Case Name: The Ohio Electric Railway Co. v. City of Greenville
Court: Supreme Court of Ohio
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1924-04-01
Citations: 2 Ohio Law Abs. 246
Docket Number: No. 18039
Parties: The Ohio Electric Railway Co. v. City of Greenville.
Judges: Robinson, Matthias, Day and Allen, JJ., concur. Wanamaker, J., not participating.
Reporter: The Ohio Law Abstract
Volume: 2
Pages: 246–246

Head Matter:
No. 269
No. 18039
The Ohio Electric Railway Co. v. City of Greenville.
Error to the Court of Appeals of Darke county.
103. ASSESSMENTS. Franchise of electric railway to occupy a street not taxable under 3812 GO. to construct a storm water sewer, therein where the right is not exclusive —Such franchise and rails, poles, etc., are not “lots and lands” within the purview of such statute.

Opinion:
MARSHALL, C. J.
1. Section 3812 General Code, authorizing municipalities to levy assessments upon "specially benefited lots or lands" to pay a portion of the cost of public improvements therein named, does not authorize an assessment to pay a portion of the cost of a storm sewer to bé levied upon the franchise of an electric railway granting it the right to occupy a portion of the street and to construct a railroad thereon, such railway company not being given the exclusive use of the street, but the same being in common with the public for the purposes of travel, and for the use of other public utilities, including other railway companies, which have the right to use the rails by paying a reasonable compensation for such use.
2. Such franchise, and the rails, ties, poles and other construction for the operation of an electric railway upon and over the public streets, do not constitute "lots or lands" within the purview of said section.
Judgment reversed.
Robinson, Matthias, Day and Allen, JJ., concur. Wanamaker, J., not participating.