Gilman v. Tilton

Richardson, C. J., for the court. The defendants claim a new trial, because the jury yvere instructed that the defendants, by being the first to erect a dam and mill, acquired no right to cause the water to flow back and obstruct the operation of a mill subsequently erected by the plaintiffs, and the question is, whether mere priority of appropriation of running water can confer any exclusive right ? In general, every man has a right to the use of the water flowing in a stream through his land ; and if any one divert the water from its natural channel, or throw it back, so as to deprive him of the use of it, the law will give him redress. But one man may acquire, by grant, a right to throw the water back upon the land of another, and long usage may be evidence of such a grant. It is however well settled, that a man acquires no such [233] right by merely being the first to make use of the waters 4.Mason, 401 ; 15 Johns. 213 ; 17 ditto, 320. We are, therefore, of opinion, that the motion for a new trial cannot be sustained on this ground. But it is contended, that there ought to be a new trials because the jury were told that the defendants had no right to cause the water to flow back beyond the limits of their own land, to the prejudice of the plaintiff, unless they had acquired such right by uninterrupted usage for twenty years, and that, although there might have been a usage for twenty years, yet, if the plaintiff, in one in* stance, interrupted it within the time, such interruption would defeat any right claimed to be gained by such usage. Some have held, that a term of twenty years of exclusive uninterrupted enjoyment of the use of water, in ⅛ particular manner, is a conclusive presumption of right! presumplio juris etch jw'e. 4 Mason, 402 ; 6 East, 215 ; 1 Camp. 463, Balston v. Bensted ; 2 Saund. 175, a, b ; 1 B. & P. 400, Holcroft v. Heel. And there is no doubt, that the use of water, in a pal4* ticular manner, for a less period than twenty years, and even an interrupted use, may be evidence of a right to be weighed among other evidence by a jury. 6 East, 215 ; 4 N. H. Rep. 14—15; 7 Wheaton, 109—110; 4 Starkie’s Ev. 1216. But it seems to be now settled, that adverse posses» slon for a shorter period than twenty years, is not of it* self a sufficient ground to sustain the presumption of & grant. It is evidence, but unless the circumstances at* tending- it give it weight, it is not sufficient evidence. Phillip’s Ev. 121 ; 4 Burr. 1963 ; 4 Starkie’s Ev. 1216. The weight,'which usage in these cases is entitled to have, as evidence of a grant, depends much upon the cii** cumstances which attend it. Suppose, in this case, the de» fendants had been accustomed, for fifteen years, to main* taina dam of a particular height, and in Bo doing had [234] constantly, during the whole time, greatly impeded the operation of the plaintiff’s mill ; and further suppose, that the plaintiff, knowing all this, had made no complaint or objection, but quietly acquiesced in the doings of the defendants for the whole period. Now any one will at once see that such an acquiescence in the usage would give it very great weight as evidence, and render it in the highest degree probable that the defendants had a right to maintain the dam in that manner. And cases may be easily imagained, in which water might be thrown back upon the land of an individual for fifteen years, under circumstances that would render it very slight evidence of a grant. The owner of the land might not be apprized of the fact; or so little damage might be done by the usage as not to attract his attention. And every one will perceive, that these circumstances would greatly diminish the weight which the usage might be entitled to have in establishing the existence of a grant. As this case is stated, it seems that the defendants relied upon an uninterrupted usage for twenty years, as evidence of a right. The case states no circumstance that gives any particular weight to the usage. And such being the case, we think that the jury were rightly instructed, that nothing less than an uninterrupted usage for twenty years, could warrant them in finding a grant.