Court Opinion

ID: 6118991
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-04 18:12:03.854328+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:46.926173
License: Public Domain

The following opinions were delivered :
By the Chancellor.
There seems to be a very little dispute as to the facts _ in this case. But an important question arises as to the rights of the plaintiff in error, as against the persons to whom he had conveyed certain building lots in the city of New-York. His counsel have also raised and argued several constitutional objections to the mode in which damages are directed to be assessed by the laws regulating the laying out and altering streets in that city, which it will be necessary briefly to consider.
Some twenty or thirty years since, the plaintiff in error was the owner of a tract of land in New-York which was laid out into city lots, and delineated on the city map, with streets running through the same in different directions, in the manner in which city and town plots are usually laid out and delineat*98ed. A great portion of these lots, lying in different parts of the tract,'were sold by the plaintiff from time to time to various individuals for building lots ; and in the conveyances were described as bounding on the streets adjacent thereto, as laid down on the city map. It does not appear by whom the original plan or allotment of this tract was made ; neither does it seem to be very material. The streets laid down upon the map were not public highways, but there can be no doubt that the lots were sold by the plaintiff and purchased by the grantees with reference to the city map, and under the expectation that they were ultimately to be used, as building lots. . The plaintiff, in his affidavit says, that in consequence of the reservation of particular portions of the land for streets, whenever the corporation of the city should see fit to open the same, he bounded all the lots which he disposed of upon the said streets1’ adjoining the same, in every case reserving to himself the ground appropriated for the streéts, and all the advantages and emoluments which might accrue when the streets should be assessed and valued by the corporation. I presume the plaintiff did not intend to swear that each conveyance, executed by him, contained such reservation in express terms, but that such is his opinion of the legal effect of the conveyances of the lots bounding them by the streets. The commissioners of estimate and assessment came to a different conclusion as to the legal effect of the conveyances, and they accordingly reported that the plaintiff was the owner of the several pieces of land appropriated for streets, but subject to the easement or right of way over the same in the parties entitled to lands and premises bounded by and fronting on these streets.
It cannot be necessary to examine the question, whether by implication of law, a legal right of way was granted to the purchasers of lots bounded on these streets ; neither do the principles of construction, applicable to grants of property in the country, apply to conveyances of city lots. The right of way as a mere rural servitude, is confined to a. convenient passage from the property granted, to the public road or highway. As this is all that is usually wanted for the use of the premises granted, although the lot is bounded upon several roads, the law gives to the grantee nothing more than convenient passa*99ges to and from the premises granted; but upon the same principle on which the law implies a grant of a convenient way as incident to a lot or farm in the country, the grant of a building lot in the city, described in the conveyance, or in the town plot to which it refers, as bounded by streets or alleys of a certain width, implies a right in the grantee to have the street kept open in front of his lot for the benefit of light and air, as well as for a mere passage to and from the premises; lf it is bounded by a street or alley in the rear, the grantee is entitled to have that kept open also for the same purposes of light and air, as well as for a necessary passage to the rear of Ms building, or to his garden or stables. Where the owner of city property has sold portions of the same for building lots, with reference to a city plan, a court of equity would not permit him to shut up the streets adjacent to the lots granted, without an express or implied reservation of such a right. It is therefore not very material to inquire whether the right to have these streets kept open for the benefit of the plaintiff’s grantees was a legal right, implied by the terms of the grant, or whether it was a mere equitable right, arising from the situation and nature of the property granted. I am inclined to think, however, if the lots are conveyed as bounded by these streets, or with reference to the city map, which showed they were bounded by streets of a particular width, the grantees acquired a legal right as against the grantor, to have those streets kept open for the benefit of the property granted ; and in either point of view, the plaintiff had no equitable claim to charge his grantees or their assigns with the full value of these streets, estimating them as building lots. All that he had any right to claim was the value of the streets to him, subject to the right of his grantees to have them permanently kept open; in other words, the mere value of the legal title, subject to this easement, or urban servitude. If this is all the damrge he is entitled to claim, I presume it will not be disputed that his damages by having the property converted into public, instead of private streets, is merely nominal.
