Sandstone Spring Water Co. v. Kettle River Co.
Sandstone Spring Water Co. v. Kettle River Co.
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff owns a spring at Sandstone, in Pine county. The defendant owns a creosoting plant there. This action is brought by the plaintiff against the defendant to recover damages to the spring through the alleged pollution of its waters by the creosoting plant. A jury was waived. The court found for the plaintiff and fixed its damages at the sum of $31,339.50, $25,000 representing the difference in value of the spring before and after the pollution, and $6,-339.50 representing the value of improvements used in connection with the spring and made worthless by its pollution.
The finding of the court that the spring was polluted by the creosote waste from the sewer is supported by the evidence.
The local surroundings were bad. Two slaughter-houses had found their outlet in the creek. The creek was the outlet for the Great Northern yards. The waste of the creosoting plant had discharged into it for a long period. The waters of the creek were always subject to pollution and contamination. There was a public cemetery near by.
There was a close contest as to whether the spring was a surface spring or a deep-water spring, and whether it was about to dry up or had a permanent flow.
There was direct testimony as to the value of the spring before pollution. Some witnesses put its value at amounts ranging from $75,000 to $200,000; others said it was worthless.
Upon the evidence before the court, the question of value was largely one of estimate or judgment. The evidence would sustain a finding that the spring was of little or no value, or that its value was in excess of that found.
The nature of the case, and the amount of the recovery, are such as to invite a careful scrutiny of the record. All of the evidence has been gone over in detail, in connection with the thoroughly prepared
The two determining questions are the two first discussed, namely, whether the sewer polluted the spring, and, if so, the damage done. These questions are questions of fact. The evidence was conflicting. It supports the findings of the trial court.
Order affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SANDSTONE SPRING WATER COMPANY v. KETTLE RIVER COMPANY
- Status
- Published