p. 294claimed, the grantee was obliged, when required thereto, hut not till then, to erect according to any resolution or ordinance oí the corporation, good and. sufficient, firm avenues, wharves, etc., in the directions mentioned, and according to maps referred to; and by said deed it was further agreed, that the grantee was not to build the wharves and hulk-heads, avenues or streets, or any part thereof, or make land in conformity to the covenants mentioned, until permission for that purpose should be first obtained from the defendant. Held, that although the filling in, to make land of the intermediate spaces between the shore line and the line of the streets, etc., was not expressely prohibited by the deed, yet, from the covenants contained therein, it was to be" inferred that such filling was not to take place until the permission of the defendant had first been given.
In 1856, an ordinance was passed, extending Bast street, and authorizing and directing the adjoining proprietors to make and complete that street, and to fill in and level the spaces between their property and the street. Held, that the direction contained in the ordinance was not to make land of water lots, hut only to the proprietors of land adjoining or nearest, or opposite to Bast street, to fill in between their property and that street.
In 1867, the plaintiff obtained from the street commissioner permission to build a bulk-head in front of the lots in question, under the direction of the superintendent of wharves, “ the same not to be filled in behind until directed by said superintendent.” The plaintiff relied upon this as a permit from the defendant to fill in the land. Held (1), that the commissioner of streets had no authority to direct or permit the construction of bulk-heads; (3), that, from the very terms of the permit, the land was not to he filled in, until directed by the superintendent of wharves, and that no such direction was proved in this case.
The plaintiff insisted that the conditions in the deed to his grantor, were repugnant to the grant, and void. Held, that the defendant, being a municipal corporation with legislative powers in reference to streets, avenues and wharves, could make no contract limiting them, and could therefore impose a condition on any grant embracing such subjects, with reference thereto, not inconsistent with the law of the land.
Motion for a new trial, on exceptions ordered to be heard in the first instance at the General Term. The facts are stated in the opinion.
A. J. Vanderpoel and F. J. Fithian, for the plaintiff.
E. Delafield Smith and D. C. Calvin, for the defendants.
The plaintiff’s claim to compensation in damages, rests upon his title, derived through a grant made by the defendants, The Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the city of ISTew York, to the Farm
p. 295ers’ Loan and Trust Company, bearing date the 29th January, 1847, conveying to them divers water lots and soil under water, to be made land, and gained out of the East river or harbor of Yew York, and which included the premises subsequently, and on or about the 1st February, 1866, aliened to him. The cause of the injury is the alleged building and construction of sewers near the premises of the plaintiff, “ in so careless and improper a manner,” that large quantities of water and filth ran from them, upon such premises, washing away large quantities of earth, and carrying away and destroying a large portion of the bulk-head erected by him. Upon the trial, the plaintiff proved his purchase of the loous in quo, the erection of a bulk-head across the east end of his premises by permission of the street commissioner, and attempted to show that, after the completion of the bulk-head, he proceeded to fill in and make land between the shore and the bulk-head. It was also proved that the sewers, one or both of which occasioned the injury complained of, were in existence at the time he commenced to build the bulk-head, and to fill in to make land. Yo evidence was offered, however, to show that the sewers were improperly or carelessly constructed, as averred in the complaint. The covenants and conditions, in the grant to the Farmers’ Loan and Trust Company, under which the plaintiff necessarily claimed, must be resorted to and interpreted, in order to ascertain whether he was in such relation to the defendants, as enabled him to call upon them to respond, assuming his alleged injuries to have been sustained. The deed to them, and under which the plaintiff claims, as already suggested, was not an absolute, unconditional grant of the lots described. It contained covenants and conditions to which the transfer was subservient. The grantee was obliged, when required thereto, but not till then, to erect, according to any resolution or ordinance of the corporation, good and sufficient firm avenues, wharves or stretets in the direction mentioned, and according to maps referred to, and, in addition, firm bulk-heads, wharves, avenues, or streets in front of these streets, avenues or wharves, thus particularly mentioned and referred to. It is further covenanted, that the true intent and meaning of the grant is, that the grantees will not build the wharves and bulk-heads, avenues or streets, or any part thereof, or make land in conformity to the covenants mentioned, until per
p. 296mission for that purpose should be first had and obtained from the grantors, the defendants.
The" deed also contained a condition in reference to the grantees, their heirs or assigns, that if they should make default in the performance of any or either of the covenants, on their part to be observed, performed, fulfilled and kept, then, and in such case, every article, clause or thing therein contained, should become absolutely void, and the grantors thereafter seized of the premises, discharged of any claim, right or pretense of such grantees. The prohibition against filling in, to make land of the intermediate spaces between the shore line and the line of the streets, avenues, wharves or bulk-heads, was not expressly stated, but neither the streets, nor any part of them, were to be made without the requirement contemplated, or the permission given, for which provision was made. The lots were to be made land, and gained out of the East river or harbor of blew York, and it is evident that this could not be done, without the barriers which the wharves, streets, avenues and bulk-heads would accomplish, against the influence of the tide-waters upon the soil deposited. This may be explanatory of the absence of any express provision in regard to the filling in of the space referred to, and affords a reasonable presumption that this was understood by, and in contemplation of, the parties when the deed was made. The filling in to make lands, was, in other words, so necessarily connected with the construction of the streets, avenues, wharves and bulk-heads, that it could not be accomplished without uniting them. The course of procedure by the plaintiff illustrates this. He did not begin to fill in, until he had completed the bulk-head. This fact is shown by the question asked him and rejected. There are other reasons, however, which may be called into view. The rights of the owners of adjoining lands — the location of sewers and riparian rights—might require consideration by the defendants, and such directions given, as would avoid a clashing of these interests. The defendants were to be consulted, that, all things considered, the permission might be given with due regard to the rights and interests of the people, and of the corporation. The whole scope of the deed seems to be, therefore, that the water lots should not be made land, until the grantees were required to make them so, or
p. 298been referred to any statute or ordinance, delegating to the commissioner authority to grant the permission. His powers are defined by section 23, chapter 446, of the Laws of 1857, which creates an executive department, denominated the street department, and which, it is declared, shall have cognizance of building, and repairing, and lighting wharves and piers, under the ordinances of the common council. This confers no authority, other than a supervisory one. It relates to the building of wharves, in accordance with the ordinances of the common council. It does not, in letter or spirit, delegate to him the power, either to direct the building of bulk-heads or wharves by another, or to give permission to another to do it, in accordance with a grant made by the common council to whom he was subordinate. The common council, in 1859, by ordinance approved June twentieth, declared that the street department should have cognizance, among other things, of building, repairing and lighting wharves and piers, but, at the same time, provided that no expenditure should be made for any work or supplies, relating to any matters within the cognizance of the street department, unless authorized by the common council; except when necessary, and then, only, to the extent of $250. These powers relate to expenditures by the corporation —■ to buildings by them at their expense, and to them only; and, even in such cases, their authority must be sought and exercised, and their sanction given. The building of a bulk-head by some other person, under contract with them for that purpose, and as they shall direct or allow, is not within the cognizance of the street commissioner, until recognized by them as an act to be done. He cannot determine the time when, or manner in which, that covenant shall be performed. He cannot, in other words, build a bulkhead on his own authority, or allow one to be built. It thus appears that the authority to grant permission, was neither conferred by ordinance or by statute. The plaintiff was dealing with a municipal corporation possessing extensive powers, many of which it could not barter away by contract. The conditional character of the grant, itself gave him notice of their continued dominion over the aliened area. His rights were subordinate to the legislative control of the defendants, acting within the powers conferred upon them in that respect. It was obligatory upon him,