Campbell Turnpike Co. v. Dye , 57 Ky. 761 ( 1858 )

Judge Duvall

delivered the opinion of the court.

The appellants applied, by motion, to the Campbell county court for an order to close and shut up so much of the old road from Newport to Alexandria as lies between the point at-which it leaves the turnpike near Eckerts, and the point at which it again intersects the turnpike near Youtsey’s. Commissioners were appointed to view_both roads, and a majority of them reported that the .closing of the old road would be no inconvenience to the citizens, and a great convenience to the public; that the distance between the turnpike and the old road is less than a mile at any point, and that- the turnpike affords greater facilities for travel than the old road. They exhibit with their report a map executed by the surveyor, from which it appears'that the two points mentioned are connected by both roads, and that it is about four miles from one point4of intersection to the other.

One of the commissioners made a minority report, in which he states, in substance, that there are a number of residences and well improved farms situated on the old road, together with a post-office and school-house; that there were five roads branching, off from the old road in the direction opposite to the turnpike, and leading into thickly settled neighborhoods on the Licking river, and that the closing of it will be a very great inconvenience to the public, and especially to the large number of people to* whom it is indispensable as a means of access to the county seat and to Newport.

The county court having rejected the application, an appeal was taken to the circuit court, upon the trial of which- the facts and conclusions stated in the minority report were sustained by the proof. On the part of the appellants it was proved that the old road was chiefly used in good weather, by persons traveling from Newport to Alexandria, the termini of the turnpike, such, persons claiming an abatement of toll in proportion to the distance—being about four miles as already stated.

S. The 2Pth sec. of the chapter of Rev Statutes on “Turnpike and Plank Roads.” p.687, in regard to roads running laterally with a turnpike or pl’k road, applies as well to roads opened before the passage of the statute an to those subsequently opened. The act of 1842, (3 Statute Law, 567,) has a provision in substance the same as the Rev.Stat. (See MSS.opinion. Black vs. Germantown 4" Hamilton T. P. R. Co summer term, 1854.)

The circuit court affirmed the order of the county court, and to reverse that judgment the turnpike company prosecute this appeal.

The only material question presented by the record, and the only one we shall notice, is that which arises on the construction of the 28th section of the chapter on “ turnpikes and plank roads,” (Revised Statutes, page 687.) which is as follows:'

“No lateral road shall be opened to and from the 4 same places now connected by any turnpike or 4 plank road, or which may be hereafter so connect-4 ed, as to run within one mile of such road; and 4 any such lateral road, now in use, or which may 4 hereafter be in use, shall, by order of the county 4 court, be shut up and closed. But such lateral ‘roads shall not be precluded from so running as 4 near as a mile, for the distance of one mile from 4 any town or city.”

For the appellees it is insisted that this section authorizes the county court to close such lateral roads only as are opened after the turnpike shall have been constructed, and that roads which have been in use long prior to the construction of a turnpike between the same points, parallel'to, and within a mile of, such former road, cannot be said to have been opened lateral to such turnpike, and are not, therefore, embraced by the terms of the section.

This construction, although plausible, cannot be maintained. The language of the statute is general, and expressly comprehends all lateral roads “nowin use, or which may hereafter be in use.” The word “such," as used in the section, evidently refers only to the description, previously given, of the lateral road which the court is authorized to close; and the description embraces all roads leading to and from the same places connected by any turnpike or plank road, and running within one mile of the latter, so that all such roads, no matter when opened, or how long used, must be regarded as the subjects of the absolute authority conferred by the act upon the county courts, unless they can be shown to be within the terms of the exception in favor of all lateral .roads “ running as near as a mile from a turnpike, for the distance of a mile from any city or town.” This is the only class of roads expressly excepted out of the operation of the act, and no other exception can be implied. ' Besides, it was provided by the act of 1842, (3 Stat..Law, 567,) that after the turnpike roads in this commonwealth should be opened it should be unlawful to'open any collateral road running from and to the same place within a mile of a turnpike, “ and all and every such road, now made, shall be discontinued- as soon as any turnpike shall be opened.” The language of the act is clear and explicit, and no doubt can exist as to its proper construction. The 28th'section of the Revised Statutes was doubtless intended as a substantial re-enactment of its provisions.

But the question under consideration has already been conclusively settled by this court in the case of Black vs. Germantown and Hamilton, Turnpike Road Company, (MSS. Opinion, Summer Term, 1854.) The facts of that case were the same in- every essential particular as those of the case before us, and it was held, that the language of the section quoted was imperative, requiring the closing of such lateral roads unconditionally; that the-legislature must li^ve foreseen the inconveniences.which would thereby result to individuals, in almost every such case, and yet had failed to confer upon the courts any authority or discretion to inquire into the merits of any particular case before making the order for discontinuing the road; that no such authority or discretion could be implied from the terms of the statute, and that none, therefore, could be exercised by the courts whose sole duty consisted in closing the road without any inquiry into the individual hardships that might ensue.

2. The act of the , legislature requiring the closing of roads running laterally with turnpike or plank roads, unless within 1 mile of a town, is imperative, and the county court is bound to order such roads to be closed, whatever may be the inconvenience to the citizens.

The facts disclosed by this record certainly afford a forcible illustration of the private injuries which may result from the operation of this law, whatever public benefits may have been intended to be secured by it. The appellees and their neighbors, by the discontinuance of this road, will be deprived of a right enjoyed by themselves and their ancestors for a period of more than fifty years—a right, too, which is never surrendered without reluctance. Other means of access to their county seat, and to their markets at Newport or Cincinnati, will 'have to be provided. Although we have not been unmindful of these considerations, yet our duty is to expound the law, not to repeal or modify it. The remedy fof the evils complained of must be sought elsewhere.

We are of opinion that, upon the state of fact made out by the proofs in this case, the county court of Campbell should have sustained the motion of the appellants, and should have made an order directing the lateral road described in the notice and report of the viewers to be closed and shut up.

The judgment is therefore rsversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion.