Clute v. Briggs

Cole, J. The real question in this case is, whether the plaintiff, whose lands have been injuriously flowed, must resort for redress to the remedy given by the Mill Dam Law, or whether, under the circumstances, he may bring his common law action. It is alleged in the - complaint, that the defendants have, for more than two years last past, kept up and maintained an embankment on the eastern shore of Eourth Lake — a navigable body of water — which embankment extends about one hundred rods along the shores thereof; and have also kept up and maintained a dam at the outlet of the lake, for the'purpose of creating a water power for the. use of a certain mill and woolen factory there situated; by which embankment and dam the waters of the lake are obstructed in their natural flow, and are raised above their natural level, by means whereof the lands of the plaintiff, situated upon the western shore of the lake, are undermined, broken down, washed away and overflowed, to the extent of about fifty acres. It was admitted in the answer that the defendants kept up and maintained an embankment and dam as stated in the complaint, and that thereby the waters of the lake were raised above their natural level. On the trial, the plaintiff offered to prove that Eourth Lake was navigable in fact; but this evidence was objected to and ruled out, for the reason that it was immaterial. The plaintiff further offered to prove that the dam is not constructed across the stream connecting Eourth with Third Lake, which is the outlet of Eourth Lake, and that it does not dam that stream, but is erected upon the [610] shore of tbe Fourth Lake, and dams only the waters of the lake. This evidence was likewise excluded. It appeared, however, that the stream connecting the Third and Fourth Lake had not been meandered by the United States deputy surveyors; and the last offer made by the plaintiff fairly assumes that this stream was not navigable in fact. For where a stream is not meandered, the presumption doubtless is, in the absence of all testimony to show the contrary, that such stream is innavigable. But the dam was erected at the very threshold of the outlet, not, however, damming or obstructing the waters in this innavigable stream, but only damming the waters of the lake. And the question is, Must the plaintiff, whose lands are injured in consequence of the dam being erected at that point, resort to the' remedy given by the Mill Dam Law? We are of the opinion that he is confined to that remedy. The injury is really occasioned by erecting a dam upon and across a stream that is not navigable. The natural flow of the waters is restrained by the obstruction there. And, as a consequence, the waters of the lake are obstructed in their natural flow, and, being raised above their natural level, cause the injury complained of. Now, suppose the banks along the stream to be so high that a dam across fhe mouth thereof caused the waters to set back and so raise the lake above its natural level as to produce the same injury. Is .it not quite obvious that in the case supposed the remedy must be by action under the Mill Dam Law ? The dam would then clearly be “ upon and across a stream that is not navigable.” And the fact that such dam raised the waters in the lake, which is navigable, would not render the provisions of the Mill Dam Law inapplicable. Whether or not the waters of the lake be navigable, is a circumstance quite immaterial to the point we are considering. But the question is, Where is the dam erected, or the obstruction placed, which causes [611] the injury ? Is it across a stream not navigable ? If so, tbe provisions of tbe Mill Dam Law apply to tbe case, although tbe dam may be erected at tbe very'threshold of tbe outlet. This is tbe vital question discussed upon tbe argument, and disposes of tbe case. Tbe judgment of nonsuit must therefore be affirmed. By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.