Grand Rapids v. Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad

Shubwood, J. The petition in this case was filed in behalf of the city on the tenth day of November, 1884, in the superior court of Grand Rapids. It sets forth certain resolutions which had been adopted by the common council, stating that it was made and filed for the purpose of commencing proceedings under Act 124, Laws of 1883, to take and condemn private property for the purpose of opening First street, in said city; that the property proposed to be — 44 — taken is on 16 different lots, giving the descriptions thereof: “Sixth parcel. Part of lot 4, section 24, town 7 north, range 12 west, described as follows: Commencing at the intersection of the west line of lot 4 of said section 24 with the north line of First street produced westerly; thence east, on said line of First street produced, 33 feet; thence south, parallel with the west line of said lot 4, 66 feet, to the south line of First street produced; thence west 33 feet; thence north 66 feet to the place of beginning, — containing 2,178 square feet, more of less.” The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company is the owner of this parcel. The petition stated the names of the other owners as respondents, and the other usual statements in such cases, and prayed that a jury might be summoned to determine the necessity for taking the property for the use or benefit of the public, which the petition described, and the just compensation to be made therefor. The case was before this Court at the January termj 1886, on appeal from an order confirming the verdict upon the first trial. The verdict was set aside, and the case sunt back for a new trial. See 58 Mich. ,641. Upon the new trial, a verdict was again obtained for the city, and confirmed by the court, and the defendant company appeals to this Court. The constitutional questions were substantially disposed of in the decision rendered in the former case. Four points are now urged by counsel for the defendant against the order made by the judge of the superior court confirming the verdict of the jury. It is claimed, first, that the oath administered to the jury was not such as is required by the statute.1 The oath is given in form and substance, and will be found in Act No. 124, Laws of 1883. § 7, reading as follows: — 45 — “You do solemnly swear or affirm that you will well and truly ascertain and determine whether there is necessity for taking, for the use or benefit of the public, the private property which the petition describes and prays may be taken; and, if you shall detemine that it is necessary to take said property, that then you ascertain, determine, and award the just compensation to be made therefor, and faithfully and impartially discharge all such other duties as devolve upon you in this ease, and, unless discharged by the court, a true verdict give, according to law and the evidence, so help you God, or under the pains and penalties of perjury.” The following was the oath administered: “Each and all of you do solemnly swear that you will well and truly ascertain and determine whether there is a necessity for taking, for the use or benefit of the public, the private property which the petition describes and prays may be taken; and, if you shall determine that it is necessary to take said property, that then you will ascertain, determine, and award the just compensation to be made therefor, and faithfully and impartially discharge all such other duties as devolve upon you in the case, and, unless discharged by the court, a true verdict give, according to law and the evidence, so help you God.” In these cases under this statute, it is the duty of the court to instruct the jury as to their duties and the law of the case, and their oath requires the jury to faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties enjoined upon them. This I think sufficiently includes the necessity for the improvement; and the verdict finds that there is a public necessity for the improvement. The charge clearly shows that the judge of the superior court not only understood the requirements of the law and Constitution upon the subject, but fully instructed the jury upon the same. In the first paragraph of his charge' he says to them: '•‘There are three principal questions for you to determine: “1. The public necessity for opening, widening, and extending the street. “2. The necessity for taking the property described in the petition for the proposed improvement. — 46 — “3. Just compensation to be paid for such private property.” Certainly the defendant had the benefit in the rulings of the court and action of the jury to the extent its counsel claims the Constitution gives it. I do not think Powers’ Appeal, 29 Mich. 504, nor Bowler v. Perrin, 47 Id. 155, apply to this case in the manner urged by counsel for defendant. I agree with Chief Justice CAMPBELL in his conclusion, when the case was presented before, that,— “When we take the whole statute together, it evidently means such a finding as the Constitution warrants.” The second point relied upon by the defense is that witnesses for the city were permitted— “To state the amount of the damage to the appellant by reason of the opening of the street.” The testimony of these same witnesses upon the compensation to be made to the defendant on account of opening the street was objected to by counsel for appellant, and