City of Gadsden v. Strother , 172 Ala. 56 ( 1911 )

MoCLELLAN, J.

Municipal corporations may employ ejectment to recover the possession of streets, public squares, etc., dedicated to public use. — Tenn. & Coosa R. R. Co. v. East Ala. Ry. Co., 75 Ala. 516; 525, 51 Am. Rep. 475; Newell on Eject, p. 66, § 9; 2 Dillon’s Munic. Corp. § 662, p. 788; Purifoy v. Lamar, 112 Ala. 123, 20 South. 975; Jones v. N. O. & S. R. R. Co., 70 Ala. 227; Hooper v. C. & W. R. R. Co., 78 Ala. 213. As pointed out by Dillon, the exemption of such public rights as flow from dedications to public uses from the general rule that ejectment will not lie for an easement, or to be let into the enjoyinent of a servitude, is based upon the view that the public right is legal, rather than equitable and, we may add, following the analogy of the similar exemption established in respect of railroad rights of way, that the possessory right of the public in streets, etc., dedicated to public uses, is, of necessity, exclusive, even, for those purposes, against the owner of the servient estate. — Dillon, Mun. Corp., supra.

On February 7, 1888, Standifer, Kyle, and Lay made a proposal to the city of Gadsden that they would donate a street covering, among other, territory now in contest, provided, the city would build a bridge. On March 6, 1888, action on the said proposal was deferred. On April 19, 1888, committee, to which the proposal was referred, was given further time to make final report. On July 13, 1888, Walter S. Standifer, being so authorized, the evidence shows, by his wife, who owned the land of which that in suit was a part, filed, in the probate office of Etowah county, a map or platting of “Standifer addition” to Gadsden. Streets and lots appear thereon, and that part of Seventh street which is in dispute appears to have been comprehended in this platting. On May 22, 1889, Kyle, Lay, and Standifer, the recited owners, executed a paper, wherein “the property covered by Seventh street ‘was dedicated’ to the city of Gadsden, conditional that the city build a bridge across the A. & O. and T. & C. Railroads, and keep up the same and accept dedication of street.” On that date (May 22, 1889) the committee, reporting, recommended to the municipal authorities that the street be “received and adopted, on condition that the parties furnish all the work required to erect a bridge and crossing over the railroad where Seventh street crosses the raiload, and that the city erect a bridge, and that the parties furnish lumber at once.” A bridge was, at least, partially constructed under the arrangement; but on May 4, 1891, it “was ordered torn down and lumber to be used on streets, where needed.” The order was executed. On March 30, 1889, on January 1, 1900, and on December 5, 1900, the Standifers sold lots and executed deeds to property within the “Standifer addition.” The deed of March 30, 1889, maltes express reference to the platting of the “Standifer addition” filed, as stated, in the probate office of Etowah county.

Where the owner plats land and lays off lots and streets and makes a sale of one or more lots with reference to such platting, he irrevocably dedicates the lands designated as streets, etc., to the public for public uses. —Roberts v. Matthews, 137 Ala. 523, 34 South. 624, 97 Am. St. Rep. 56; East Birmingham Realty Co. v. Birmingham M. & F. Co., 160 Ala. 461, 49 South. 448, among others. Under this doctrine, the unconditional platting of the “Standifer addition’ and the sale of a part of the land thereby covered, on March 30, 1889, effected an irrevocable dedication of the land in suit as a part of Seventh street.

It will be noted that both the filing of the platting or map of the “Standifer addition” and the sale of March 30, 1889, antedated the action of the city authorities in accepting the modified proposal of Kyle, Lay, and Standifer on May 22, 1889. Accordingly that action could not, if otherwise allowable, avail to affix a condition of any kind upon the theretofore, as indicated, complete dedication effected by the platting of the addition and a sale of a lot with reference thereto.

In consequence, the plaintiff was entitled to the affirmative charge requested by it.

Reversed and remanded.

Simpson, Anderson, and Mayfield, JJ., concur.