Court Opinion

ID: 7031341
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 06:41:01.067876+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:10:58.744135
License: Public Domain

Dewey, J.
At the December term, 1844, of the board of commissioners of Tippecanoe county, Huff, claiming to be the owner of land on the Wabash river, opposite a ferry which had been theretofore granted to Davis, tendered his bond with surety, in order to entitle himself to the privilege of a ferry from his land to the opposite shore at Davis’s ferry. The commissioners received the bond, and ordered it to be filed. Within thirty days from the date of the order, Davis, by his guardian, upon filing the necessary affidavit of his interest in the matter, took an appeal to the Circuit Court. That Court, on the motion of Huff, dismissed the appeal, on the alleged ground that no appeal lay.
It is provided by statute that, in all cases where a ferry shall have been established in favour of a person owning or claiming land on one side of a river, or stream of water, it shall be lawful for the owner of the land on the opposite side, at any time, to give bond with surety to the board doing county business, in such manner as,is required for the keeping of a ferry; to take possession of the ferry on his side of the stream; and possess the privileges of a ferry-keeper mutually with the keeper of the opposite ferry. Laws of 1844, p. 101.
To entitle a person to a right of ferry under this provision, three things are necessary; first, a ferry must have been previously established by the owner of the land on the side of the stream opposite to the proposed ferry; secondly, the *277applicant for the new ferry must be the owner of the land on which he proposes to establish his ferry; and, thirdly, such applicant must file with the board of commissioners such a bond as is required in other cases of granting a ferry. Of all these matters it is necessary for the commissioners to judge; and in coming to a determination, we think they make a decision from which, under the general provisions of another statute, an appeal lies. R. S. 1843, p. 186.
D. Mace and A. M. Crane, for the plaintiff.
J. Pettit and S. A. Iiuff, for the defendant.
The Circuit Court erred in dismissing the appeal.

Per Curiam.-

The judgment is reversed with costs. Cause remanded, &c.