its admission was one of the points made for reversal, in this case before, and the exception was sustained. The questions then propounded to the witnesses were very similar to those in the present case, and, were it not for the explanation given in the answers made by the witnesses in the present case, would fall under the same condemnation, but, with the explanations given and facts stated by them, I do not think the appellant’s case was prejudiced by the answers made.1 The defendant’s third point relates to the rulings and instructions of the court as to the effect of the contract claimed to exist between the city and the railroad company, wherein the circuit judge held the same to be invalid. — 47 — First street extended west, as desired in the petition, across the defendant’s right of way, intersects Seward street, which runs north and south. The contract relied upon by defendant consists of certain action taken by the common council at the instance of citizens owning property abutting on Seward street, and which is stated in the record as follows: “We, the undersigned, being respectively the owners of premises and lots located at some point along the west side of and adjoining Seward street, in the city of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, between Bridge street and the northern terminus of said Seward street, do hereby consent that the common council of the city of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent, aforesaid, may vacate and abolish the east half of said Seward street, from Bridge street aforesaid to its northern terminus; or, if they shall deem it best, may authorize and allow the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company to occupy the said east half of ■said street for railroad purposes. “And we, and each of us, do hereby authorize and request the common council aforesaid to take such immediate action a3 may be legal and necessary for the purpose of so vacating the same, or authorizing and allowing the same to be used for railroad purposes. “And we, and each of us, do hereby waive any and all notice of such proceeding, and all compensation in damages which may arise from vacating said street, or using the same for railroad purposes ; it being understood by us, and each of us, that the object of vacating said street is for the purpose of giving to and providing for the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company the right to use the land occupied by the east half of said, street for railroad purposes. “And this consent and release is made upon the consideration and understanding that the said railroad company shall, ■on or before the first day of January next, erect and thereafter maintain a passenger station on the north side of Bridge street, and at some point on the line of said railroad, between said Bridge street and Second street- in said city; and that ■said railroad company shall, from and after the time when authority shall be given them to use the east half of said street for railroad purposes, or from and after the time that such east half of said street shall be vacated, maintain a pas-' •senger station at the place aforesaid. “Dated Grand Rapids, July 10, 1873,” — 48 — “Common council regular session, July 26, 1873. Present,. Aid. Baldwin, Bryan, Dishman, French, Grady, Kendall, Leitelt, Milmine, Powers, Quimby, Smith, Steketee, Verdier, Woodcock, and Weirich. “Resolutions and Motions. By Alderman Milmine: Resolved, that the city attorney be, and is hereby, instructed to suspend all proceedings in the matter of the vacation of Seward street by the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad, and that a committee of four be appointed by the mayor to negotiate with the officers of said railroad as to terms relative to a depot building, and other matters pertaining to said vacation. Adopted. Committee: Aldermen Milmine, Powers, Dish-man, and Weirich.” “August 2, 1873. * * * Alderman Milmine, from the committee appointed to confer with the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company relative to the occupancy of a portion of Seward street by said company, reported that they had had a conference with the officers of said company, and reported and recommended the adoption of the following preambles and resolutions: “Whereas, a committee has been appointed to negotiate with the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company for the purpose of settling the terms and conditions upon which said corporation should be permitted to use the east half of Seward street, in the city of Grand Rapids, from Bridge street to-the northern termination of said Sewaid strec-t, for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, and operating a railroad thereon; and whereas, said committee have reported that they have held an interview with the representatives of said corporation, and that said corporation is willing to maintain a passenger station on the north side of Bridge street, in said city, and at some point between Bridge street and First street, and upon the understanding that said First street shall not be continued across the line of said railroad. “It is therefore hereby resolved that the said Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company be, and is hereby, authorized, permitted, and empowered to use and occupy the east half of Seward street, from Bridge street 105 feet north of Third street, for the purpose of