Cheney v. New York Central & Hudson River Railroad

Headnote

HienWAvs—Title to eee—Grant bt state.

A grant by the state of land bordering on a highway presumptively con* veys title to the center of the highway.

Appeal from special term, Onondaga county.

Action by Stephen Cheney and others against the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Company and another to restrain defendants from operating their railroad on Canal street, in the city of Syracuse, in front of premises owned by plaintiffs, and to compel the removal of rails therefrom, and to recover damages for past trespasses. There was a judgment in favor of plaintiffs, and defendants appeal.

The opinion of Mr. Justice VAHN, at special term, is as follows:

The principle upon which the court has based its judgment in this case is the same as was laid down in Mayock v. Rome, W. & O. R. Co., decided in March, 1893, and the features common to the two cases will not be reconsidered. The letters patent dated May 11, 1832, when considered in connection with the inapto which they refer, which has been sufficiently identified, establish a conveyance by the people to a remote grantor of the plaintiffs of a lot of land, in effect described as abutting upon a street, without any reservation or declaration of intention not to convey to the center of the street. As between individuals, such a conveyance is presumed to carry the title to the center of the street, subject to the right of way belonging to the general public. Bissell v. Railroad Co., 23 N. Y. 61 ; In re Ladue, 118 N. Y. 213 , 23 N. E. 465 . The same presumption extends to a grant from the state, and for the same reason, namely “because a narrow strip, such as half a street, is much more valuable to

the grantee than to the grantor, and the parties are supposed to have so dealt with the property as to bring out its greatest value.” In re Ladue, 118 N. Y. 219 , 23 N. E. 467 . If the title to public highways was in the state, in its-corporate capacity, the presumption might be otherwise, but the state does not OAvn an ordinary highway. State OAv-nership would carry with it the burden qf expense for care, construction, and repairs that rests upon subordinate political divisions of the state, such as toAvns, cities, and villages. When a highway, no matter Iioav ancient, is abandoned, notice need not be given to the state; and it is safe to say that the state has never asserted title to any part of a abandoned highway. If the street in question should be abandoned, the land Avould not revert to the state, but to the-adjoining proprietors. The right of way over land constituting a street belongs to the people at large in their unorganized capacity, but the control of the same is vested by law in certain political agencies, such as those aboA7e named, and they are held responsible for the manner in which they discharge their duties. In no sense, however, does the state own the streets of a city, arid hence the distinction relied upon by the defendant between public and private grants does not apply to this case. The plaintiffs, in my opinion, OAvn to the center of the street, and are entitled to damages.

The statute of limitations, pleaded by the defendants, aaTlo rely upon the 6/ 10, and 20 years’ provisions, respectively, applies only as to a continuous trespass. As was said in a late case: “No lapse of time or inaction merely on the part of an OAvner after the erection and during the maintenance-of the unlaA\Tful structure unless it has continued for such a period of time as will effect a change of title in the property, or authorize the presumption of a grant, is sufficient to ( defeat the right of the owner to his action at laAV or equity.”' Gaffay v. Railroad Co., 128 N. Y. 132 , 40 St. Rep. 145 .

The conveyance to the plaintiffs Avas not champertous (American Bank-Note Co. v. New York El. R. Co., . 129 N. Y. 252 , 41 St. Rep. 531 ); and, although they purchased a number of years after the railroad Avas constructed in Canal street, still they are entitled to all damage on account of the maintenance and operation of the railroad that has accrued since their purchase, not exceeding six years before the commencement of the action. (Sterry v. Railroad Co., 129 N. Y„ 619, 41 St. Rep. 119 .)

The remaining question, relating to the damages, is not without embarrassment, OAving to the someAA’hat indefinite nature of the evidence upon the subject. The nearest approximation to justice that I can make is to place the past damages at $432.95, and the future damages at $750, the-

benefits having been duly considered when and as permitted by the adjudged cases, Newman’s Case, 118 N. Y. 618 30 St. Eep. 36; Sutro’s Case, 137 N. Y. 592 , 50 St. Eep. 701. The plaintiffs, therefore, are entitled to judgment' for said sum of $432.95, with costs; the, same to be collected in the usual way. They are also entitled to judgment restraining the defendants from operating their railroad on the land of the plaintiffs in Canal street, and commanding them to remove their tracks therefrom within 60 days after the entry and notice of judgment therein, unless within said period they shall pay to the plaintiffs the "further sum of $750, in full for the value of so much of plaintiff’s interest in said street as is necessary to maintain the tracks and structures now existing therein, and to store, use, and operate engines and cars thereon in the same manner as heretofore has been done. If such payment is made as is last above provided, the plaintiffs shall thereupon, at the request of the defendants, and at their expense, execute, acknowledge, and deliver to the defendants, or such one or more of them as their attorneys shall elect, a deed releasing their interest in the street accordingly. If either of the plaintiffs has a living-wife, and she refuses to unite with him in the release, one-third of his interest in said sum of $750 is to be paid into court, to await its further order.

Findings and a decree may be prepared accordingly and settled, if not agreed upon as to form, on a notice of two days.

Argued before HARDIN, P. J., and FOLLETT, ADAMS, WARD, and GREEN, JX