But it is said that the law which authorizes the taking of private property in the city of New-York for a public street is unconstitutional, on the ground that thclegislature cannot author*100ize private property to be taken for public use without the intervention a jury. If the plaintiff is right on this point, then no damages could be awarded to him, and his right to the street remains as it was before the commencement of these proceedings; and all the streets which have been laid out in the city of New-York for the last 20 years are wholly unauthorized and invalid, except, in those cases where the owners, of the land have voluntarily given up their property for the use of streets. I apprehend, however, this court will not arrive at such a conclusion. The assessment of damages by commissioners, instead of a jury, is supposed to be in violation of those amendments of the constitution of the United States which provide that no person shall be deprived of his property without due process of law; that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation ; and that in suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved. I have formerly had, occasion to examine the question how far these amendments of the constitution of the United States were restrictive upon the power of the individual states; and the conclusion at which I arrived was, that all the amendments adopted by congress at its first session, and afterwards sanctioned by the requisite number of states, were intended to be restrictive upon the government of the United States and upon its officers exclusively. See Jackson v. Wood, 2 Cowen, 818, n. b. The preamble which was prefixed to these amendments, as adopted by congress, is important to show in what light that body considered them. This preamble has not usually been published in connection with these amendments; it will be found in the journal of the federal convention, as published in conformity to a resolution of congress, and is as follows: “ The conventions of a number of the states having at the time of their adopting the constitution expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added; and as extending the grounds of public confidence in the government will best ensure the be? neficent- ends of its institution: resolved,” &c. that the following articles be proposed, &c. When we take into considerar *101tion the fact that this preamble was added by the senate, after they had amended the resolution of the house by expunging therefrom the only article proposed as restrictive upon the powers of the states ; and when it is known that these amendments were introduced into congress by Mr. Madison ; in consequence of the objections which had been made in the state conventions to the unlimited powers given by the constitution to the general government, I think it is very evident that the amendments were intended to apply to the general government only, for the purpose of restrióting and limiting its powers, but without any intention of limiting or controlling state legislation. But as the same provisions substantially are now contained in the constitution of this state, it becomes necessary to inquire whether there is any thing in the manner in which the property of individuals is taken for public streets in the city of New-York, or in the mode of ascertaining compensation therefor, which conflicts with the provisions of that instrument.
It is not denied that the legislature have the power to authorize the taking of private property for the' purpose of public streets, upon making just compensation to the owners ; but it is insisted by the plaintiff’s counsel that the increased value of adjacent property belonging to the same individual cannot be set off against the loss or damage sustained by him in taking his property for a street, and be considered as a just compensation for the property so taken ; and that in all cases the damage must be ascertained by the verdict of a jury. I have recently had occasion to examine these questions also, in the case of Beekman v. The Saratoga and Schenectady RailRoad Company, (which is not yet reported,) and came to the conclusion that both of these objections were untenable. The owner of the property taken is entitled to a full compensation for the damage he sustains thereby, but if the taking of his property for the public improvement is a benefit rather than an injury to him, he certainly has no equitable claim to damages. Besides, it is a well settled principle, that where any particular county, district or neighborhood is exclusively benefited by a public improvement, the inhabitants of that *102district may be taxed for the whole expenses of the improvement, and in proportion to the supposed benefit received by each. In this case, if the whole value of the property taken for a street in the city of New-York is allowed to the individua^ owner> the proprietors of the adjacent lots must be assessed for the purpose of paying that amount, and if the individual whose property is taken is the owner of a lot adjacent, that lot must be assessed rateably with the others. It therefore makes no difference whether he is allowed the whole value of the property taken in the first instance, and is assessed for his portion of the damage, or whether the one sum is offset against the other in the first place, and the balance only is allowed.
The mode of ascertaining damages by commissioners, had been extensively practiced in this state previous to the adoption of the new constitution. As this was well known to the members of the convention who framed that instrument, and to the people who adopted it, when they directed that private property should not be taken for public use without just compensation, but said nothing as to the manner in which such compensation should be ascertained, it is to be presumed they intended to leave that subject to the discretion of the legislature, to be regulated in such manner as might be prescribed by law.
