Evel v. City of Utica
Evel v. City of Utica
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The question upon which the parties herein divide is whether the proceedings taken by the authorities of Utica, a city of the third class, towards the condemnation of land lying outside of the city for waterworks, are valid.
The city proceeded under the provisions of the third-class-city act, which provides that private property may be taken for public use for railroads, market houses and market places or “for any other necessary purpose.” It prescribes the procedure for condemnation, authorizing the appointment of five disinterested householders of the city to assess the compensation, and providing that an appeal from their decision may be taken to the district court. (Gen. Stat. 1915, § 1942.) The steps that were taken by the city conform to the requirements of this act, but it is contended that the áppropriation of property for waterworks outside of the city was not within the contemplation or authority of the statute. It conceded that authority for the compulsory appropriation of private property for a public use must either be expressly granted or reasonably implied from the powers expressly granted. It is conceded and has been decided that the power to purchase and hold property for this purpose does not carry with it the power to obtain it by condemnation. (Enterprise v. Smith, 62 Kan. 815, 62 Pac. 324.) In dealing with the question of supplying water to the inhabitants, the legislature has authorized a city of the third class to enact such ordinances as are necessary for the health of the people therein. (Gen. Stat. 1915, § 1908.) In 1871 it was provided that the cities of that class in making regulations to secure the general health of the people might purchase and hold necessary land for waterworks within or without the city. (Gen. Stat. 1915, § 1937.) In the same session of the legislature the provisions already referred to were enacted, under which the city was proceeding to obtain land for waterworks. It
Attention is called to another act passed in 1872, and amended in 1883, by which land- may be obtained for waterworks in cities of .any class, and by a different method. The statute appears to have been omitted from recent compilations of the laws, but it does not appear to have been repealed, and no reason is seen why the powers conferred in it may not be applied. (Laws 1872, ch. 208, as amended by Laws 1883, ch. 38, Gen. Stat. 1901, §§ 7904-7909, Gen. Stat. 1915, note, p. 177.) This act provides that cities of the first, second and third class shall have power to condemn rivers not navigable and to divert the waters therefrom, and also to condemn and appropriate land for waterworks. The proceeding under this act is to be initiated by petition to the judge of the district court, who is authorized to appoint three commissioners to make the condemnation and assess the damages. It is provided that the commissioners so chosen shall follow, with slight exceptions, the procedure for the condemnation of land for right of way of railroads. It expressly provides that land outside of the city may be taken for waterworks and, while it was passed after the enactment of the eminent-domain provision of the third-class-city act of 1871, it does not follow that that act is repealed, or that condemnation may not be made under it. The act of 1872 undertakes to extend the power of condemnation beyond that conferred in the act of 1871, in that it gives the additional right to condemn rivers and to divert water from¡ the river in order to obtain a supply of water. But regardless of this differénce in the acts, it was competent for the legislature to provide, as has been done in several instances, two systems for the accomplishment of the same purpose. There may be good reasons why the condemnation should be made by commissioners appointed by the city council in the manner prescribed
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- C. Evel v. The City of Utica
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- Syllabus
- SYLLABUS BY THE COURT. 1. Cities of Third Class — Obtaining Water Supply — Land Outside Corporate Limits Condemned. For the purpose of obtaining a water supply a city of the third class may, when necessary, condemn land situated within or without its corporate boundaries, under the authority conferred in section 1942 of the General Statutes of 1915. 2. Same — Obtaining Water Supply — Earlier Statute$ Not Repealed. Another method for the appropriation of land for waterworks by cities is provided in chapter 208 of the Laws of 1872, as amended by chapter 38 of the Laws of 1883. The later act did not repeal the earlier one, and, as both systems are in existence, the power of appropriation may be exercised under either of them.