Document: 351 U.S. 159 76 S.Ct. 728 100 L.Ed. 1055 GENERAL BOX COMPANY, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES of America. No. 383. Argued March 28, 1956. Decided May 7, Rehearing Denied June 11, See 990, 1044. Messrs. Edward D. Moseley, Baton Rouge, La., Ross R. Barnett, Jackson, Miss., for petitioner. Mr. S. Billingsley Hill, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice REED delivered the opinion Court. 1 General Box Company, an owner trees commercial value along main stem Mississippi River in Louisiana, brought this action to recover from United States its timber destroyed by Government through duly authorized agent, a contractor. 2 The grew upon land belonging others and located between low- high-water mark river. Such is known Louisiana as 'batture.'1 Since colonial days batture has been subject servitude State use construction maintenance levees. It may be used these purposes without payment compensation owner.2 cooperates with containment within levees.3 To carry out federal plans area controversy, requires,4 agrees furnish,5 necessary rights-of-way 'without cost' given general authority Levee Boards donate 'lands, movable or immovable property, rights way, servitudes' flood control use.6 Fifth District, one here involved, agreed meet requirements Federal Flood Control Act.7 3 location operation giving rise was at Brabston District. first step taken obtain permission State's issue filing District Engineer. were approved Engineer local Board so notified.8 On 10, 1947, received drawings following request authority: 4 'It desired that furnished formal statement your are available enlargement granting right entry prosecute work. This form letter signed President Board.' Under standing resolution, adopted September 12, 1945, empowered honor applications such authority.9 responded Engineer, quoting words adding: 5 'The Commissioners hereby glad comply render you any assistance possible.' 6 July 9 spread minutes Board. We accept that, did Court Appeals, ratification act President. 10 contractors who execute levee work proceed 20 days, clearing commenced on 22. 7 No notice petitioner intention bulldoze off batture. 12 discovered being destroyed, objection promptly made. contractor, however, refused halt operations, relying contract Government. 8 Petitioner two actions under Tucker Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2), U.S.C.A. timber.10 suits consolidated trial, ultimately single judgment entered against amount $10,801 plus interest.11 Both took appeals former merits latter much fixed interest 4% date judgment. Appeals reversed, holding free liability.12 granted certiorari examine liability proceeding clear petitioner, trees, thus reasonable opportunity salvage timber.13 One defenses relied throughout litigation claim it not liable losses because involved Board, legally appropriated those riparian servitude. concedes civil law property which standing, batture, constructing repairing levees, historically required permit part thereof might needed purposes. And denied land, well itself, exercise purposes.14 effect does claim, effectively reason appropriation arbitrary therefore beyond power State. contention based fact no proposed destruction argued law, course defines bounds servitude, possessed unlimited power;15 would arbitrary, oppressive unjust servictude circumstances case prior petitioner; attempt ineffective cause pursuant If could never successfully obligation compensate taking.16 follow permitting obligation. held, analysis prerequisite ordinarily determinations Courts questions we do here. Ragan v. Merchants Transfer & Warehouse Co., 337 530, 534, 69 1233, 1235, 93 1520; Huddleston Dwyer, 322 232, 237, 64 1015, 1018, 88 1246. 11 courts have made pronouncement directly controls question. But see Com'rs Red River, Atchafalaya Bayou Boeuf Dist. Trouille, 212 La. 152, 31 So.2d 700. Supreme has, recently 1946, reviewed long history Dickson Com'rs, 210 121, 26 474. In noted that: '* * while all remaining states Union lands can only after expropriation proper indemnification, state first, i.e., appropriate very title, talk later. 13 'And however unfair seem owners type they complain their acquisition ancient private mischief must endured rather than public inconvenience calamity.' pages 132, 136, 478, 479. 14 court further stated exercised way found 'most expeditious engineering, economical, practical standpoint.' 127, 138, page 480; Tensas Basin Franklin, 219 859, 866, 54 125, 127—128. plan called bulldozing reasons economy—that admittedly less expensive method removing stumps cut timber. developed insure 'that shores navigable rivers streams always kept purposes.' 131—132, i6 478. historical background makes broad. By good all, convenient manner welfare, little regard severity obligations imposed individual owner. Nothing development indicates before obviously comprehensive rights, provide remove 15 Since, hold, petitioner's authorities cannot property. State, mitigation losses, yet destruction, seems us, consistent Rather undertake project agencies, donated States. States, donee them full extent incurring liability, just donor done. 16 sought 'destruction said (a) taking meaning Amendment Constitution.' eminent domain. effect, 'owned' purposes, succeeded 'ownership' 'conveyance.' both protecting floods. assert complaints question presented petition violated Due Process Clause Amendment.17 17 Affirmed. 