Case Name: ERICKSON, Appellant, v. HORLYK et al, Respondents
Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: South Dakota
Decision Date: 1925-10-02
Citations: 48 S.D. 544
Docket Number: File No. 5466
Parties: ERICKSON, Appellant, v. HORLYK et al, Respondents.
Judges: DILLON, J., not sitting.
Reporter: South Dakota Reports
Volume: 48
Pages: 544–546

Head Matter:
ERICKSON, Appellant, v. HORLYK et al, Respondents.
(205 N. W. 613.)
(File No. 5466.
Opinion filed October 2, 1925.)
Clark & Henderson, of Yankton, for Appellant.
Orvis & French, of Yankton, for Respondents.

Opinion:
GATES, J.
The following plat approximately shows the original government survey made in i860 of sections 21 and 22 and a portion of section 15, in township 93 north, range 56 west fifth principal meridian, situated in Yankton county:
Plaintiff is the owner of the southwest quarter of section 15; the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 22 and the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 21, which for convenience we have designated as tracts A, B, and C, respectively. Defendant Horlyk is the record owner of lot 4 section 21 and lots 1 and 2 of section 22, each being bounded on the south by the Missouri river, which- for convenience we have designated as tracts X, Y, and Z, respectively. Beginning about the year 1900, the Missouri river cut away its north bank, and by gradual and imperceptible degrees eroded and washed away the surface of tracts X, Y, and Z, and the surface of nearly all of tracts B and C, and the surface of tract A as far as about 120 rods north of its south boundary. During the year 19-12 the river began to recede from- the land thus submerged and to shift to the southward 'by the filling in of alluvial soil, sand, and dtift, and by natural accretions, which process continued for a period of about 10 years, and until the surface of the land washed away had been restored and the north bank of the river became located at about the same place as it was when the government survey was made. The controversy is as to the ownership of tracts X, Y, and Z. Horlyk claims these tracts under 'his chain of title. Plaintiff claims them as accretions to his tracts A, B, and C. Plaintiff appeals from the judgment rendered in defendant's favor.
The judgment of the trial court was rendered pursuant to the decision of this court in Allard v. Curran, 41 S. D. 73, 168 N. W. 761. This case is parallel to that, but appellant contends that such decision was wrong in that it amounted to a judicial repeal of section 498, Rev. Code 1919, without adverting to that section. As is disclosed by the notes to the Field Civil Code adopted by Dakota territory at its fifth legislative session, the sections that are now sections 498-503, Rev. Code 1919, were taken from the Code Napoleon, and had their origin in Roman law. See Restoration of the Former Front Estate by Alluvion, 10 Virginia Law Review 106. If the accession in question had been to said tracts X, Y, and Z, we have no doubt that said section 498 would apply, because, by the government survey, the south boundary of said lots was the river. However, the south boundary of tract A was the section line between. sections 15 and 22, and the south boundary of tracts B and C was the "forty" line, all of which lines can now be re-established under the rules of the government survey.
We think the proper interpretation of said section 498 is that it applies to land which is riparian according to the government survey. We therefore think there is room for both the code section, and the decision in Allard v. Curran, supra, to stand, and that neither is in conflict with the other. That decision was based on equity and common sense even if opposed to ancient precedent and the rule adhered to by a majority of the courts, but it has also -become a rule of property. Appellant has bought tracts B and C, and respondent has bought tracts X, Y, and Z since the handing down of that opinion. Under the doctrine of stare decisis, that opinion should be and it is adhered to.
The judgment is affirmed.
DILLON, J., not sitting.