the trains have seriously injured him in these respects. To this demand defendant pleads the statute of limitations. The plaintiff insists that, as by the provisions of section 389 of Revisal no right can be acquired to an exclusive use of the streets by lapse of time against the municipality, tbis defense is not open to defendant. It is undoubtedly true, as said by Mr. Justice Avery in Moose v. Carson, supra, “No one can acquire as a general rule by adverse occupation as against the public tbe right to at street or Square dedicated to the public use.” In that case the plaintiffs claimed title to the soil dedicated as a street. It was held that they could not recover. The defendants were claiming as abutting owners by virtue of the dedication. The learned Justice says: “The plaintiffs have shown no such title as would warrant the Court in granting a writ of possession. If the fee were vested in the town, which is not conceded, there would still be wanting-in the plaintiffs, its grantee, the right to prevent possession and occupancy of a street dedicated to the public.” Conrad v. Land Co., 126 N. C., 776; Clark v. Hughes, 134 N. C., 457. In State v. Railroad, 141 N. C., 736, the city of New Bern was enforcing an ordinance by indictment for obstructing the street. The Court held that by granting the license to defendant to construct its track on the street the city did not surrender its power or right to control its use. What effect the action of the municipal authority in passing the several ordinances may have upon its right to maintain actions, or plaintiff’s right to sue for injuries sustained by him as a citizen of the town, are not presented, and we express no opinion in regard to them. The plaintiff here sues, not by virtue of any rights claimed under or in privity with the town, but he asserts that, without regard to the action of the town authorities, the defendant by constructing and operating its road has committed a trespass upon his property rights. We hold that the ordinances relied upon by defendant to justify its conduct do' not affect the plaintiff’s rights, and that, notwithstanding such ordinances, whether treated as licenses or grants of easements, he may maintain his action. Having thus successfully asserted his right against both the municipal authorities and the defendant justifying under them, he may not claim immunity from the operation of a statute of limita tions by reason of a statute conferring such immunity upon the town. It is not necessary for ns to discuss the interesting question raised by plaintiff’s counsel, whether by the construction and operation of the road over Albemarle Avenue for more than twenty years the defendant has acquired as against plaintiff an easement or right to do so. The origin and extent of the use as the basis for a presumption of a grant presents interesting questions not free from difficulty. They are indicated in the opinion of Mr. Justice Avery in Emery v. Railroad, 102 N. C., 209 (232). It was in consequence of this difficulty and to prevent railroad companies owing duties to the public from being subjected to successive actions for trespasses of the character charged in this action that the Court found it necessary to treat the cause of action as accruing on the date of the first substantial injury and to require that permanent damages be assessed. Repeated actions for diverting water over lands not condemned for rights of way by the construction and repairs of the road were frequently brought, and it was found impracticable for the companies to protect themselves and keep their roads in safe and proper condition to meet the demands imposed upon them for the public. The question was thoroughly discussed and the authorities cited and reviewed by Mr. Justice Avery in Ridley v. Railroad, 118 N. C., 996. The attention of the Legislature having been directed to the subject, an act was passed at the session of 1895 and with the amendment thereto constitutes section 394, Revisal. Subsection 2 provides: “No suit, action or proceeding shall be brought or maintained against any railroad company by any person for damages caused by the construction of said road or the repairs thereto, unless such suit, action or proceeding shall be commenced within five years after the cause of action accrues,” etc. In Ridley's case, supra, it is held that the cause of action accrues, not necessarily at the time the road is constructed, but “when the first injury was sustained.” In Beach v. Railroad, 120 N. C., 498, tbe question was carefully considered, and, although the Court was divided upon certain aspects of the case, there was no difference of opinion in regard to the following language used by the present Chief Justice in a dissenting opinion: “Since the act of 1895 (chapter 224) all damages accruing from the construction of a railroad must be sued for within five years and the entire amount recovered in one action.” In Lassiter v. Railroad, 126 N. C., 501, Douglas, J., says: “Railroads are quasi public corporations charged with important public duties, which in their very nature necessarily invoke the power of eminent domain, and therefore the courts with practical unanimity have created a species of legal condemnation by the allowance of so-called 'permanent damages.’ * * * The provision in the act of 1895 incidentally providing for a statutory easement, rather by implication than direct terms, seems t0' us to be in effect little more than a legislative affirmation of the rule already enunciated in other jurisdictions and adopted in Ridley's case, which was decided a .year after the act was passed.” In Stack v. Railroad, 139 N. C., 366, it was held that the cause of action was barred after five years from the time that any “substantial injury was clone.” It is true that in these decisions the damage sued for was ponding water. AA7e can see no reason why the same construction should not be given the statute in all cases where damage is claimed for injuries in the nature of a nuisance or invasion of rights of property incidental to the construction of the road. Certainly the same reasons exist. It would be not only productive of great-injustice, but it would seriously impair the ability of railroads to discharge their duties to the public, if, whenever they found it necessary to increase the number of daily trains or the size of their engines or change the kind of fuel used, they should be subjected to actions based upon the suggestion that they had increased the extent of the original user. As we held in Thomason's case, 142 N. C., 318, when the right to construct a railroad is acquired by any means known to the law tbe right to operate the road attaches, and this right is not confined to the needs or necessities at the time of the acquisition, blit “to such further demands as may arise from the increase of its business and the proper discharge of its duty to the public.” Railroad v. Oliver, 142 N. C., 257; Beasley v. Railroad, 145 N. C., 272.