18 FRANKFURTER, concurring. 19 conflicting views members rest relevant prove once more what precarious business us adjudicate dependent finds when highest authoritative guidance regarding law. like situations I have, time time, suggested legal procedure resources enabling our decision securely See, e.g., Propper Clark, 472, 493, 1333, 1345, 1480 (dissenting part). means declaratory (it LSA—Rev.Stat. 13:4231 et seq.) otherwise, ought possible suspend definitive until had controlling For myself am prepared default it, concur DOUGLAS, whom HARLAN concurs, dissenting. 21 root whether grown 'property' and, if so, confiscated it. concededly value. bought sold plays significant role conduct enterprises.1 apparently Amendment. Otherwise reserve violated. far concerned, Just Compensation same then comes down confiscate timber, certainly not. ownership has. 22 Concededly mark—the batture—may chooses levees anyone. excellent district judge decided case, Hon. Ben C. Dawkins. Judge Dawkins, appointed bench 1924, lawyer distinction. He practiced From 1912—1918 he 1918—1924 associate justice Louisiana's member Constitutional Convention 1921. Indeed, Dawkins author Art. XVI, Constitution, provides compensation. Co. 107 F.Supp. 981, 983. held necessary. There square point. problem lies penumbra making difficult prediction hold. complicated obscure one, deferred decisions lower his own MacGregor Mutual Life Assur. 315 280, 281, 62 607, 86 846; 1246; Hillsborough Tp., Somerset County, N.J. Cromwell, 326 620, 630, 66 445, 451, 90 358; Steele Mills, 329 433, 439, 67 442, 91 402; Bernhardt Polygraphic 350 198, 204, 273, 276. 23 Pruyn Nelson Bros., 180 760, 768, 157 So. 585, 587, where reviewing governing said: 24 'This limited reasonableness use, administrative officers charged determining limit, review oppression injustice shown proved.' 25 ruled done amounted 'oppression injustice' case. 119 749, 751. defer dealing nuances trained evaluate.2 difficulty compounded common-law lawyers. overtones distinct languages history. Holmes wrote, Puerto Rico, special deference due judges rulings matters Diaz Gonzalez, 261 102, 105—106, 43 286, 287, 550: 27 especially true inheriting up different system prevails When contemplate outside wall stone, every even others, except education lead subordinations accustomed. varying emphasis, tacit assumptions, unwritten practices, thousand influences gained life, give parts wholly new values logic grammar gotten books.' read feeling law.3 dominant but absolute. Private it—but welfare demands. As Peart Meeker, 45 La.Ann. 421, 426, 490, 492: 29 undoubtedly duty execution police power, make greater sacrifice several cases conferred citizen remedy judicial cases.' home other structure owner, think grant remedy—provided confronted emergency speed. But, there notice, 'oppressive' said. 30 Even mistaken view hold matter rely state-created justify action, borders wanton interests appears, additional expense delay requirement deeply engrained jurisprudence. Mullane Central Hanover Bank, 339 306, 70 652, 94 865; Covey Town Somers, 141, 724. reasonably given, result deprived chance sheer confiscation. Batture river bed uncovered low water, covered annually ordinary high water.' (Italics omitted). Boyce Cottonseed Oil Mfg. 160 727, 734, 506, 508. Wolfe Hurley, 46 F.2d 515, affirmed 283 801, 51 75 1423; 474; 585; Mayer 177 1119, 150 295; 490; LSA—Civil Code, 665; La.Const.1921, 6—LSA. Act 15, 1928, Stat. amended, 33 702a seq., seq. 702c, 702c. 5. note 6, infra. 75, Acts 1940, 52:2. 76, 1938, La.Gen.Stat.1939, 6869.3. resolutions 1928 1929, consideration benefits agreeing '(p)rovide cost foundations River.' 19, wrote follows: 'We receipt Colonel John Hardin, New Orleans Engineers, dated together Ashland Levees south Vidalia, Louisiana. examined recommended Hardin enlarging sections accordance plans, provided provisions draining existing gravel road crown old levee.' 'Due delays times caused necessity waiting rights-of-ways next regular meeting, Commissioner Yerger offered motion, seconded Guenard, unanimously approved, A. T. Shields, behalf Commissioners, need immediate, right-of-way passed meeting.' Although alternative claims Tort Claims 1346(b), abandoned still 981. 749. also opinions 441 224 7. 882, 139. third party defendant motion Government's position entitled over pay award. reach since all. disposition likewise Cf. Lacour B.B. Dist., 158 737, 104 636; 6; Statutes Annotated—Civil 665. suggests 'levee purposes,' undertaken merely purpose saving money. permitted trees—a order themselves employed improvement levee. sufficient connection supra; 6. relies language 492; 587. I, 2. Eldridge Trezevant, 452, 345, 40 Mayor Aldermen Vidalia v McNeely, 274 676, 47 S.Ct 758, 71 1292; appeal dismissed 342 844, 72 80, 96 638, supra, supra. tracts land. 1946 purchased entire fee tract $30,000 resold $15,000 months later, reserving years. 1947 second period years, paying $36,000 rights. trial total $10,801, interest. None either Circuit voted reverse Bar. allow salvaged Kelly, 225 411, 73 299, dwellers structures possessions. 863—864, 127—128; 157—158, 700, 701—702; 424, 491, each given. present written sent clearning completed. warned begin another letter-notice said, respectfully buildings, obstacles removed contractor begins work.' quotes 474, 'appropriate later.' consequential damages resulting change channel,

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