Legal Document

339 U.S. 799 70 Supreme Court Reporter 885 94 L.Ed. 1277 UNITED STATESv.KANSAS CITY LIFE INS. CO. Number 1. Reargued March 29, 1950. Decided June 5, Mr. Marvin Judge Sonosky, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. Stanley Bassett, Kansas City, Mo., respondent. Justice BURTON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The respondent, City Life Insurance Company, obtained judgment in Claims against United States $22,519.60, with interest from August 8, 1938. 109 Ct.Cl. 555, 74 F.Supp. 653. This sum was awarded as just compensation destruction agricultural value respondent's farm land by artificially maintaining Mississippi River that vicinity continuously at ordinary high-water level. not any sense within bed river. It one and one-half miles river on a nonnavigable tributary creek. Its surface few feet above level both States, however, contended because it maintained this navigation need pay resulting land. We granted certiorari importance constitutional questions raised. 334 810, 68 1016, 92 1742. case argued 1948 Term reargued Term. 2 Two principal issues are presented. first is whether exercise its power to regulate commerce, may raise navigable stream mark maintain navigation, without liability effects change upon private property beyond stream. If do so, such liability, we reach other issue: Whether affected, actually overflowing it, taking meaning Fifth Amendment Constitution States. decide favor negative, second affirmative. 3 material facts found court below include following: 4 Respondent owner 1,710 acres Missouri, having an elevation 422.7 428 sea borders Dardenne Creek, entering farm. has been largely destroyed construction operation Lock Dam 26 Alton, Illinois, 25 Miles Creek. operated dam since 1938, part system improvements provide channel between Minneapolis mouth Missouri.1 effect Creek permanent stage 420.4 previously ascertained mark. 5 Before felt, drained adequately through subsoil simple ditches pipes emptying into creek.2 highly productive. When, raised creek water level, elevations 423.5 425 feet.3 damage caused underflowing land.4 undersurface invasion substantially destructive if had submerged. table percolation which rose fell blockade drainage land's subsurface water.5 reduction $22,519.60 market disputed. 6 well settled that, under Commerce Clause, U.S.Const. Article I, § Cl. 3, improve waters damages 7 'The dominant federal Government, repeatedly held, extends entire stream, includes lands high these limits right must make compensation. (Citing cases.) sustained results riparian owner's bed, but lawful always subject.' versus Chicago, M., St. Pacific KF135 P2 & P.R. Co., 312 592, 596—597, 61 772, 775, 85 1064.6 8 accepted limit In Willow Power 324 499, 509, 65 761, 767, 89 1101, where denied, said: 'High-water bounds Lands fast flood them be paid. But award here does purport compensate flooding or impairment their value. subject servitude interests calls no compensation.' 9 These cases point way our decision instant case. Chicago case, supra, instituted condemnation proceedings acquire back over embankment owned respondent railroad telegraph companies. precise issue Government's done raising respondents even stood compensable Appeals so held. Cir., 113 Federal Reporter, 2nd Series 919. reversed reason all relieving governmental action navigation. addition, remanded determination disputed claim three segments were two those abutted tributary. page 599, 776, 1064. order determine question indicates basis extend 10 also sheds light earlier cases. decisions Lynah, 188 445, 23 349, 47 539, Cress, 243 316, 37 380, 746, they conflict when applied Kelly reported Cress Kentucky River. which, turn, across built mill dam. upheld requiring loss his head resulted Similarly, itself, assumed Cumberland navigable. then allowed recovery ford All points Court's view expressed follows: 11 'What said confined there disclosed. improvement plaintiffs' adjacent non-navigable owners along (non-navigable) held entitled lands. presented discussed opinion.' 597, 12 extent paramount streams further clarified supra. claimed Government dropped Compensation denied ground occurred river, covered river's 13 'We govern warrant applying claimant asks, overruling intimates would desirable. * former damaged; dominance Croix (the river) clear.' 506, 766, 1101. 14 broad rather derived narrower scope, frees When exercises servitude, exercising than anyone. use long limited public See Gould Waters, chapter IV, §§ 86—90 (1883); N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions Farnham, Waters Water Rights, III, 29 (1904). submerged There thus ample notice years interest. crystallized terms relevance marks bed. Accordingly, consistent history rule deny claimant's title burdened burdened.7 15 next amounted Amendment. 16 comes principle privately 'a taking' caused. Pumpelly Green Bay Wall. 166, 20 557; supra; Williams, 485, 363, 554, same C.C., 104 KF105 F3 50, 53; Welch, 217 333, 30 527, 54 787, 28 L.R.A.,N.S., 385, 19 Ann.Cas. 680; illustrate development principle.8 Although have later some respects, followed respect. pages 597—598, 776;9 Commodore Park, Inc., 386, 803, 1017; see Causby, 328 256, 66 1062, 90 1206. 17 findings show permanently invaded soaked sufficiently destroy continuous presence blocked manner helped productivity land.10 prevention purposes due below, equally effective. value, actual solely preventing escape own water, before us. Even situation come established Missouri law unobstructed land.11 18 One remains. contends properly describe taken. That found: '29. privilege exercised plaintiff given suit, present height, operating fulfill develop future greatly vary purposes.' 