constructing, operating, and maintaining its railroad thereon upon the terms and conditions that said corporation, from and after the passage of this, resolution, shall construct and maintain a passenger station on the line of its road between Bridge and First street, aforesaid, for all local and accommodation trains on said road. — 49 — “And be it further resolved, that the said Grand Eapids & Indiana Railroad Company be, and is hereby, permitted, empowered, and authorized to maintain its railroad tracks across said Bridge street, in said city, as they are now laid and constructed, upon the terms and condition that the planking upon said crossing shall be kept in good state of repair, so as to inflict as little inconvenience upon persons traveling upon said street as may be. Provided, however, that the city of Grand Eapids shall have the right to construct a sewer across the property of the said railroad company at First street. “On motion, the'preambles and resolutions were adopted by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Bryan, Dishman, French, Grady, Kendall, Leitelt, Little, Milmine, Powers, Quimby, Smith, Steketeo, Yerdier, Woodcock, and Weirich, 15. Noes, 0.” At the close of the trial, counsel for defendant asked the court to give the following instructions to the jury upon this subject: “ 1. The facts which appear in evidence in this case, and are undisputed by evidence, viz., the action of the common council of the city in the appointment of a committee to confer with the officers of the railroad company, the proposition made by the railroad company through the solicitor, relative to the establishment of a depot on the West side, and the report, preamble, and resolution submitted by the committee of the common council to the common council, and adopted by that body, and the erection of the depot by the company, and its use of a street, constitute a contract complete in its terms, between the city of Grand Eapids on the one part, and the Grand Eapids & Indiana Eailroad Company on the other part. “2. By the terms of such agreement, the railroad company agreed to construct and maintain a passenger house on the line of its road between Bridge and First streets, for all local and accommodation trains upon said road, and in consideration thereof it was agreed upon the part of the city: “a —That the company should have the right to use and occupy the east half of Seward street, from Bridge street to a point 185 feet north of Third street, for t.ie purpose of constructing, operating, and maintaining its railroad thereon. “b — That First street should not be continued across the line of said railroad. — 50 — “ 3. It appears by the evidence in the case that the company has complied with the agreement on its part. “ 4. It also appears that the railroad company has, at large expense, constructed and maintained a passenger depot at the place named, since the adoption of the resolution oy the council, upon the faith of the agreements made on the part of the city, which I have stated. “5. It also appears that both parties have acquiesced in the agreement and acted tinder it for nearly thirteen years. “ 6. I instruct you that the agreement is binding upon both parties, and that it is a bar to the opening of First street from the center line of Seward street east to Alabama street.” Counsel for respondent thereupon presented and read the following further requests, and the same were taken under consideration by the court: “The court having refused to give the foregoing six requests, the said respondent requests the court to instruct the jury: “7. The agreement which I have stated is valid and binding upon the parties, at the least so far as the agreement to build the depot on the one part, and the right to use and occupy Seward street, are concerned. “8. So far as the use of Seward street is concerned, for the purpose named, the agreement vested the railroad company with valuable .rights. “9. So far as the agreement provides that First street shall not be continued across the line of the said railroad is concerned, it vests the railroad company with valuable rights. “ 10. Although (under the ruling of this court) the agreement cannot operate as a bar to the opening of the street, and the appropriation of the land, if the public necessity requires it, just compensation must be made to the railroad company for its interest in the property taken, and for the damages it will sustain, by reason of the opening of the street, and by the depreciation thereby of any rights and any additional expense which will thereby be imposed upon the company. “11. The compensation which the railroad company is entitled to receive is— “a — The value of the land described in the petition, whatever you determine it to be. — 51 — “b — For the interference with use of the premises in connection with its passenger depot, and resulting inconvenience and use of the street at tnis point, whatever you may find it to be. “ c — The cost of building a crossing, which appears to be $21.13. “ d — The cost of gates at the crossing, $300. “ e — The cost of a tower for gate-keeper, $700. “/ — For expense of wages of flag-man to attend the crossing, and fuel and lights,-. “ The undisputed evidence shows that these expenses will, at the lowest figure, be for a flag-man, $40 per month, and fuel, etc., $15 per month, — in all, $55 per month. The company is entitled to an award, as