St. Paul Union Depot Co. v. St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway Co.
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St. Paul Union Depot Co. v. St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
The question in this case is the extent of the rights; reserved to the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway Company.
This must be construed with reference to the whole deed, and the other contemporaneous contracts which were really a part of the same transaction, and in the light of the surrounding facts and circumstances, in order to correctly apply the language to the subject-matter, and arrive at the real intention of the parties. We cannot here take time or space to refer in detail to all these matters, which are fully disclosed in the record. We can do little more than state our conclusions, as follows:
1. This language clearly reserves to the Manitoba Company the use of these three tracks, not merely for the business of those companies to whom it was, at the time of the execution of the deed, under obligations to furnish depot accommodations, but also for that of any other companies with which it might thereafter contract to furnish such accommodations. The words, of their own force, include this. Furthermore, at the date of the deed, the Manitoba Company was under no obligation, perfected or inchoate, to furnish depot accommodations at St. Paul to any company except the Northern Pacific. Hence any other construction would do violence to the words, “or companies,” as well as the words, “is now, or itself, its successors or assigns, shall at any time hereafter be.”
The proviso which follows, viz.: “Provided that during such period
Again, any other construction is inconsistent with the provision for a connection with the reserved tracks, which employs, with respect to the business for which accommodation is reserved, in addition to that already quoted, the following language: “A proper and convenient railway track or tracks across said grounds, extending from such point or points as it or its successors or assigns shall select, on the northern boundary of said property hereby conveyed, to said tracks in said depot, and thereby connecting said tracks in said depot with the railroad of the party of the first part, and the railroad of any other railroad company which it now is, or it, or its successors or assigns, shall at any time hereafter be, under obligations to furnish or provide with passenger depot accommodations.” That the words italicized do not refer to the Northern Pacific Company is apparent from the fact that by its contract with the Manitoba Company it was to use the tracks of the latter.
Further confirmation is found in the contract (Exhibit C.) between the Union Depot Company and the Manitoba Company, which was contemporaneous with the deed, and a part of the same transaction. In the preamble it states the purpose and extent of the reservation in the following unmistakable language, viz.: “For its and their own business, and the business of such other railroad company or companies as, at the time of the execution of said deed, it was, or has since become, or itself, its successors or assigns, shall at any time thereafter be, under obligation to furnish or provide with passenger depot accommodations at the city of St. Paul.” The same language is repeated with respect to the connection with the reserved tracks.
2. This reservation covers, not only the right to run trains in and out of the depot upon these three tracks, but also the right to general depot accommodations. ' This is so palpably manifest as to hardly need discussion. The use of the reserved tracks is conditioned upon the payment of “such just, reasonable, and equal rates of rent, dues, and charges as shall be paid by other railroad companies enjoying depot accommodations in said depot.” The reservation was for the business of the Manitoba Company and its tenants, and is no greater or different for the one than the other. It was to have the same rights for the business of its tenants as for its own,,and was to pay the same rents, dues, and charges for the one as the other.
8. The right to the use of these reserved tracks by the Manitoba Company and its tenants was subject only to the payment of rents and charges, and to “rules and regulations” common to other companies using the depot. These “rules and regulations” have no reference to conditions which the Union Depot Company may prescribe
As thus construed, this reservation, or exception, whichever it be called, is neither repugnant to the grant, nor in conflict with public policy, nor prejudicial to the interests of the Union Depot Com-joany. The public, so far as we can see, will be as well subserved as if the construction contended for by appellant should be adopted. The revenues of the depot company are not impaired, and its power to enforce all reasonable rules and regulations in the conduct of its business is unaffected.
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- St. Paul Union Depot Company v. St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway Company and another
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published