Birmingham Mineral R. R. v. City of Bessemer

COLEMAN, J. The Birmingham Mineral Eailroad Co. filed tbe present bill to enjoin tbe City of Bessemer from opening up Eighth Avenue across its right-of-way, without first making compensation, or resorting to condemnation proceedings under tbe statute. A temporary injunction issued in accordance witb tbe prayer of the bill. Tbe respondent demurred to tbe bill and also filed an answer. Tbe cause was submitted upon tbe demurrer to tbe bill, and upon motion to dissolve tbe injunction. Tbe motion to dissolve tbe injunction is based upon two grounds: 1st, tbe denials of tbe answer, 2d, for want of equity in tbe bill. Tbe court overruled tbe demurrer to tbe bill, but dissolved tbe injunction upon tbe denials of tbe answer. Tbe court was in error in basing tbe decree dissolving tbe injunction upon tbe denials of the answer. Where the facts averred, upon which tbe injunction is claimed, tbe burden of proving which are upon the plaintiff, are explicitly denied in tbe answer, generally tbe injunction should be dissolved, but where tbe answer sets up matter in avoidance, or an independent defense, tbe proof of which rests upon the respondent, tbe rule is otherwise.—Rembert v. Brown, 17 Ala. 667; Jackson v. Jackson, 91 Ala. 292; Bolling v. Roman, 95 Ala. 518; Morris Canal Co. v. Jersey City, 12 N. J. Eq. 227; 10 Amer. & Eng. Encyc. 1018; Columbus & Western R’wy Co. v. Witherow, 82 Ala. 190. We find in some instances, where an averment of fact, made by tbe bill is denied in tbe answer, tbe denial is immediately followed by matters in avoidance, or matter in tbe nature of a defense, not responsive to tbe allegation of fact. We can not consider tbe merit of tbe defense, presented by [277] averments of tbis character made in tbe answer, upon a motion to dissolve tbe injunction. Tbe question of vital importance is that presented upon tbe motion to dissolve tbe injunction for want of equity in tbe bill. If there is no equity in tbe bill, tben tbe injunction was properly dissolved and tbe conclusion of tbe court must be sustained, although tbe reason assigned was not tbe proper one. In determining this question, tbe whole bill must be considered together, and if there be averments in tbe bill, which, if standing alone, might give it equity, if there are other averments which contradict or qualify these facts, and which, if true, show that the bill is without equity, the bill can not stand. Pleadings must be construed most strongly against the pleader. The material facts presented in the amended bill are, substantially, the following : About the first of April, 1887, the complainant under a parol contract of purchase of the right-of-way from the Bessemer Land and Improvement Company, the consideration of which was an agreement to construct its railroad line over and along the right-of-way, entered into possession, and began the construction of the road, according to the agreement, and has been in possession of the same ever since, that the Improvement Company owned the fee, and promised on its part to make a conveyance of the right-of-way. It may be, that the facts here stated, if true, would remove the parol agreement from under the influence of the statute of frauds, and be effective to vest in the purchaser the right to compel a conveyance of the right-of-way.—E. T., V. & Ga. R. R. Co. v. Davis, 91 Ala. 615. In this agreement, as stated in the bill, the width of the right-of-way is not defined, but, the agreement might not be void on this account.—Ala. Mid. R’wy Co. v. Brown, 13 So. Rep. 70. The bill, however, does not stop with the averments as to this parol agreement, but sets up the deed of conveyance made by the Improvement Company to show title in itself. This deed is made Exhibit “A” to the bill, and bears date June 15th, 1887, and is made the evidence of plaintiff’s right and title to the right-of-way. Whatever may have been the parol agreement, the deed seems to have been accepted as a complete- execution of, and compliance with the parol promise of the Improvement Company, and furnishes the terms of the conveyance, the width of the right-of-way, the limitations, if any, conditions and interest conveyed. It conveys the right-of-way “over the following lands in the city of Bessemer as now surveyed, laid off and drawn, to-wit,” &c. The grantor covenants that the premises are free from incumbrance, that it is [278] seized in fee, and warrants tlie title. This deed makes no reference to any prior, or other agreement, or contract or sale, of the right-of-way. It will be noticed that the description of the rigbt-of-way in the deed of conveyance, refers to the city of Bessemer, “as now surveyed, laid off and drawn.” The terms and provisions of this deed were sufficient to convey to the grantee whatever of interest then owned by the Improvement Company. In the third paragraph of the bill it is averred “that on the 11th day of April, 1887, the Bessemer Land & Improvement Company filed for record in the office of the judge of probate, a map of- its lands included in the present corporate limits of the city of Bessemer, showing its streets, alleys and avenues, which map is made Exhibit “B” to the bill.” It is averred that prior to tike.“granting” of the right of way, “no lots, as shown on said map, were sold or conveyed to any person whatever.” The bill then undertakes by averment, to assert complainant’s understanding of what is shown by the map. The word “granting,” which we have italicised’, evidently refers to the deed of conveyance. Considering exhibits “A” and “B” to the bilí, in connection with its averments, we are led irresistibly to the conclusion that the complainant acquired no other rights or interest by its purchase of the right of way than that owned by the Improvement Company at the date of the deed of conveyance, to-wit, June 15, 1887. It has been decided, that “the mere laying out of the lots, and making a map, shoAving streets, do not, of themselves, deprive the owner of the right to use the property as his own. There must be an acceptance of the dedication, of which the sale' and purchase of lots is sufficient proof. The sales and conveyances of lots describing the Streets as boundaries, constitute covenants with the purchasers, that the streets are dedicated to their use and the use of the public.”