Walton v. Cincinnati, Milford & Blanchester Traction Co.

Buchwalter, J. This action is for a mandatory injunction to compel the defendant to remove two electric light poles which are located between the sidewalk and curb on High street in the village of Milford, and in front of the plaintiff’s premises. It appears from the evidence that the Cincinnati & Columbus Traction Company operated an interurban line through the village of Milford, and [35] maintained the two .poles in question, on which were located two high tension wires, for the purpose of conducting electricity from Perintown to Madeira; that the Cincinnati & Columbus Traction Company, on or about January 1, 1920, abandoned its franchises, and sold its equipment, rails, poles, wires, etc., to Joseph Joseph & Brother, of Cincinnati, who were junk dealers; that Joseph Joseph & Brother in turn sold the poles and wires thereon, located in the village of Milford, to the Cincinnati, Milford & Blanehester Traction Company. Prior to this purchase, the Cincinnati, Milford & Blanehester Traction Company had secured a franchise from the village of Milford to erect poles on the streets, alleys, etc., of the village, for the purpose of carrying electricity to furnish street and residential lighting. After purchasing such poles and wires the Cincinnati Milford & Blanehester Traction Company used the two high-tension wires to conduct electricity from Cincinnati to be used for lighting certain villages other than Milford. No current conducted over these wires was used in the village of Milford for any purpose, prior to the bringing of this action. After suit was filed, other cross-arms were attached to such poles, and four additional wires installed, for the purpose of furnishing light to some of the residences of Milford, and also for street lighting for that village. At the time of the hearing these additional wires were being used for that purpose, and plaintiff’s residence was lighted by electricity supplied from one of these wires. The question to be determined is whether or not the Cincinnati, Milford & Blanehester Trae [36] tion 'Company can maintain these poles and wires, under and by virtue of its franchise from the village of Milford, without having first secured from the plaintiff, either by agreement or by condemnation, the right to place the poles in front of her property. In other words, should she be compensated in damages, if damage be proven; or has she the legal right to compel the removal of such poles? It is conceded that the poles and wires do not interfere with plaintiff’s light, air, ingress or egress, nor do they extend over that portion of her property not dedicated to sidewalk uses. . It is contended, under the rule laid down in Callen v. Columbus Edison Electric Light Co., 66 Ohio St., 166, 179, that plaintiff is entitled to a mandatory injunction, requiring the removal of the poles. But in that case the lighting was wholly for private purposes, and no street or city purpose was contemplated: . “The electric lighting by defendant is not of the streets and for the city; it is wholly for private use; hence it is a private purpose and is not a street purpose in any aspect of it.” It was also held therein that even the maintenance of such poles for private purposes must work injury to the property, appreciable in character and amount, in order to warrant an injunction. . In the instant case, street lighting is now a part ,of that service. It may be that there was an added burden, because of the residential lighting and high-tension current carried, but this does not change the fact that the poles are used partly for street lighting. . The reasoning in the opinion of Judge Richards [37] in the case of Huss v. Toledo Railways & Light Co., 25 C. C., N. S., 44, seems to apply to this case. It is a question of the purpose. If used for street lighting and other purposes, and those other purposes do not impair plaintiff’s property to any appreciable extent, then such use should not be enjoined. "We do not pass upon the question of whether or not damages may be recovered for such use or burden. As to damage to shade trees, that question has been passed upon by this court in the case of Village of Amelia v. Hicks, 7 Ohio App., 132. From the evidence, we are of the opinion that no such additional burden as would warrant the issuance of an injunction is cast upon the plaintiff’s property as a result of additional wires and current used for private purposes. The mandatory injunction prayed for in the petition herein will be denied. Injunction denied. Hamilton, P. J., and Cushing, J., concur.