Heffelman v. Otsego Water-power Co.

Campbell, J. Plaintiff sued defendant for overflowing his land. It appeared that in 1866, in consequence of a dispute concerning flowage, an arbitration was had which resulted in an agreement whereby, in consideration of $75, a 99-years’ privilege was granted defendant to raise the water, according to the following terms: “ The arbitrators have caused a survey to be made, and marks to be made by the county surveyor, which said marks are to designate the height to which the said water-power company, or their successors and representatives, are to raise the dam across the Kalamazoo river, and which marks are as follows: The first mark is at a point 30 and ll-lff inches above the height of the dam, and on the south side of the buttonwood tree 6 inches in diameter, 17 rods and 12 links south, and 14 links west, of the £ post on the north line of section 23, in said township and range. The second mark, 26-i inches above the dam, on a buttonwood stub 5 inches in diameter, south, 28 degrees west, from the first mark, and between the river and race. The third mark is on a level with the top of the dam or slash-boards, on an elm tree about 12 inches in diameter, and stands south, 50 degrees 10 minutes west, from the first mark, and between the race and river, — all as made and designated by Ira Chichester, county surveyor, September 3, 1866; and for a more particular description thereof reference is had to said record by said surveyor in his office, and in the register’s office of the county.” The buttonwood tree is the only land-mark left. The only contention of any consequence is whether the mark on that tree is the mark of the water-level agreed upon, or 30 and 11-16 inches above it. Defendant claims the deed cannot be explained aliunde, and that the true mark is at the stipulated water-level, and not above it. The Chichester survey is lost, but secondary evidence was let in, which seems to us to comply with all the legal rules for its admission. That survey very distinctly [123] indicates, and the finding establishes, that the witness marks on the buttonwood tree, and stump were meant to be above the water-line to the extent named, and the elm-tree mark to be on, a level with it. As this survey is referred to in the deed for greater certainty, it legally formed a part of it, and both should be construed together But we see no ambiguity in the deed. No two of the tree marks are on the same level. If the buttonwood-tree mark should govern, the water would cover the stump mark, and rise two feet and a half above the elm mark. And if the buttonwood-tree mark should stand as the level, it would be surrounded by water up to that height, and not visible unless at lower water. It is certain that water could not at the same time be" at two different levels on the different sides of the stream, and no one would place land-marks where they could be of no possible practical use. The deed could not be made worse by the introduction of testimony conforming to it, and defendant, even if the secondary evidence was incomplete, could not complain of an immaterial error. The, judgment below conformed to the agreement, and must be affirmed, with costs. Sherwood, O. J., Champlin and Morse, JJ., concurred. Long, J., did not sit.