Richardson v. Bohney
Richardson v. Bohney
Opinion of the Court
The unsatisfactory condition of the record in this case as well as the uncertainty of the evidence it discloses convinces us that the ends of justice can be more satisfactorily and effectively met by ordering a new trial than by affirming the judgment in the condition in which the case comes before us. We have consequently concluded that a reversal of the judgment should be ordered and a new trial granted.
In doing so it is only necessary to make the following observations : In the first place, we do not think there was any error in overruling the demurrer.
In the second place, the effort of the parties on a new trial should be directed toward the ascertainment of the true line of the government survey as it was originally made on the ground, and not as to the contention among surveyors as to the correctness of the survey, or anything of that kind. ‘1 The purpose of a resurvey subsequent to the taking of title by purchasers and settlers,” as stated by this court in Bayhouse v. Urquides, 17 Ida. 290, 105 Pac. 1066, “is to ascertain the lines of the original survey and the original boundaries and monuments as established and laid out by the survey under which the parties originally procured their titles. (Martz v. Williams, 67 Ill. 306.) On such resurvey or re-established boundaries and monuments the question of the correctness of the original surveys cannot enter into the matter at all, and is a matter that does not concern the surveyor, and is not a question to be ascertained by him.” The rule there announced is one that should govern the court in ascertaining the correct boundary line between the parties in this case.
In the third place, if it should be ascertained that any of the parties to this action entered upon land which was government land and which did not in fact belong to them, and grow crops or place valuable improvements thereon, the question of the ownership and right of removal of such crops or improvements should be determined by the rule announced by this court in Bingham County Agricultural Assn. v. Rogers,
For'the foregoing reasons, the judgment will be reversed, and the cause is hereby remanded for a. new trial. Costs awarded in favor of appellant.
Petition for rehearing denied.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- GEORGE A. RICHARDSON v. JOSEPH D. BOHNEY
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Resurveys of Public Lands — Right of Removal of Improvements from Public Lands. (Syllabus by tbe court.) 1. In hearing evidence as to the correctness of a resurvey of lands and the establishment of a true boundary line between adjoining owners, the inquiry should be directed to the question as to where the line of original survey was actually established on the ground without reference to the question as to whether or not the original survey was correct or incorrect. 2. Where a party enters upon public lands in good faith and makes, or causes to be made, valuable improvements or grows crops thereon, although his right to make entry of such lands or purchase the same under the land laws may be defeated, he should be allowed to remove such improvements or crops within a reasonable time after notice that his title is not good or that he is not the owner of the lands on which he has entered.