The provision of the constitution relative to the trial by jury relates to the trial of issues of fact, in civil and criminal proceedings in courts of justice, and has no relation to cases of this kind. Although damages have frequently been ascertained by the oaths of twelve freeholders, both before and since the adoption of the constitution, yet these are not jury trials within the spirit or meaning of that provision.
I am therefore of opinion that the plaintiff in error has received full compensation for the land taken for the street, by the enhanced value which he must have obtained on the sale of the lots adjacent to the same, and that the amount of nominal damages, to which he was probably entitled, has been legally ascertained and allowed to him in the report of the commissioners of estimate and assessment. The judgment of the supreme court should therefore be affirmed.
*103By Mr. Senator Sherman.- By the return to the writ of error in this case, it appear that Ridge and Attorney streets were to be opened from Division street, past Grand to Broom street, a distance of about 590 feet in Attorney, and 463 feet in Ridge street, running parallel with each other, distant one block apart, and 'extending two blocks in length, making four sections of streets, by being intersected, by Grand and Broome streets. These blocks have long been more or less improved and built upon by the owners of lots, and are now principally covered with buildings.. The whole of the ground Was originally owned by John R. Livingston, the plaintiff in error, and he still continues to be the owner of several lots in some of the blocks fronting on these streets, but in the section of Ridge street, between Division and Grand streets, he is not the owner of any lot, having sold out the whole of his interest in fee.
Although the proceeding by the corporation purports to be the opening of these streets, it is a proceeding more on paper than in fact, for the streets have been, opened, and travelled, and Used, for a great number of years. But the proceeding became necessary to settle and extinguish individual claims, and to vest the title of these streets in the corporation. It was likewise necessary to justify the corporation in pitching, paving, and keeping them in repair, at the public expense, for the accommodation of the inhabitants residing on the lots fronting on these streets. Doubts were entertained whether this could legally be done without Mr. Livingston’s consent, if the fee of the street is in him; for it appears to be settled law, that an interference with the soil of a road or street, or even the cutting down of a tree growing on the same by one person, when the fee is in another, is a trespass.
By the statute under which the commissioners proceeded, it became their duty to estimate the damage for the ground taken for the street, and to award to the owner a just compensation for the same, according to his interest therein; and whatever such damage shall amount to; is required by the act to be assessed upon, and paid by the present owners of lots and houses fronting on the streets, or being within half blocks each way. The commissioners estimated the damage of the *104plaintiff in error for his interest in the ground of these streets as nominal, whereas he claimed to be paid the full value of the ground, and at the rate adjoining lots were selling for.
In order to arrive at the proper conclusion in ascertaining the rights ot the parties m this case,- two inquiries necessarily present themselves for consideration: 1. Were these streets dedicated previous to the appointment of commissioners, by the acts of Mr. Livingston and the operation of law ? 2. Did the fee of the streets belong tb Mr. Livingston, or to the owners of the adjoining lots, as incident or appurtenant to their grants ? Some facts were conceded in argument, explanatory of the case on both sides. The" plaintiff in error states in his añida-' vit, that this plot of ground was originally delineated on the chart of the city as reservations for the streets in question^ whenever the corporation should see fit to open the same; and by a reference to this chart or map referred to-in argument, it appeared to bear date in 1803, was put on file at the request of Mr. Livingston, and that afterwards he began selling off lots, giving deeds in fee simple to the purchasers, and bounding them by these streets according to the map on file. The streets were thrown open, and the grantees of lots went on building and improving on the line of these streets, from the commencement down to the present day. It does not appear that thé corporation did any thing in relation to the opening of these streets, except permitting a map to be made of them, according to the plan agreed upon. They had no- authority to open them, or to remove the fences. From all- that appeared, the fair inference to my mind is, that these streets have been opened and used with the consent and approbation of Mr. Livingston, for twenty years and more. If was according to the common experience of the conduct of men, that he should encourage and promote the opening of these streets, as the population of the city extended out upon the island, so as to render unproductive fields available by the sale and improvement of lots. And it is very evident that these streets, and the individuals who were induced to purchase the lots, and expend their money in building upon them, enhanced the value of his property. It would be, to my mind, an act of injustice, to compel these purchasers to pay for a fight of way, *105which I think, included in their contracts and paid for, on receiving their deeds. I presume it is not doubted that each purchaser of a lot has a right of way over the land of the grant- or, where it surrounds him, whether open or closed, to and „ ’. . ... . . ,. from a public highway. This principle, it is true, is applicaMe to the grantees only.
