Court Opinion

ID: 7094442
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 12:09:27.640251+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:13:12.050084
License: Public Domain

Wright, J.
It becomes important to set out the material facts of the contract of November 16, 1863, for it is of the construction given to these that plaintiffs complain. Indeed, this is all there is of the case.
By this, the owner of this dam, as also of the ground adjoining, and, as far as appears, at the time, of all the mills, sold to defendant a certain piece of ground, described, etc., including the planing-mill thereon, fixtures and machinery, belonging thereto, etc., with the “privilege of keeping and maintaining a race for conducting water to said mill, from the dam * * extending from said premises to said dam, above the mill, and of the width of twenty-two feet in front of the said mill (plaintiffs’ mill), standing between said planing-mill and said dam, vn the place where the race now runs. * * * * Deserving also the right to build and erect abutments in the race in front of said saw-mill, and of placing and erecting a building over said race.” * * * Defendant was to “keep his race, flume, and bulkhead, in good repair, so as to cause no unnecessary waste of water.”
*330When plaintiffs purchased, defendant was in possession, using the mill and machinery, and the water, by means of this race. The race too, as the contract shows, was there at the time defendant purchased, but was actually from twenty-four to twenty-eight feet wide. One side of it was made by spiking plank to the posts of plaintiffs’ mill from five to six feet high. When defendant purchased, certain parts of an old flood-gate were in this race ten or twelve feet below the upper end of plaintiffs’ mill. After this, and before plaintiffs’ purchase, he built tmother gate in said race, about twelve feet above the lower end of plaintiffs’ mill, the said mill being about fifty feet in length. This last flood-gate was bolted to plank in the bottom of the race. And, as above stated, the posts of the old, and this new gate entire, were in the race when plaintiffs made their purchase. In the spring of 1867 the last gate was taken out by high water, and the next fall defendant replaced the same, by putting it into the race from one to three feet from where it was before, this being a better place to secure it to the bottom of the race than .where it originally stood. This race was covered at this point by plaintiffs, and defendant took up said covering while putting in this gate. In fastening the gate, and to prevent its being again carried out by high water, the braces to the same were fastened to plaintiffs’ mill. This gate was necessary to the protection of defendant’s mill in high water. It dams up the water in the race, and in time of high water increases the danger, therefore, to plaintiff’s mill.
The trespasses complained of are in nailing and fastening boards to plaintiffs’ mill, in keeping open a passage way for water to a greater extent than defendant’s contract warranted, and in placing lumber, timber and other materials in and upon plaintiffs’ premises, to the damage, etc. By the terms of the contract, defendant had a right *331to use this race to the width as it existed, or “ in the place where it now runs.” If, therefore, when plaintiffs purchased, it exceeded in actual width the twenty-two feet named, yet, as defendant was then in its possession, he might continue to use and occupy it for all purposes necessary to his mill, and as contemplated by the contract, though it turned out to be twenty-eight instead of twenty-two feet in width. It was his duty to keep the race, and every thing connected with it, as defined in the contract, in good repair. And he had the right to do therein, and in all parts of it, whatever was necessary to the protection of his own mill, doing no unnecessary injury to plaintiffs’ property ; and to accomplish these purposes he might enter upon the premises, etc. The fact that defendant continued to keep the braces upon the posts of plaintiffs’ mill would not be a trespass for which he would be answerable, under the facts disclosed. Tie had a right to the use of these supports in maintaining or keeping up his race. These timbers constituting one side of the race, defendant would have a right to fasten thereto the timbers of the new gate or bulk-head.
The right to replace this gate is clear, beyond doubt. If necessary, its location could be changed, provided no special damage resulted therefrom to plaintiffs’ property, beyond what would have occurred if reconstructed at the former or old place. Of course, in all his work, defendant is to be held to proper care and skill, and would be liable (under a proper petition), if in the exercise of the rights conferred by his contract he was guilty of negligence or carelessness to plaintiffs’ injury.
These, in brief, were defendant’s rights, and the law applicable to the contract and facts disclosed. The court correctly and most perspicuously stated the law to the jury, as above announced. The instructions asked by plaintiffs were either embodied in those given, or were in *332conflict therewith, and, hence, properly refused. It only remains to say, that as we understand the record, the gate as last erected was no more on plaintiffs’ premises than it was before. For the assumption that it was changed from defendant’s to plaintiffs’ premises there is no warrant in the testimony. Nor does the testimony warrant the conclusion that it was any higher. In all respects the verdict was warranted by the evidence. And I am, hence, instructed to announce that the judgment shall stand
Affirmed.