Kansas Southwestern Railway Co. v. Land & Power Co.
Kansas Southwestern Railway Co. v. Land & Power Co.
Opinion of the Court
The appellant complained about the height of a dam constructed by appellees across the Arkansas river, and alleged that it had been maintained so high as to flood its right of way. It asked damages for the injuries sustained, and also to enjoin the further maintenance of the dam at the excessive height. The dam was built in 1886 and 1887, and during the same time the appellant’s railroad was constructed along the river. The south end of the dam adjoined the right of way, and it appears that appellant and appellees both obtained their rights in the land occupied by each from the same source. Since the dam was first constructed and the waterpower developed, there have been built in that vicinity mills and light and power plants which are operated by waterpower and which are of the estimated value of $500,000. The appellant contended that in repairing and rebuilding the dam it had been raised to a greater height than it was first built, with the result of throwing the water back on its land and injuring it. The appellees denied that the dam had been built to a greater height than it was in the beginning; they pleaded a statute of limitations, and also that they had been in the open and adverse possession of the land, and had maintained the dam for a period of time which gave them the right by prescription to keep it in its present condition. The principal controversy in the trial court arose over the question whether the dam had in fact been raised to a greater height than it was originally constructed. The trial court, after listening to a large volume of testimony, much of which was conflicting, made a general finding in favor of appellees, and necessarily found every disputed question of fact in their favor.
In this appeal attention is called to some of the testimony which, it is insisted, is not in 'dispute and entitles appellant to relief. There is dispute, however, on
There is some contention that appellees had no interest in the land on the bank of the river on which to base an easement, but if it be assumed that there must be a dominant estate as a foundation for the easement, there is testimony in the case that the end of the dam rested on land other than that of the appellant.
The judgment of the district court will be affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.