—Evans v. Sav. & Wes. R'y Co., 90 Ala. 58. Doubtless it was under this view of the law that the pleader averred, “there had been no sale of lots to any one” prior to the “granting.” By a general law enacted February 28, 1887, see Acts 1886-7, page 93, it is provided as follows: Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Alabama, That any person who shall wish to divide his lands into town lots, shall cause the same to be surveyed by a competent surveyor, if not already surveyed, and shall cause a plot or map of said lands to be made, showing the streets, alleys and public grounds, and giving the bearings and [279] length of each boundary of every lot and block, and bearings, length, width and name of every street contained therein, and numbering each block and each lot in each block, progressively; such plot must show the relation of the land, so plotted, to the government survey. Sec. 2. The plot or maps having been completed shall be certified by the surveyor, and acknowledged by the owner of the land, or his attorney duly authorized, in the same manner as deeds of land are required to be acknowledged. The certificate of the surveyor, and of acknowledgement, together with the plot, shall be recorded in the office of the judge of probate in the county in which the land is situated, in a book kept for that purpose, and such acknowledgment and record shall have like effect, and certified copies thereof, and of such plot, may be used in evidence to the same extent, and with like effect, as in case of deeds. Sec. 3. The acknowledgment and recording of such plot shall be held in law and in equity to be a conveyance, in fee simple, of such portion of the premises plotted, as one marked or noted on such plot as donated or granted to the public, and the premises intended for any street, alleyway, common or other public use, as shown in said plot, shall be held in that trust, for the uses and purposes intended, or set forth, in said plot.” The act then provides in what manner such plot may be vacated, and also, makes provisions for towns or cities which had been laid off, prior to its adoption. Leaving out of view the answer of the respondent, we can.but conclude, under the averments of the bill, in connection with the map itself, that it was the purpose of the Improvement Company, on the 11th of April, 1887, more than two months before the execution of the conveyance of the right of way to complainant, to comply with this act of the legislature. The filing for record of the map, and its acknowledgment in the manner prescribed by the statute, effected a conveyance in fee simple of such portion of the premises donated or granted to the public, “and the premises intended for any street, alleyway, common or other public use, as shown in said plot, was held in that trust, for the uses and purposes intended or set forth in said plot.” The bill shows that on “the 24th day of August, 1886, the city of B essemer was incorporated under the general laws of Alabama, and by such incorporation, acquired,” whatever rights and interest were granted, for streets, alleyways, &c., by the acknowledgment and recording of the map or plot of the city of Bessemer, on the 11th of April preceding. There is no question as to the va [280] cation of any grant made in tlie map, as provided in tbe statute. Tbe remaining and only question, depends upon tbe construction of tbe map itself. Does tbe map sliow a reservation in tbe Improvement Company, tbe grantor, of a fee, to tbe right of way along which tbe Mineral Bailroad Company’s line was located, and which fee passed by its deed of conveyance of June 15th, 1887, exhibit A ? or, does it not affirmatively show, that by virtue of section 3 of tbe above act, tbe fee passed, and was held in trust for tbe uses and purposes therein indicated, subject only, to a right of way, for tbe Mineral Bailroad, tbe course and location of wb'icli was indicated by tbe dotted lines, and its width by tbe straight lines, on either side of tbe dotted lines? We think it perfectly clear that tbe latter conclusion is tbe correct one, and was so intended by tbe parties, as shown by tbe qualification in tbe deed of conveyance, “over tbe following lands in tbe city of Bessemer, as now surveyed, laid off and drawn.” Tbe construction contended for by appellant would divide tbe city into three parts, north and south, separated by tbe Birmingham Mineral Bailroad line of way and tbe line of tbe Great Southern Bailroad; and into eastern and western parts separated by tbe Birmingham Mineral, Kansas City and other railroads running through tbe city, north and south. In determining tbe respective rights of the city, and tbe rights of way, granted to tbe railroads, or topubíic uses, acquired, after tbe filing of tbe map audits acknowledgment, as provided in tbe statute, supra, we bold, tbe interest which passed by virtue of tbe statute, is superior to any that could be conveyed subsequently, without regard to tbe terms and covenants of any such subsequent grant and conveyance. We do not wish to be understood as intimating, that filing and recording tbe map, and tbe acknowledgment thereto, could, in any way, affect tbe vested rights of persons. We decide tbe case as presented in tbe pleadings, construing tbe bill most strongly against tbe pleader, and we have applied this same rule in our criticism of tbe answer. As advised by the pleadings, we do not see that tbe bill can be cured by amendment, but we make no decision upon this question. As it stands before us, it is without equity, and consequently tbe decree dissolving tbe injunction must be affirmed. Affirmed.