Court Opinion

ID: 6587928
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 19:50:59.796712+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:57:20.731097
License: Public Domain

Beard, Justice.
The plaintiff in error brought this action against the defendant in error, in Justice’s Court of Daramie County, to recover the value of two head of cattle. Judgment was rendered in that court in favor of plaintiff and against defendant, and defendant appealed to the District Court, where judgment was rendered in favor of defendant, and plaintiff brings error.
*212The plaintiff alleged in his petition that the cattle were killed by an engine on defendant’s road, and that the place where the cattle went upon the track was not within the limits of any incorporated city or town, but was at a point where the defendant had failed to fence its track as required by law. No negligence is charged other than the failure to fence. The defendant answered, admitting that the place at which the animals went upon the railroad was not within any incorporated city or town, but alleged that “at the point where the said cattle were struck by the engine of this defendant, this defendant maintained station grounds upon which were located a station and section house, switching track, and cattle yards, and that it was necessary for public convenience and necessary for the proper operation of its railroad in attempting to carry on business with due regard and care for the safety of employes, that the track be left unfenced at that point; and that it was further necessary that the public have access to the station grounds; and that the locality where these cattle were struck is one where the proper conduct of the business, considering both the public convenience and the operation of its railroad with regard to the safety of employes, requires that it be left unfenced, it being a point where freight is loaded and unloaded frequently, and where passengers are admitted to its cars, and where switching is frequently done.” The plaintiff demurred to this defense, which demurrer was sustained by the justice, and, on the evidence produced, he rendered judgment in favor of plaintiff. On appeal the demurrer was submitted to the District Court and was overruled, and the plaintiff electing to stand on his demurrer, judgment was rendered in favor of defendant. The foregoing statement, we think, sufficiently presents the issue. ■
It is at least doubtful if the answer, strictly construed, presents any defense, as it contains no allegation that the place where the cattle went upon the track was within the station grounds; the allegation being that the place where they were “struck” was so situated. But as both counsel *213liave argued the case on the theory that the cattle were struck at the same place at which they .went upon the track we will so consider it.
Our statute, Chap. 84, S. L. 1907, Sec. 1, provides that “all railway corporations, owning or operating a line of railway within the State, shall construct, maintain and keep in repair on each side of the track thereof, a sufficient fence, so connected with suitable cattle guards at all public road crossings as to prevent stock from getting on the railroad track of said corporation, * * * Provided, That railway corporations shall not be required to construct •and maintain a fence within the boundaries of any incorporated city or town.” Section 2 of the act provides that “Any corporation operating a railway arid failing to fence the same and to construct and maintain suitable cattle guards as required by Section 1 hereof, shall be liable to the owner or owners of any live stock killed or injured by reason of its failure to construct or keep in repair such fence or cattle guard in the manner provided in this ;act,” etc.
The only question presented for consideration is, whether railroad companies are required, by the act quoted, to fence their station grounds where the same are situated .outside of the boundaries of any incorporated city or town. Many of the states have enacted statutes requiring railroad companies to fence their “track” or “road” and making them liable for stock killed or injured by reason of ■a failure to fence, without other allegation or proof of negligence than such failure. Some of these statutes contain no exceptions whatever; while others except from the operation of the statute the territory within cities, towns, villages, or where the land has been platted into lots, etc.; and the question has frequently come before the courts as to whether under such statutes there. is an implied ■exception of depot or station grounds, not mentioned in the statute, but necessary for the convenience of the public to be left unfenced; and the decisions have been quite uniform to the effect that such station grounds are not *214required to be fenced. Under a statute making the coni- ' pany liable if it failed to fence “its road” it was held that it did not apply to or include depot grounds. (Davis v. Burlington & M. R. R. R. Co., 26 Ia. 549.)
A statute of Illinois required railroad companies to fence-their “road” except at the crossings of public roads and highways, .and within such portions of cities and incorporated towns and villages as are or may hereafter be-laid out and platted into lots-and blocks. It was held that the statute by its terms did not include stations, and.that it was not intended to apply to public stations or depot-grounds, although such stations or depot grounds were not situated within a city, town or village, for the reason that the convenience of the public requires stations and depot grounds to be open. (C. B. & Q. R. R. Co. v. Hans, 111 Ill. 114; T., St. L. & K. C. R. R. Co. v. Franklin, 159 Ill. 99.) The Nebraska statute requires the railroad to be fenced, except at the crossings of public highways- and within the limits of towns, cities and villages; and it has been held in that state that depot or station grounds- or yards outside of cities, towns or villages were not required to be fenced (C. B. & Q. Ry. Co. v. Sevcek, 72 Neb. 793, 101 N. W. 981, on rehearing, 72 Neb. 799, 110 N. W. 639; Burnham v. C. B. & Q. R. Co., 119 N. W. 235.) For other cases construing statutes similar in effect to the-one under consideration, see I. & G. N. R. R. Co. v. Locke, 64 Tex. 151; G. C. & F. Ry. Co. v. Ogg, 8 Tex. Civ. App. 285; Bechdolt v. G. R. & I. Ry. Co., 113 Ind. 343; C., H. & I. R. R. v. Jones, 111 Ind. 259; McGrath v. D. M. & M. R. R. Co., 57 Mich. 555; Schneekloth v. C. & W. M. R. R. Co. (Minn.), 65 N. W. 663; Greeley v. St. P., M. & M. Ry. Co., 33 Minn. 136; Kobe v. N. P. R. R. Co., 36 Minn. 518; Swearingen v. M., K. & T. R. R. Co., 64 Mo. 73; Wilmot v. O. R. & N. Co. (Ore.), 87 Pac. 528, 7 L. R. A. (N. S.) 202, and note.
•The primary purpose of the statute evidently is the protection of stock running at large upon the open range over which the lines of railroads pass, and where stock is liable *215to go upon the track and be killed or injured by trains passing over the road, and where it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the owner of such stock to prove negligence in the operation of such trains. As stated by Wright, J., in the Davis case, 26 Ia., supra, “The Legislature had in mind, beyond, question, these lines as they were constructed over our prairies, knowing that cattle were free ■commoners, and to protect stock running at large so generally in the agricultural districts of the State. * * * The thought, however, was the fencing of the. track or road, and not the depot grounds. The language is, ‘its road/ and we do not believe that this includes depot grounds.” It must also be remembered that our statute was not enacted until 1907, long after similar statutes had been in force in other states and had been construed by the courts of last resort in those states. It would, we think, be a reflection upon the intelligence of the Legislature to.presume that it was ignorant of the judicial construction placed upon such statutes in other States, where .such construction has been so nearly uniform. Had a different construction been intended, it would, no doubt, have been expressed in the act.
We are of the opinion that the statute was not intended to require the fencing of station grounds outside of incorporated cities and towns, where public convenience requires the same to remain open. There was no error in overruling the demurrer, and the judgment of the District Court is affirmed. Affirmed.
Potter, C. J., and Scott, J., concur.