Treat v. Detroit United Railway

122 N.W. 93, 157 Mich. 320, 1909 Mich. LEXIS 1002
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 6, 1909
DocketDocket No. 117
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 122 N.W. 93 (Treat v. Detroit United Railway) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Treat v. Detroit United Railway, 122 N.W. 93, 157 Mich. 320, 1909 Mich. LEXIS 1002 (Mich. 1909).

Opinion

Brooke, J.

Plaintiff, on May 24, 1900, and for some years prior thereto, was the owner of certain lands situated on section 35 of the township of Oxford. On that day he entered into the following agreement with the Detroit, Rochester, Romeo & Lake Orion Railway:

“This contract, made this twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred, between Joseph A. Treat, of Stuart, State of Iowa, party of the first part, and the Detroit, Rochester, Remeo & Lake Orion Railway, a corporation, existing under the laws of the State of Michigan, party of the second part, witnesseth, that said party of the first part, in consideration of the sum of one dollar to him duly paid, hereby agrees to sell unto the said party of the second part, all that certain piece or parcel of land lying and being situate in the • township of Oxford, county of Oakland, and State <?£ [321]*321Michigan, and more particularly known and described as follows:
‘ ‘ Part of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section thirty-five (35), commencing at a point on the south boundary line of said township sixteen and one-half feet west from where the fence on the west side of Lapeer road now is, and running thence northerly to a point two feet east from the southeast black walnut tree now standing on said forty; thence northerly keeping two feet east along the black walnut row of trees now standing nearest said road to the north line of said forty; thence east along said north line to the road fence aforesaid ; thence southerly along said road fence to the said south township line; thence westerly along said line to the place of be°ginning, reserving to said first party the crossings hereinafter mentioned, for the sum of one dollar, which the said party of the second part hereby agrees to pay the party of the first part, as follows, at this date. Said second party shall build and maintain a good and sufficient woven wire fence fifty-four inches high, with cedar posts set not to exceed one rod apart, along the above-described west line, with three suitable gates and gateways therein, one large one in front of the south tenant house where the road or lane now is, one small gate in front of the north tenant house, and one field gate further south, and for entrance to the field. It shall also make and maintain suitable crossings from said highway across said second party’s tracks, of plank or coarse gravel to and through said gateways to be filled in if necessary so as to make a good drive and passage way and of easy grade with a load; they, second party, shall construct sewers or bridges so as not to impede the flow of water * wherever any and all ditches or watercourses now are or which may be crossed by second party’s roadbed.
“ Said party of the second part hereby agrees to do and perform the same. And to build and operate a line of railway across said lands propelled by electricity or other motive power than steam. ■
“And the said party of the first part, on receiving such payment, and the fulfilling of all other conditions mentioned at the time and in the manner mentioned, shall at his own proper cost and expense, execute and deliver to the said party of the second part, or to its assigns, a good and sufficient conveyance in fee simple, of said lands, free and clear of and from all liens and encumbrances, except [322]*322such as may have accrued thereon subsequent to the date hereof by or through the acts or negligence of said party of the second part, or its assigns, said railway to be built and in operation within six months from the date hereof.
“It is mutually agreed between said parties that the said party of the second part shall have possession of said premises on the delivery of- these presents and shall keep the same until the said terms shall be paid and fulfilled as aforesaid; and if said party of the second part shall fail to perform this contract, or any part of the same, said party of the first part shall, immediately after such failure, have a right to declare the same void and retain whatever may have been paid on such contract, and may consider and treat the party of the second part as his tenant holding over without permission, and may take immediate possession of the premises, and remove the party of the second part therefrom and said lands shall revert to said first party.
“ And it is agreed that the stipulations aforesaid are to apply to and bind the heirs, executors, administrators and assigns of the respective parties hereto.”

The real estate mentioned in the foregoing contract lies on the westerly side of the highway. The grantee entered into possession of the land described, constructed its railway, and began operation within the time mentioned in the contract. It also constructed a fence along the westerly side of the lands occupied by it; crossings leading to the north and south tenant houses and a ditch.

In August, 1901, plaintiff caused to be served upon the grantee a notice as follows:

“ To the Detroit United Railway:
“Take notice. You are hereby notified that the contract dated May 24, A. D. 1900, for a right of way, made between the Detroit, Rochester, Romeo & Lake Orion Railway and myself, for the following described lands, viz.: Part of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section thirty-five, township of Oxford, Oakland county, and State of Michigan, commencing at a point on the south boundary line of said township sixteen and one-half feet west from where the fence on the west side of the Lapeer road now is, and running thence northerly to a point two feet east from the southeast black walnut tree [323]*323now standing on said forty; thence northerly keeping two feet east along the black walnut row of trees standing nearest said road to the north line of said forty; thence along said north line of said forty to the road fence aforesaid; thence southerly along said road fence to said south township line; thence west along said line to the place of beginning, has not been performed or fulfilled by and on the part of said Detroit, Rochester, Romeo & Lake Orion Railway. Therefore, I hereby declare said contract void. And I hereby demand possession of the lands above described, and that you yield and surrender up quiet and peaceable possession of said lands pursuant to the provisions of the statutes in such case made and provided.
“.Dated this fifth day of August, A. D. 1901, at Orion, Michigan.
[Signed] “Jos. A. Treat.”

In August, 1906, a second notice was served upon the defendant herein, which had in the meantime become the owner of the property of the Detroit, Rochester, Romeo & Lake Orion Railway. The second notice was as follows:

“Whereas, on or about the 24th day of May, 1900, a certain land contract, of which the annexed is substantially a true copy, was executed and delivered by the undersigned, Joseph A. Treat, by Wm. E. Littell, his agent in fact, and by Detroit, Rochester,* Romeo & Lake Orion Railway, a corporation, by Harry M.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
122 N.W. 93, 157 Mich. 320, 1909 Mich. LEXIS 1002, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/treat-v-detroit-united-railway-mich-1909.