But the more important question is, has there been in this case what the law calls a dedication of these streets, not only to the grantees, but to the public at largé ? There are two modes of establishing the dedication of a street: one by length of time, the other by an act so unequivocal in its nature as to require no time to warrant a presumption. In 11 East, 376, and in 1 Burr. 133, it was decided that where a person suffers a piece of ground to remain open, and permits it .to be used as a public thoroughfare for a number of years, he shall be presumed to have abandoned it to the public. Formerly, twenty years was thought necessary, but it was afterwards decided that twelve, and subsequently fiight years use of a highway was sufficient length of time to authorize the presumption of a dedication. In Rex v. Lloyd, 1 Campb. N. P. 260, it was held, if the owner of ground throw's open a passage, and neither marks, by putting up any visible bar or distinction, that he means to preserve all his rights, nor excludes persons from passing over it, he shall be presumed to have dedicated it as a public way. In Strange, 1004, it was held a sufficient dedication that the plaintiff some years since had built a street upon his own ground, which had ever since been used as a highway; but that trespass might be maintained for an injury done to the soil, the plaintiff being the owner of the adjoining ground. In Woodyn v. Haddan, 5 Taunt. 125, Chambre, justice, says, “ No particular time in this case is necessary, as evidence of dedication; it is not like a grant presumed from length of time. If the act of dedication is unequivocal, it may take place immediately; as for instance, if a man builds a row of houses on each side of a strip of ground, making it a street leading into another street, and sells or lets these houses, it is instantly a dedication, and a public highway. If it be not so, every one that passes over it is a trespasser, unless he gets the owner’s consent.” On either ground, I think there was a clear *106dedication of the easement, or right of way to' the public. Cfo , jfjg score 0f ]ength of time, the case will justify a user, by the permission of the plaintiff for something like twenty years 5 and on the other hand, by making these strips of ground streets, ^ying out lots fronting on both sides, selling them, and by buildings being immediately put Up by the purchasers, the facts, in my opinion, are sufficient to constitute a dedication at the time.
The first case reported in our books of a dedication of a street in the city of New-York is that of Mercer street, in 4Cowen, 542, which was referred to by counsel, as one which the judges themselves say was decided upon an erroneous principle, arising from the want of a more full developement of facts, and thorough examination of. the principle. This decision was made in 1828, and in the case of Lewis street, the decision was corrected by the same court, without the intervention of-the court of errors. In the case of Mercer street, the judges sent back the report- of the commissioners for awarding nominal damages to the owner, intimating that the owner was entitled to the value of ordinary ground. - It is very probable that had it not been for that decision, this cause would not have been brought to this court; but in the subsequent case the court went more fully into the subject, and decided that the original owner of the soil, Mr. Bayard, was entitled only to nominal damages. It was there made a question whether he was entitled to the fee. The facts in that case were somewhat different from this, though the principle was the same. Mr. Bayard had opened a street through his ground about four or five years before, and sold off his lots fronting on the same ; and the doubt which appeared to exist was whether it had become a thoroughfare' or highway, and in whom was the fee of the road. - My impression in that case is, that he had parted with the fee as well as the right of way. But the subsequent . case of Lewis street, 2 Wendell, 472, again decided the principle in favor of nominal damages.
