Court Opinion

ID: 6564001
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 19:18:09.631972+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:56:39.108846
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Bailey
delivered the opinion of the court:
Appellee brought an action to condemn a right of way for a ditch twenty feet long, two feet wide and one foot deep, extending from the lower end of a certain irrigating ditch upon defendant’s premises to plaintiff’s premises.
To the petition appellant filed an answer, plea of res adjudícala and a cross bill for an injunction to restrain plaintiff from extending the ditch.
On motion, the cross petition was stricken out and the court proceeded to determine the issues raised by the other pleadings.
These preliminary matters were determined in favor of plaintiff. Commissioners were then appointed and subsequently reported that there was a necessity for the taking of the land; that the value of the land'taken was $12.50 and .the damage to the residue was ninety dollars.
Seventy errors were assigned, but we will consider only those argued by appellant in his brief.
*521In plaintiff’s petition she claimed that she was one of the owners of the appropriation of water attached to the ditch she sought to extend, but at the primary hearing she abandoned that theory and claimed' that she desired to nse the waste and surplus waters flowing from the ditch.
Defendant says that she cannot maintain this action for such purpose, because his ditch is not such a one as the statute provides may- he enlarged or used by another.
The question here is not one of enlarging - or using the ditch, hut of constructing a new ditch for the purpose of catching and carrying the waste and surplus waters discharged from the ditch. The statute relied upon does not apply, and it is consequently unnecessary to determine whether or not the ditch of defendant comes within its provisions.
The next reason alleged as to why the action may not he maintained is that water arising in a natural stream can only he appropriated directly out of the stream itself or indirectly at some remote point from the source of supply if the appropriator has an easement or right of way up to the stream from whence the water is taken. Sections 2256-2257, Mills’ Ann. Stats., are cited as controlling and prohibitive in this matter.
These two sections permit the use of water and the securing of rights of way, and they are in no sense prohibitive. They have no application to any of the principles here involved.
The third proposition is that the appropriation, whatever be the volume or origin of the water, must attach directly or indirectly to some natural water course or channel. It is needless to- discuss that question. It has no place in an eminent domain proceeding. The fact that there may he a doubt as to whether or not an appropriation of water can be *522made elsewhere than from the stream so that petitioner may not enjoy the frnits of the eminent domain proceeding, if such be the case, does not affect her power to condemn the land as against respondent. He cannot raise a question that does not concern him or which rests solely between petitioner and other appropriators. — D. P. & I. Co. v. D. & R. G. R. R. Co., 30 Colo. 209.
The questions here to. be determined are: First, the necessity for the construction of the ditch; second, the amount of the damages.
The petition and proofs show the necessity for the use of the water and that there was water being wasted which petitioner might obtain.
As to whether or not there is sufficient water for plaintiff’s use, or as to whether or not the plan is a practicable or feasible one, is a matter which cannot be determined in a proceeding of this character.— Gibson v. Cann, 28 Colo. 499.
The various questions which may arise as to the right to appropriate the water cannot be here determined. This would necessarily involve the rights of other appropriators who are not before the court. In any event, it is no concern of the defendant. After having used all of the water to which he is entitled, if there is any surplus remaining in the ditch and which is wasted therefrom, it is immaterial to him as to what becomes of such water.
The fourth contention is that no. easement can be acquired for a ditch until the right to the use of the water shall have become vested. This is equivalent to saying that an easement for such purpose cannot be acquired at all.
The right to the use of water cannot become vested until it has been appropriated. The appropriation is not complete until the water has been ap*523plied to a beneficial use, which cannot be done until the ditch has been constructed.
The procuring of the right of way and the construction of the ditch necessarily precedes the making of the appropriation.
The fifth reason assigned as to why this judgment should be reversed is that there is a misjoinder in the causes of action, because a statutory action to condemn and a bill for injunction to restrain an alleged diversion of water may not be joined. We have searched the petition in vain for an allegation concerning a diversion of water prejudicial to defendant’s rights, and also- for a suggestion requiring injunctive relief, and are unable to learn from an inspection of the petition how counsel arrived at the conclusion that the action was brought for such purpose, or for any purpose other than the condemning of the strip of land.
Appellant contends that a nonsuit should have been granted because plaintiff failed to prove that she was the owner of a water right or had made an appropriation of water. We are not inclined to concede this contention. An action under the eminent domain act cannot be converted into an action to quiet title. So far as it is concerned it must remain an action in eminent domain, añd no issue can be injected into the case which will change its character. —D. P. & I. Co. v. D. & R. G. R. R. Co., 30 Colo. 215.
For the same reason the court did not err in ignoring- the plea of res adjudicata. — 5 Current Law 1138; Xavier Realty Co. v. Louisiana Ry. & Nav. Co., 38 So. Rep. 427. This plea was based upon litigation between plaintiff and defendant’s grantor, involving the right of plaintiff to construct the ditch which she now seeks to condemn the right of way for, ■without having first secured the right of way.
*524Appellant complains bitieny because, tbe trial court did not compel plaintiff to pay defendant’s attorney fees, amounting to $250.00. Tbe statute makes no provision for tbe payment of sucb attorney fees, and tbe trial court would not have had the right to make such an order.
Inasmuch as the validity of plaintiff’s attempted appropriation of the waste and surplus waters flowing from defendant’s ditch cannot be determined in this proceeding, we decline to discuss the questions raised as to the rights of the owners of the White ditch and others who were not parties and whose alleged rights could not be adjudicated in this proceeding if they had been.
Failing to find any substantial error in the record, the judgment of the district court will be- affirmed. Affirmed.
Chief Justice Gabbert and Mr. Justice Goddard concur. _