compensation, of such an amount as will, at the legal rate of interest, produce this amount of $55 per month, which is $9,400. “12. TJnder the laws of this State, and the charter and ordinances of this city, and the action which has been taken by the common council, the opening of the street in question will impose upon the railroad company the duty and expense of constructing and maintaining a proper crossing across its track upon the highway, and of keeping a flag-man at the crossing. The expense of said crossing, and wages of flagman, and fuel and light, are elements of the compensation to which the railroad company is entitled, and you must award the company such compensation as will indemnify it for these expenses.” None of these requests were given in the language requested. The court, however, gave a charge, upon his own motion, covering all the legal questions necessarily raised in the case. Upon the point now under discussion, the court said in the charge: “The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company claims that it made a contract with the city, or the common council of the city, by which it was agreed, upon a consideration, that the street should not be opened across its tracks. This court holds that such a contract, if made, is not now binding upon the city, so far as this case is concerned. The right of eminent domain, which is the right to take private property for public use, as the necessities of the public demand it in a ■growing country, is inherent in all governments. It is a right .that cannot be bartered away. Neither a legislature of a state or common council of a city, nor one generation, can barter away the right of eminent domain so as to bind its successor, whether in this country or any other country. The exercise — 52 — of this right is regarded as essential to the progress of the country, and the advancement of civilization. A public improvement not thought of to-day may be a public necessity to-morrow. The city of Grand Eapids to-day is not the city of Grand Eapids fifteen years ago. And therefore I say to you that the Grand Eapids & Indiana Eailroad Company is entitled tono compensation by reason of such contract, if it was ever made. “Whoever owns property in Grand Eapids holds it subject to the right of eminent domain, whether it is a railroad company or an individual, and when the government seeks to take it for the public use, and on account of a public necessity, all stand upon the' same basis, subject to the same right and compensation. The railroad company claims that it will be put to expense in adjusting its track to the proposed changed condition. So will every man on the line be put to expense to adjust his property to the new condition. The railroad company is entitled to no more consideration in this respect than any individual whose rights are thus invaded ; no more, no less. Each is entitled to a just compensation at your hands for the property taken and the damages sustained. “ You may dismiss from your minds, as far as practical, the special claim of the railroad company for the prospective expense for building and maintaining gates, towers, and flag-men. These are expenses that may or may not be incurred, and you may award to the company just compensation for property taken, if any, for franchises invaded, and for damages sustained. Your own examination of the premises, and the evidence adduced in the case by the respective parties in interest, afford you the basis and data for your investigation.” The requests to charge were all based upon the validity of the contract of defendant with the city. We think the judge of the superior court took the correct view of this subject in the foregoing extract from the charge upon the point under consideration. The laying out and opening streets by the common council of a -city is the exercise of its legislative functions, and any contract made by the city with an individual or corporation, by which it agrees that it will not in the future open or extend a street in any particular place or part of the city, is an abnegation of its legislative powers, — 53 — unauthorized by its charter, and may be m "> of the convenience and prosperity of the munioq. claimed contract in this case is of this character, ana , and furnishes no basis for any liability of any kind on the part of the city to the defendant in this case. Gale v. Village of Kalamazoo, 23 Mich. 344; Toledo, etc., Ry. Co. v. Detroit, L. & N. R. R. Co., 62 Id. 564; Milhau v. Sharp, 27 N. Y. 611; Coleman v. Second Avenue R. R. Co., 38 Id. 201; Richmond Co. Gas Light Co. v. Middletown, 59 Id. 228; Hood v. Lynn, 1 Allen, 103; Backus v. Lebanon, 11 N. H. 19; State v. Hudson Tunnel R. R. Co., 38 N. J. Law, 548; Newcastle & R. R. R. Co. v. Peru, etc., R. R. Co., 3 Ind. 464; Brimmer v. Boston, 102 Mass. 19; Trustees of Belfast Academy v. Salmond, 11 Me. 109; West River Bridge Co. v. Dix, 6 How. 507. The powers of a municipal corporation in respect to opening, improving, and controlling its streets are held in trust for the public benefit, and cannot be surrendered by contract to private persons, or to a corporation, by resolution of the •common council, or in any other manner. If this could be done, there is no reason why the common council of any year may not, by contract, preclude the city for all future time from opening, widening, or extending any of its streets, or laying new streets, no matter how