If the plaintiff had sued when he sustained the injury he would have recovered permanent damages in the same manner as if the right to construct the road was condemned. Lewis Em. Dom., sec. 653. We concur with his Honor that the plaintiff is barred of his action for damages by reason of the construction and operation of the road, both as to the main track and the spur track constructed in 1889. We do not perceive that any damage is shown by the spur track of 1902. If there be any it will be open to1 plaintiff to show on another trial.

AVe are thus brought to consider the exception to his Honor’s ruling upon the issue directed to the alleged nuisance in the manner of using and operating the trains and cars on the track. Assuming that as against the plaintiff the defendant has the right to use the tracks in the manner and to the same extent as if acquired by condemnation or by the payment of permanent damages, does the evidence, which must be regarded for this purpose as true and open to inferences therefrom most favorable to plaintiff, show a nuisance of the right or quasi easement % AATas defendant doing a lawful thing in a lawful way ? AVe had occasion to consider the rights and -liabilities of railroad companies in using their-tracks near to dwelling-houses in Thomason v. Railroad, 142 N. C., 300-318. The principle which we deduced from our own and the decisions of other courts is thus stated: “The powers conferred upon a railroad company by its charter must be exercised in a lawful way — that is, in respect to those who suffer damage, with due regard to their rights. AVhen exercised in an unreason able or negligent way, so as to^ injure others in the enjoyment of their property, the injury is actionable.” In that case, in the plaintiffs appeal, the tracks and side tracks were altogether on the right of way acquired by defendant. The only question involved upon the complaint and demurrer was whether there was an unlawful user. In' the defendant’s appeal the jury found upon suffidient allegation that there was a negligent use of a spur track by the company amounting to an actionable nuisance. We gave the question careful consideration and cited in the opinion the best-considered authorities. In the light of those decisions and the later one of Taylor v. Railroad, 145 N. C., 400, we do not find any evidence of a nuisance in the use and operation of defendant’s trains over Albemarle Avenue. That is a portion of the main track. The greater increase of trains, more cars and heavier engines, making more noise and smoke, are incident to the use of the road and should have been anticipated by plaintiff when he purchased the property and for more than thirty years acquiesced in its use. The case in this respect comes clearly within the principle announced in Thomason's case in plaintiff’s appeal. In regard to the uses to which the spur track has been put, as described in plaintiff’s testimony, we find more difficulty. It is not found why the spur track was constructed, nor are the ordinances under which they were placed as they are set out. The answer alleges that they were constructed for the purpose of permitting heavy goods and freight to be delivered to merchants and, at the request of the town, for the purpose of reaching its electric light plant. It is not very material what the purpose was, so far as the plaintiff is concerned. It would seem that if the town authorities intended to permit the use of the common and the streets for a depot or discharging point it should clearly appear, so that abutting owners and citizens interested should have opportunity to be heard in opposition thereto. The placing of a spur track from the main line to an electric light plant, in wbicb all the people of tbe town are interested and which would involve but limited use, is quite a different matter from placing it on the common preserved with so much wise foresight by the original donor more than a century ago for the uses and purposes testified by plaintiff. In addition to the authorities cited in Thomason's case, supra, the industry of counsel, with additional investigation on our part, has discovered some other decided cases in line with what we there said and more directly applicable to the facts in this appeal. In Pennsylvania Railroad v. Angel, 41 N. J. Eq., 316, the plaintiff sought to enjoin defendant company from so using its track laid along Bridge Avenue in the city of Camden as to create a private nuisance. It appeared that the track was laid by authority conferred by the Legislature and the common council of the city. It was shown that the company used the track in front of complainant’s dwelling for the purpose of distributing cars, making up freight trains and keeping' locomotives and cars laden with live stock standing thereon, etc. Dixon, J., said: “The fact that these nuisances are continuous and materially diminish the comfort of complainants in their residence makes the case a proper one for an equitá-ble remedy by injunction, unless defendant can justify its conduct.” To the first suggestion, that it was authorized to so use its track, the Court, after noting