Rio Grande & E. P. Ry. Co. v. Campbell

ELY, C. J. This is a suit instituted by appellees against appellant for the recovery of $942.70 in damages, sustained by them through delay in the shipment of a carload of onions delivered to appellant at Laredo, Tex., for transportation to St. Louis, Mo. The cause was heard without a jury, and judgment rendered in favor of appellees for $942.70, the full amount for which the action was brought. The facts showed that the car of onions in question was delivered to appellant and left Laredo at the same time with three other carloads of onions belonging to appellees. The other carloads arrived in St. Louis in good time and in good condition. ' The other carload arrived after much delay and in a damaged condition. The carload was damaged by such delay in transportation in the sum of $942.70. The delay resulted from the negligence of appellant’s connecting carriers. The onions were in good condition when delivered to appellant in Laredo. They should have reached St. Louis in 4 days, but did not reach there until after more than 8 days had elapsed. The delay causing the damages took place between Waco, Tex., and Little Rock, Ark., at the latter place, and between Little Rock and St. Louis. The onions were damaged when they reached Little Rock. The damage was caused by delay. The onions were held by the railway company for 24 hours before they were placed for unloading. There was a delay of over 24 hours at -Waco, four hours at Tyler, two hours at Texarkana, 7 hours at Pine Bluff, and 6 hours at Stuttgart. The ear should have arrived at Little Rock in the morning of April 21; it got there about noon of April 23, and left Little Rock on the morning of April 26. The car reached St. Louis on the morning of April 29th — over 9 days to make a trip that should have consumed not more chan 4 days. The shipment was originally intended for St. Louis, but was diverted at Stuttgart, Ark., to Little Rock. When, after a long delay, the onions were delivered at Little Rock in a damáged condition, the consignees would not receive them, and appellees ordered the car sent to St. Louis. The evidence showed that the diversion to Little Rock did not cause the delay or damage to the onions. But the delays, both before and at Little Rock, and after leaving Little Rock, caused the damage. Appellant admits a delay of 26% hours to Stuttgart and a delay of 19%. hours between Stuttgart and St. Louis, and that there was a delay of 135 hours from Waco to St Louis, but claims that 89 hours of the delay was caused by the diversion. The evidence does not sustain the claim. Most of the delay occurred on the “Cotton Belt” line. The initial carrier was liable for the negligence of the Connecting carriers in the transportation of the carload of onions. This was an interstate shipment, and Congress has provided that the initial carrier shall be liable for all damages arising to goods being transported, whether the damages occur through the negligence of the initial carrier or any connecting carrier. Act June 29, 1906, c. 3591, § 7, Supp. 1907, p. 909; Barnes’ Fed. Code, p. 1920, § 7976 (U.- S. Comp. St. §§ 8604a, *540 8604aa); Missouri, K. & T. R. Co. v.- Stark Grain Co., 103 Tes. 542, 131 S. W. 410. The authority of appellees to divert the shipment to another point of destination en route entered into and became a part of the original ■ contract of shipment, and, unless such diversion alone, unmixed with the negligence of the carrier, caused the damages, appellant is liable. The judgment is affirmed.