Black v. Aberdeen & West End Railroad

The control which railroad companies have over the land covered by their rights of way is given to them that they may properly perform theirquasi-public duties. They have the authority to keep the land thus subjected to their use in such condition that their use of it will not endanger the property of others. Having this authority, they must exercise it, or else pay for such damage as comes to one who, himself being free from fault, suffers injury from a neglect to keep it in the required condition. We think the charge of his Honor very properly presented the matter to the jury. The concluding sentence of this charge, as set out in the record, was itself a sufficient statement of the law applicable to the facts of this case. There was a motion made before us to dismiss the action because the complaint did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. The allegation of the complaint is that the defendant "negligently permitted fire to be communicated from their engines or property to the lands adjoining their railroad and right of way, by which said fire, the spread and extension thereof, plaintiff's said turpentine was burned and *Page 466 destroyed." This was a sufficient allegation of negligence on the part of defendant, resulting in damage to the plaintiff, and it was supported on the trial by evidence sufficient, if believed by the jury, to establish those facts upon which the liability of the defendant to the plaintiff depended, which are succinctly stated in the closing portion of the charge. No error.