great the public necessity may be therefor. Dill. Mun. Corp. § 567; Davis v. Mayor, 14 N. Y. 506, 532; People’s R. R. v. Memphis R. R., 10 Wall. 38. The property of a corporation like that of a railroad company, like all other property, is held subject to the necessities of the public. ’ Not only the property, but its franchise, when inseparable, may be taken for public use whenever the necessities of the public require it, compensation being made therefor. West River Bridge Co. v. Dix, 6 How. 507; Crosby v. Hanover, 36 N. H. 404; Richmond, etc., R. R. Co. v. — 54 — Louisa R. R. Co., 13 How. 71; Charles R. Bridge v. Warren Bridge, 11 Pet. 420. Any of its property not actually in use, or absolutely necessary for the enjoyment of the franchise, is subject to condemnation for other purposes, the same as the property of an individual. Enfield Toll Bridge Co. v. Hartford, etc., R. R. Co., 17 Conn. 40; Backus v. Lebanon, 11 N. H. 19; Peoria, etc., R. R. Co. v. Peoria, etc., R. R. Co., 66 Ill. 174; Iron R. R. Co. v. Ironton, 19 Ohio St. 299. All contracts are subject to the power of eminent domain, wherever the public necessity requires its exercise, and must be regarded as made with refereuce thereto. Thus far we have regarded the contract claimed by the defendant as existing between the company and the city as containing a provision preventing the city from extending First street across the defendant’s right of way, but it is not, in our view, certain that the common council ever intended to make such a contract, or that its action taken will bear, that construction. It is quite plain, we think, that the acceptance of the company’s proposition was not in the terms expressed in the action taken by the council. It is not, however, of importance to determine that question now. If the construction given to the proceedings by defendant’s counsel is correct, the contract would be of no effect in this, case. The third point made by counsel for defendant cannot, therefore, be sustained. The defendant’s fourth point relates to the damages to which the company is entitled if the contract shall not be found to be a bar to the proceedings, and it is insisted that the defendant’s requests from the seventh to and including the twelfth should have-been given, and it is further claimed that that portion of the charge above quoted relating to damages (it being all that was given upon that subject) was insufficient to'give the jury proper information as to what — 55 — elements should be considered by them upon that question. We are inclined to think that this point made by defendant’s counsel must be sustained. We think it quite clearly appears that the damages awarded in this case were only for the use of the land occupied by the street in crossing the defendant’s right of way; but added to that should be any extra expense created by the use of the right of way for the street, in the ordinary use of the defendant’s1 road, and such other damage as it may sustain for injury to its track, right of way, and franchise, occasioned by the crossing, and which may be properly considered as the natural, necessary, and approximate cause thereof. Toledo, etc., Ry. Co. v. Detroit, L. & N. R. R. Co., 62 Mich. 564; Grand Rapids v. Grand Rapids & I. R. R. Co., 58 Id. 641; People v. Lake Shore & M. S. Ry. Co., 52 Id. 277; Massachusetts Cent. R. R. Co. v. Boston, C. & F. R. R. Co., 121 Mass. 124; Com. v. Boston & M. R. R. 3 Cush. 25; Flint & P. M. R. R. Co. v. Detroit & B. C. R. R. Co., 64 Mich. 350. The rule here stated will not include expenses made necessary in order to comply with the police regulations of the State or municipality, but such damages only as arise in making the structural changes necessary to comply with statutory regulations, and which must necessarily continue in the future operation of the defendant’s roal. We are now speaking of highway crossings. When one railroad crosses another, other elements of damage may exist, and be properly taken into consideration under the particular circumstances of the case. In this case counsel for -defendant requested the court substantially to instruct the jury that the structural changes necessary to be made in consequence of the crossing might be considered by the jury, and, while we think the requests as presented were properly refused, the court failed to give the jury any instruction upon the subject which would be likely to be regarded by the jury as including the expenses for such changes. And, without any request — 56 — on the part of defendant’s counsel, we think it was the duty of the court to give such instruction. For this error we think the verdict of the jury must be set aside, and the case will be sent back for a new trial. Ohamplin and Morse, JJ., concurred. Footnotes [1] The objection was that the oath administered did not set forth to its full extent the duty which the jury had to perform, in that it did not specify the determination by them of the necessity of making the proposed improvement as a whole, as well as taking the particular parcels for such improvement. [1] The witnesses gave their judgment as to the value of the land taken, and the damage resulting, if any, to the part not taken, as regarded the several parcels, and, in the case of the railroad company, the value of the land taken, and the damage consequent thereon, namely, fixing up the approaches, and putting the street or crossing in good condition.