State ex rel. Union Lumber Co. v. Superior Court

Mourns, J. Relator operates a logging railway in connection with its mill, which crosses the right of way located by the respondent railway company, upon which it proposes to construct its new four-track line of road, known as the “water line,” and to that end proposes to condemn relator’s right of way at the point of intersection. The respondent, after setting forth in its petition the description of the land it seeks to appropriate, the grades of the two lines of railway, the configuration of the ground at and near the intersecting point, and the situation as to grade, overhead and underhead crossings with relation to operative conditions and matters of public safety, recites: “That there exists a reasonable necessity for the condemnation of the right to cross said lands at grade, and that the tracks and logging road of respondent be elevated upon a trestle and fill over the tracks of petitioner’s proposed line. Petitioner proposes to elevate said tracks, at its own expense and under a plan whereby the grades on said overhead crossing will be identical with the grades now existing in said logging road, and without any damage or inconvenience to respondent whatever; that it is entirely practicable so to elevate said logging railroad over petitioner’s proposed line of road, and the same can be done without interfering with the continuous operation of the said line, and when done said logging railroad will be in every respeet as safe and convenient to operate as at the present time and no injury whatever will thereby result to respondent. . . . and said public interests and necessities imperatively require the construction of petitioner’s line at grade and the elevation of respondent’s said railroad as proposed.” In due time the matter was brought on for hearing, for the purpose of obtaining a decree of public use and appropriation, and the court, after hearing evidence upon the matters set [542] forth in the petition, granted such decree, containing, among other things, this provision: “It is further ordered and decreed that petitioner’s said appropriation of said land is upon condition and subject to the obligation by petitioner to construct and maintain at its own cost and expense, so long as the same shall be used by respondent, an overhead crossing on a fill and trestle for the use by respondent in the operation of its certain logging railroad mentioned in said petition, and the appropriation by petitioner of said premises and of respondent’s interests therein is subject to the right of respondent to operate its said logging railroad as long as it shall see fit to do so, over and across said premises on said fill trestle to be constructed and maintained by petitioner for respondent’s use as aforesaid in the operation of its logging railroad.” Relator took exceptions to the entry of this decree and to the evidence upon which the quoted provision is based, and now presents its exceptions under a writ of certiorari, asking that they be sustained and the decree vacated. The main suggestion of error is lack of power in the court to provide for- an overhead crossing, and the fact that, while relator’s right of way is only fifty feet wide, to provide for the proposed fill will require a base of seventy feet, necessitating the acquirement by petitioner of an additional ten feet on each side of relator’s right of way, which is not sought in this proceeding, and which if acquired by petitioner, must be by purchase, or in some new and independent proceedings. Objection is also made to the fact that the decree is not accompanied by plat, design, or specifications showing the exact character of this proposed fill. The first objection is the most serious one. We have concluded, however, to overrule it. Petitioner has the undoubted right to condemn a crossing of relator’s road under Rem. & Bal. Code, § 8736. The right to condemn this crossing carries with it the right to condemn a particular crossing* and have it determined that such particular crossing is a public use, and that necessary lands may be appropriated therefor. [543] The law is well settled in this state that, where the right of eminent domain is given, that right may be exercised in a stipulated manner, and that the court may in its decree provide for a limited use, or a particular use, which shall recognize the rights of both parties in the use of the land appropriated; and that the jury, in determining the compensation to be paid, shall do so with reference to the .particular use to which the lands are to be put and the particular method sought to be adopted in the taking and use of the lands sought to be appropriated. These and like rules have been laid down in, Seattle & M. R. Co. v. Roeder, 30 Wash. 244, 70 Pac. 498, 94 Am. St. 864; State ex rel. Kent Lumber Co. v. Superior Court, 46 Wash. 516, 90 Pac. 663; Spokane Valley Land & Water Co. v. Jones & Co., 53 Wash. 37, 101 Pac. 515; Olympia Light & Power Co. v. Harris, 58 Wash. 410, 108 Pac. 940. If then, a particular use or right may be condemned, we can see no objection to the decree of appropriation definitely determining and adjudicating the particular use to which the lands are to be put and the particular manner in which the right sought is to be exercised. This has ordinarily been done by stipulation, or some appropriate method employed at the time of the trial to ascertain the damages. If it is proper to then determine it and to have the court limit the inquiry to some special use, then it is proper for the court in the first instance to determine whether the use sought is a public use, and, as such, may be condemned and to limit the ascertainment of damages to the right condemned and the manner in which it is is sought to be exercised. That no specifications accompany the decree is no objection. The decree determines only the legal right; it does not attempt to indicate the facts to be determined before that right can be exercised. That inquiry and ascertainment may be left to the trial, and the jury can there determine the damages to be paid under a particular and designated use, to be shown by plats, designs, or other appropriate specifications, [544] which become part of the record, and may be appropriately referred to in the final decree or judgment. That other lands not involved in this proceeding are necessary to respondent for use in its proposed fill is immaterial to relator, since it rests with respondent to acquire these lands in order to carry out its scheme. If it fails to do so, relator will not suffer, as it will then retain the full use of its lands as before. If respondent is successful in acquiring these necessary lands, relator has been awarded damages under the theory that they would be so acquired and used, and it has no complaint. These considerations lead us to sustain the rulings complained of, and the decree is sustained. Mount, C. J., Crow, and Chadwick, JJ., concur.