Court Opinion

ID: 8190211
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 23:13:06.528739+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:40:35.065018
License: Public Domain

ViNJE, J.
Petitioners claim that tbe right to maintain proceedings to discontinue tbe ditcb may be exercised even though it is not constructed. The law governing' the subject is sec. 1380, Stats. (1898), which provides:
“Any drain, ditch or watercourse laid out and constructed under the provisions of this chapter may be altered, widened, deepened or discontinued by the same authority, and upon like application, petition and proceedings, so far as applicable, required to be taken for laying out and constructing the same.”
The language of the statute is plain, unambiguous, and susceptible of but one interpretation, namely, that before the ditch can be discontinued it must be constructed. This interpretation is conceived to be in harmony not only with the statute laws, but with physical laws as well; for it might be found embarrassing to discontinue that which does not exist. Of course the order laying out the ditch might be vacated before the ditch is dug if the statute so provided. But the statute does not so provide, and this is not such a proceeding. We are asked to construe the statute to read “laid out or constructed.” It is a sufficient justification for refusing to comply with the request to say the legislature did not so enact. And it did not for good reasons. The question as to whether or not a ditch shall be laid out and constructed is litigated before the supervisors upon the application therefor, and on appeal to commissioners provided by statute. The determination of that question in the manner prescribed by law is final. It appears that the petitioners, or one of them at least, exhausted that remedy, but not with satisfactory results. It is now sought to accomplish the object then defeated under the guise of proceedings to discontinue the ditch; for it is apparent.that the real effect thereof, if successful, would be to vacate the order laying it out. This cannot be done. Petitioners have had their day in court on that question and they must abide by the result. It was appreciated, however, *41that after tbe ditch was constructed conditions might, in tbe near or remote future, so change as to make it desirable to discontinue it — hence tbe prolusions of 'the statute. Tbe legislature wisely chose the word and instead of or, and the circuit court properly quashed the alternative writ of mandamus.
By iTie Court. — Judgment affirmed.