Another question raised in argument in this case is, in whom was the fee of these streets at the time the commission-, ers were appointed ? Was it in. Mr. Livingston, throughout the whole extent of the streets, or only co-extensive with his *107ownership of adjoining ground 1 A man may have a right of way, without having an interest in the fee; and if such a. person interferes with the soil under the surface, or uses it in any other way than for passing and re-passing, he is responsible as a trespasser to the owner of the fee. Coke says, 2 Inst. 705, “ the fee of the road is in the lord of the manor, or the land owners on both sides of the wayand the same doctrine is recognized in 1 Burr. 145. In the case of Jackson, ex dem. Yates, v. Hathway, 15 Johns. R. 447, the court say that the fee is in the owner of the soil adjoining, and he may maintain trespass or ejectment, and exercise all rights and powers not inconsistent with the right of way ; if he sells it by boundaries that exclude the road, the fee in the road does not pass as an incident, but if he bounds it on the side of the road, or along a highway, or upon a highway, or running to ahighway, there is reason to intend the party meant the middle of the highway. In 6 Mass. R. 454, the owner of the adjoining ground brought trespass, for stopping up a drain under a road*, he was a purchaser in fee, by an ordinary deed from a former owner, and it was decided that he was entitled to the fee of the road, subject to the easement, and might sink a drain, or construct a water course for a mill across the road below the surface, as he owned on both sides, and might, maintain trespass for disturbing them. In 3 Mason, 280> Judge Story, speaking of this principle, say the good sense of this doctrine is, that under the grant of a thing, whatever is parcel of it, or necessary to its beneficial enjoyment, or in common intendment is included in it, passes to the grantee.” In 1 Day’s R. 103, the subject is fully examined, and it is there held, that when the owner of the adjoining soil sells to the grantee by the usual deed of seisin and warranty, he takes the right of soil in the highway, subject to the public right of passage ; and that although there was a clause in the deed saving and excepting the highway, it was decided not to be a reservation of the fee of the road, it being held to be inconsistent and void. Several other cases, 1 Yates, 167, 9 Serg. & Rawle, 9, 1 Pick. 122, go to establish the same doctrine. In these cases it is held that the owners of the soil on each side *108take the fee, as appurtenant to the grant, each to the middle of the road, or adfilum vice, and is similar to a grant bounded by a river not navigable, as decided in 15 Johns. R. 195.
It is unreasonable that an owner who has sold bis ground adjoining a road or street, should retain what can be of no'use to him—the right of bringing trespass for injuries to the soil; but it is important to the owner, who has an immediate interest in the preservation of the road, and often under the necessity of using the soil, taking earth and stones, putting down trees, making drains and vaults, and for a variety of other purposes. Nothing would appear more unreasonable than that he should be subject to an action of trespass for so doing. This principle does not apply to the whole extent of these streets, but as far as the plaintiff sold out adjoining ground so far, in my opinion, the fee of the street is in the present owners. What kind of a reservation Mr. Livingston made as alluded to in the case—what was its nature, or wh’ether he made any reservation of the fee, does not appear, and was denied in argument. If this doctrine applies to that section of Ridge street, between Division and Grand streets, where Mr. Livingston owned no adjoining ground, then he has received an adequate, if not more than an adequate compensation.
As to the constitutional question, I admit that taking a man’s property without his consent, is one of the highest powers that is exercised under the constitution, and ought to be used with great caution. Yet such are the terms of that instrument or compact, made by the sovereign people of this -state, of whom Mr. Livingston is one, that private property may be taken for public purposes, on making a just compensation therefor. This compact has been re-confined by the people since the passage of the act in question. The next inquiry is, has this property been taken by due process of law, and has a just compensation been made therefor 1 On this last point I have given my views. On the other I am of opinion, that if the mode of taking rests with the legislature, and they have prescribed one which operates alike on all whom it affects, and is not individual or partial, that it is valid, and embraced- within the constitutional limits.
*109Without entering further into this inquiry, I must say that the arguments advanced are not sufficient to convince my mind that the law under which the commissioners acted is invalid. The law has been so long recognized by the state courts, and by various acts of the legislature, and the principle introduced into so many other laws, that I should require other and stronger reasons than those urged in argument, to convince my mind of its unconstitutionality ; the effect of which would probably be to throw open to litigation all acts done under the same, for the twenty years it has been in operation. I am of opinion that justice has been done in this case, and am therefore in favor of affirming the judgment.
The court being unanimously of the opinion that the judgment of the supreme court ought to be affirmed, it was affirmed accordingly.