Lowell v. Inhabitants of Moscow , 12 Me. 300 ( 1835 )

Parris J.

If, at the time the plaintiff sustained the injury, the town of Wloscoio was, by law obliged to keep in repair the road where that injury happened, as a public highway, then the exceptions to the decision of the court below must be sustained. By statute, ch. 500, sec. 7, it is made the duty of the county commissioners to fix the time within which the several towns through which any highway may be laid out, shall open and make the same. Although this is not the precise phraseology of the former statute, upon the same subject, ch. 118, sec. 12, yet there can bo no doubt but the meaning of the words, “ open and malee, the same,” in the late statute, was understood by the legislature to be the same as those used in the earlier statute, viz.: “to make the road passable, safe and convenient for travellers and others passing with their teams, waggons, or ether carriages.”

The county commissioners, in laying out- the road where the injury happened, acted under the last statute, ch. 500, and, no doubt, intended, by allowing the town one year to “ open” the new road, that the road was to be opened and made within that time ; that is, they intended to exercise the power granted them by the- statute, under which they acted, to fix the time within which the town should open and make the road. The old road was- not immediately discontinued. That was to remain for the public accommodation, for the period of two years, and whoever should, within that time, encumber it to the annoyance of the public, would be’ liable for a nuisance; and so also would the town be holden to keep it in safe and convenient repair. But the town was not required to make the new road until the expiration of the year, that is, until the first day of October, 1834. That road was laid out in October, 1833, and the injury to the plaintiff was on the fifth of March, following. There had been no opportunity, subsequent to the laying out, for the inhabitants to expend any of their highway tax on the road. The ensuing season was the time for making it, as understood by the county commissioners, when the town would provide specially for opening and making it, or the selectmen would assign it to a surveyor, and the inhabitants within the district would expend their taxes upon it. It probably was opened, within the popular meaning of opening, when the injury happened ; that is, it was not obstructed by trees or fences, and was in progress of being made. No doubt it had been used for a winter road, as the plaintiff was upon it with his sleigh, when the accident occurred ; but the case itself shews that it had not been completed, it had not been made safe and convenient for travellers with their teams and carriages. If the year allowed by the county commissioners had expired, the town would have been in fault, but it would be most unreasonable that a town should be held answerable for all injuries that might occur to those who see fit to pass over a road before it is completed, and while the proper authorities are in the progress of making it. People, who will thus travel, must do it at their peril, and if they suffer injury they have no ground for redress against the town, either in justice or in law.

The placing the log across the old road and stopping it up, was an infringement upon the rights of the public, but it does not affect the plaintiff’s case. If a public highway be incumbered, the town, whose duty it is to repair, is answerable for neglecting to do it; and the law affords a remedy. But the liability is not so extended as to hold such town answerable for injuries that may occur where there is no road, or on roads which the town is not, by law, required to have in repair.

It was said, in the argument, that the town had dedicated the road to the public, and ought to be liable for damages arising from neglect to repair. There is no evidence of any dedication, that we can perceive, in the case ; and no such continued user as throws any liabilities on the town. Todd v. Rome, 2 Greenl. 55; Rowell v. Montville, 4 Greenl. 270. Upon the whole, we think the judge below decided correctly, that the town was not, by law, bound to complete and keep said road in repair, until the year allowed for opening the same had expired, and consequently, that the evidence offered was properly excluded.

The exceptions are overruled and the nonsuit confirmed.