572. statement, read context, permits described. meets requirements valid description taken indicated 267, 1068, 21 accordingly affirmed. 22 Affirmed. DOUGLAS, whom BLACK, REED, MINTON, concur, dissenting. 24 What purports unfettered flow natural state. what substance claims necessarily same, seeks No accrues who owns shore great until And think greater Mississippi. For 'inconceivable' 'the running capable ownership.' Chandler-Dunbar 229 53, 69, 33 667, 674, 57 1063. incongruous rivers require others bordering tributaries like injuries single act lifting mean Because raises conjunction far upstream each go. apparent types owners. should anticipated both, more obstruct burden Congress control other. Neither state Basically problem locate workable reasonable boundary Congress' rights landowners flowing power. inflicted unlimited. line therefore drawn accommodation interests. could done, allowing stream; can 1064 compensation; latter tributaries. sound treating differently. commerce owner. tributaries, nonnavigable, itself. So congressional servitude. vested anyone, 27 agree DOUGLAS says dissent, additional reverse interfered percolating waters. enjoyed economic advantage drain advantage. outlaws common law, anyone defend interfere drainage.1 exists naturally onto adjoining Landowners build embankments, dykes, obstructions stop appears watercourse obstructed another flooded,2 authority brought my attention indicate obstruction confers cause action. supposed requires freely law. interfering 'taking' 'right' '* 'property rights'; only advantages 'rights' them, recognized courts compel forbear invasion.' 502, 764, Since impunity lying overflowed superior unhampered follows Therefore bound anomalous indeed while highand low-water paying compensation, liable interference judgment. 46 Statutes-at-Large 918, 927; 49 1028, 1034. As improvement, 313 543, during about 75% year, did exceed 419.6 From 1930 1937, September 21, averaged 413.9 feet. several months beginning end 410 less. 413 created 412 416 Although, stated text, River, feet, certain parts land, perceptibly wet dry 602.04 located. made extended expectation Army Engineers damages, comparable occur, result recommended purchase House Committee Rivers Harbors, Doc. 34, 73d Cong., 2d Sess. (1934), 75th 1st 14, 55—56 (1937). project authorized condemn Secretary War 26, 50 844, 848. However, concluded correctly that— not, fact, eminent domain portion plaintiff's recommended, ditch tile portion, recommended. went ahead lock still legislation quoted above, might constituted authorization domain, spend money tiling ditching constitute Congressional waiver immunity suit confession consequences building dam.' 574, 654. 'See Mitchell 267 341, 345, 45 293, 294, 69 644; Alexander, 148 186, 188—190, 529, 530, 415. '16. Underneath clay soil stratum waterbearing sand, top varies 414 sand affected rise fall rises falls response low conditions underground strata rainfall acts reservoir drains vertically ground. '18. average pool six seven previous normal dam, now backs outlet levee, thereby obstructing delaying 420 large almost entirely shut off. Prior creek, normally deep time. '19. operation, period time, formerly available draining drying soil, longer exist. '20. being controlled four five higher stages prior erection Under beneath varying 420.5 422 Dixon's Landing. (The Landing Creek.) area ceased. On portions vertical underlying cut off retarded increased height table. '21. became short time after full After rain, dried out much slowly carry readily. Excessive moisture retained planting crops delayed. appeared dry, underneath support tractors machinery, mired down cease operations. Seed planted failed germinate rot. possible follow proper crop rotation program. often too crops, necessary substitute mature shorter time.' 565—569. opinion, behind filled approximately altitude consequence tubes leading levee prevent A serious consequence, prevented away, keeping one, two, different impairing farming.' 573, Willink 240 572, 36 422, 60 808; Greenleaf Johnson Lumber company Garrison, 237 251, 35 551, 59 939; Lewis Blue Point Oyster Cultivation Briggs, 82, 679, 1083. Loss access compensable. Scranton Wheeler, 179 141, 48, 126; Gibson 166 269, 578, 41 996. See, also, 1017. deprive user purposes, right. 1101; clearly illustrated st. declined allow segment concededly located hand, lower appeal award. Finally, regard disagreement District resolve factual issue. interpreting provision Wisconsin, flooded. remains true real estate superinduced additions earth, material, artificial structure placed effectually impair usefulness, taking, Constitution, proposition weight judicial country, certainly principle.' 181, 557. approval 154, 126, 469, 356, 539. last named involved seepage, turned bog. discussing approving reasoning Lynah cases, 'There difference kind, degree, condition continual overflow back-water intermittent inevitably recurring overflows; and, principle, arise substantial enjoyment owner, treated partial instead total divesting less fee familiar domain.' 328—329, 746. overruled insofar 'for injury stream.' 598, Court, expressly mentioned it. note Based Kentucky, upholding landowner benefit away mill-dam unobstructed, except course nature, mere easement appurtenance, nature inseparable land.' 330, reached express conclusion indication incident ownership. center, unless instruments contrary intent. Brown Wilson, 348 Mo. 658, 665, 155 South Western 176, 179. Also, downstream accumulate Keener Sharp, 341 1192, 111 118, Greisinger Klinhardt, 321 193, 978, 980—981. e.g., Goll A.R. 271 655, 197 Southwestern S79 244; Leazenby, 202 Mo.App. 232, 216 49; Mehonray Foster, 132 229, 882; Applegate Franklin, 84 347; Gottenetroeter Kapplemann, 83 290; Collier 48 398. 118; 978; Springfield Waterworks Jenkins, 62 74.

Classification Label: 3