Court Opinion

ID: 6539958
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 22:14:47.708981+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:47.535713
License: Public Domain

Gregg, J., dissenting, says: — -The appellant failed to de-' sci'ibe his sei’vices; to show what labor he had done; he failed to describe the property against which he was attempting to enforce a lien, and he failed to charge that the appellee was the owner of the property against which he was proceeding, etc., and the demurrer should have been sustained. But we are not prepared to concur in all the reasoning of the court. The first section of the law referred to: — Act of July, 23d, 1868 — declares that all laborers shall have an absolute lien on the production of their labor, etc. Section five, in which the manner of commencing suit is prescribed, directs how lands and other property shall be listed, preparatory to sale, etc. The tenth section provides for a sale when judgment is obtained, and declares that when real estate is to be sold under a lien for labor, such as ditching, building levees, etc., a copy of the judgment shall be filed in the county clerk’s office, etc. Section fifteen provides that, in selling buildings, a reasonable amount of land, not exceeding two acres, will be sold with them, etc. Section sixteen prescribes that the officer making sale shall make deed, etc., and section twenty prescribes that no real estate shall be exempt from sale under an execution on a laborer’s lien. We think the lien upon real estate does not depend upon the language in section ten. That section in no way declares upon what kind of property the lien may attach; it prescribes the mode of sale, and alludes -to ditching and levees as illustrations of the kind of work for which a lien attaches to real estate; it says when real estate is to be sold under a lien for labor, such as ditching, etc.; and whether or not railroads come within the j>rovisions of the lien, does not depend upon the tenth section, or what is embraced in it, etc. The act is general in its terms; it does not specifically point out either personal or real property, but attaches the lien to all property, and then prescribes how personal property and real property shall be sold; what quantity in certain cases shall be sold; that none shall be exempt from execution, etc. And we have no doubt but it was the intention of the Legislature to embrace all real estate whereon its owner may have valuable fixtures erected, and, by such labor, rendering the lands mow valuable. We think it immaterial whether the labor was in ditching, building a stone wall, or erecting other improvements, such as an owner might wish to attach to his lands. And, under our railroad charters, the companies do-not erect their lines of road upon a mere easement — a mere right to pass over the lands of another. But they hold such title in the realty as is subject to mortgage and sale'; subject to transfer by deed, etc. And if a proper case should arise, between proper parties, I see no reason why a lien might not be enforced-against a railroad company as well as against others holding property.