the language of the acts and ordinances, said: “In our judgment they indicate that those rights are such as pertain to the use of the avenue for the purposes of a way, not for the purposes of a station yard. The primary privilege given is that of passage; this and its reasonable incidents cover the whole scope of the grant. The right of storing engines and cars, either for a longer or shorter period, the right of making up or breaking up trains are not embodied in such a concession. These are strictly station and terminal purposes, and by providing for station yards the Legislature has indicated its purpose that business of that nature should be transacted there. We do not say that the company may not under any circumstances do upon its roadway what ought commonly to be done in its yards, for no doubt unforeseen occurrences may sometimes render such acts almost indispensable, and then other less urgent rights of the public at large must give way. * * * Having a right of passage there, it used its tracks as though they were within its terminal yards, and so used them constantly in everyday concerns.” The Judge further said that if such right was conferred by the Legislature and common council it was invalid as against plaintiff’s rights. The injunction to the extent of the nuisance was granted. In Frankle v. Jackson, 30 Fed. Rep., 399, Brewer, J., said: “Although a railroad may not be liable in damages for the occupation of a street and the running of its trains thereon in a customary, reasonable and proper manner, * * * it may still be liable to damages for any unreasonable, improper, illegal and wrongful use of its tracks. The right to use a street for the running of trains gives no right to establish a repair shop thereon.” In Railroad v. Church, 102 Fed. Rep., 85, it was held that a grant to a railroad company to operate and maintain a railroad on a public street does not carry by implication the right to erect and maintain a water tank in the street. The general and we may say universally accepted doctrine, as announced in the cases cited, is illustrated and discussed. Louisville and Nashville Railroad v. Lillyett, 1 L. R. A. (N. S.), 49. In Mahody v. Railway Company, 91 N. Y., 148, Andrews, C. J., conceding the right of the city authorities to grant a surface railway company the use of its streets, says: “It cannot, however, be questioned that a street cannot be converted into a yard for the storing or deposit of cars to the injury of adjoining owners. An unreasonable use of the street by a street railway may doubtless afford a right of action to property owners specially injured thereby.” Thompson v. Railroad, 51 N. J. L., 42. In Railroad v. Patterson, 61 Ill. App., 351, the plaintiff in error was permitted to recover for improper use of a switch in front of bis bouse. Without repeating the evidence, we think it sufficient to entitle the plaintiff to have the issue as to the manner in which defendant was using the spur track submitted to the jury under pi’oper instructions. While it is difficult to draw the line with precision in each case between the lawful use of the track and its unlawful use, constituting an actionable nuisance, we think that in several respects the evidence would-warrant a jury in finding that the defendant has used the spur track for other , than legitimate purposes. There can be no question upon the evidence that the rights of the plaintiff and his family are seriously interfered with by such use as is made of the spur track. The nuisance alleged is not permanent; It does not arise from the construction, but the use of the spur trad?;. The measure of damages would therefore be confined to such as were sustained within three years prior to the institution of the action. As the question is not before us, we forbear discussing it further than to quote from Joyce on the Law of Nuisances, sec. 260: “In case of a nuisance caused by the operation of a railroad in an unlawful manner the damage should only be for the injury'caused by such unlawful operation of the road, and should not include an allowance for any injury caused by the lawful operation, the latter injury being declared to be damnum obsque injuriaIf the defendant violated the town ordinance in regard to the speed of its train the plaintiff has his remedy by applying to the municipal authorities or to a justice of the peace for a warrant for a misdemeanor. If the use of the spur track in violation of the rights of the plaintiff be continued he is entitled to injunctive relief. The judgment of his Honor on the first and second cause of action is affirmed. The judgment of nonsuit on the cause of action for damages for alleged unlawful use of the spur track as a nuisance is set aside and a new trial awarded. The issue and evidence will be confined to the allegation that defendant has within three years prior to the commencement of this action so used the spur track and the street in violation of its duty as to constitute a nuisance, by which plaintiff has sustained special damage as an owner of the dwelling and premises abutting on the street. It is so ordered.

Partial New Trial.