NATIONAl. WATERWORKS CO. V. KANSAS CITY.
691
in action deposited with the Indianapolis National Bank on the 22d and 24th of July, 1893, declared to be entitled to preference in payment out of the assets of the bank in the receiver's hands. Such preference is claimed on the ground that when the deposits were made the bank was, and for a long time had been, hopelessly insolvent; that the plaintiff had no knowledge of such insolvency, which was concealed from it; and that such moneys, and the proceeds of the choses in action so deposited, had come into the custody and possession of the bank examiner who first took possession of the bank upon its failure,and that the same had come into the pos8essian of the receiver from such bank examiner. The principles applicable to the present case were fully considered by the court in Wasson v. Hawkins,59 Fed. 233. It was there held that where money and checks are unsuspectingly deposited in a bank which is known by its managing officers to be hopelessly insolvent, a short time before the closing hour on the last day on which it does business, and the checks are subsequently collected, the whole of the deposit is charged with a trust, and an equal amonnt may be recovered from the receiver, who has received the specific money among the general mass of the bank's funds. Applying the doctrine of that case to the facts disclosed by the bill and answer, I am of opinion that the complainant is entitled to have a decree declaring that the sum of $1,658.16 ought to be paid by the receiver out of the assets in his hands as a preferred claim, and that the residne of the complainant's claim is not entitled to preference, bnt ought to be allowed and paid pro rata with other unpreferred claims. A decree may be prepared in conformity with the foregoing views.
NATIONAL W
CO. v. KANSAS CITY.
KANSAS CITY v. NATIONAL WATERWORKS CO. (Circuit Court, W. D. Missouri, W. D. February 12, 1895.)
1.
Nos. 1783, 1828. LICENSE-ESTOPPEL.
The M. Hy. Co. permitted a waterworks comnany to construct a pipf line along the right of way to which t!le railway company had title in fee With the full knowledge of the railway company, the waterworks company expended considerable sums jn the construction of such pipe line. and continued, without interference, to use the same for a number of yeuI"S in supplying a large city with water. Held, that the railway company would be estopped to revoke the license thus acted upon. The city of K. passed an ordinance permitting the N. Waterworks Co" in consideration of $10,000, to lay H!ld maintain pipes under the streetI'! of said city for the purpose of conveying water to another city. No limita· tion of time was expressed. The $10,000 was paid, and the pipes laid. The ordinance was passed under the authority of an act of the legislature. The third section of such act gave power to the city to gTaDt the riuht to construct and maintain waterworks for such city, and the right to'"construct and maintain pipes under the streets for conveying water to other cities. The fourth section enacted that no grant. under the third section, should continue more than 20 years, and that any such gt'ant
Ia.
STATUTES-CONSTRUCTION-SEPARATE :HATTERS IN SAME ACT.
692
I'EDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 65.
might be revoked at any time atter 10 years, and then provided that the city might acquire title to the waterworks property, and established a full system of procedure for such acquisition of title. Held, that the third section of such act contemplated two distinct matters,-construction of waterworks In the city, and laying pipes across the city; that the fourth section related only to the former, and put no limit upon the duration of grants under the iatter; and, accordingly, that the grant to the N. "Vaterworks Co., accepted and acted on by it, could not be revoked. 8. TITLE TO REAl, ESTATE-EQUITABLE LIEN.
The N. Waterworks Co. was directed by a decree to convey to the city of K., in pursuance of a contract with such city, a clear title to Its waterworks system, which included a supply station to which the company had the legal title, but from which It was supplying the city of O. with water under a contract for continuous supply. Held, that a conveyance of the legal title would not be accepted as a compliance with the decree, nnless security were given by the company for the supply'of the city of C. from Independent source!'!. 'l'he prop to be conveyed by the waterworkS company was incumrty bered with certain liens, to the discharge of which the city of K. was entitled to have the purchase money applied. There was a difference between the holders of such liens as to the amounts, respectively, applicable thereto out of such purchase money. Held, that the city would not be required to pay the purchase money, without protection from possible claims of lienholders; and, for that purpose, a commissioner would be appointed by the court to act with the agent of the waterworks company and the lienholders in receiving the money, and to see that proper releases were given to the city.
4.
SATlSFAC'l'ION OF LIENS UNDER DECREE-PRACTICE.
This was a suit by the National Waterworks Company of New York against the city of Kansas City, Mo., to enforce a contract for the construction and operation of a system of waterworks, and the purchase thereof by the city. The city filed a cross bill seeking to be relieved from the contract. A decree for performance of the contract was entered by the circuit court, and, on appeal to the circuit court of appeals, was modified, and affirmed as modified. 10 C. C. A. 653, 62 Fed. 853. Upon the filing of conveyances of the waterworks system, as directed in the decree, the city filed exceptions to their sufficiency, pursuant to leave reserved in such decree. Louis C. Krauthofl', C. O. Tichenor, and Gardiner Lathrop, for National Waterworks Co. John C. Gage, L. C. Slavens, O. H. Dean, F. F. Rozzelle, and Frank Hagerman, for Kansas City. Before BREWER, Circuit Justice, and PHILIPS, District Judge. BREWER, Circuit Justice. At the May term, 1894, of the court of appeals for this circuit, a decree was ordered to be entered in this case, by which, among other things, the National Waterworks Company was directed to execute and place in escrow with the clerk of this court, on or before December 1, 1894, good and sufficient deeds, assignments, releases, bills of sale, and other conveyances for the transfer to the city of Kansas City of the whole and complete waterworkS system belonging to such company, including that portion thereof which is situated in the state of Kansas; and that within 30 days thereafter the city should file any exceptions it might have to the sufficiency of such conveyances. This decree was in obe-
NATIONAL WATERWORKS CO. fl. KANSAS CITY.
693
dience to the mandate of that court duly entered in this court, and on the day named, to wit, the 1st day of December, 1894, the waterworks company delivered to the clerk certain deeds and releases, which deeds and releases it claims constitute a full compliance with the terms of the decree against it. Within the 30 days the city filed exceptions, and the question now submitted to us for consideration arises upon these exceptions. A brief general statement of the condition of the waterworks plant will help to a clear understanding of the exceptions. The distributing system is in Missouri, and the legal title to this is in the National Waterworks Company. The supply works and a long flow line are in Kansas, and the legal title to them is in the Metropolitan Water Company. Upon the Missouri property are two mortgages or trust deeds of $1,500,000 each. Upon the Kansas property are also two mortgages or trust deeds, one for $900,000, and the other for $2,000,000, which by the terms of the decree were to be fully reo leased. The exceptions of the city run both to the deeds and the releases. It will be convenient to consider these separately. And, first, as to the matter of title, we do not understand that any objection is made to the form of the conveyances, or doubt entertained that whatever of title is in the grantors is conveyed by the deeds, but the objection is that the grantors, especially the Kansas corporation, have not a perfect title to the property they attempt to convey. The exceptions to the title are as follows: First, that so much of the flow line as passes through the "Fowler Tract," as it is known, is subject to an obligation for the supply of water as a condition of the title received by the company from the owner-s of that tract; second, that the flow line, for a distance of about two miles from the Quindaro supply station southward, is on the Missouri Pacific right of way, and there simply by permission of the railway companY,-a permission subject to revocation at any time, at the mere will of such company; and, third, that the Quindar'o supply station and the flow line through the city of Kansas City, Kan., are so subject to the rights and powers of this latter city that it is impossible for the Metropolitan Water Company to vest in the city of Kansas City, Mo., a perfect, unincumbered, and permanent title thereto. With reference to the fir-st of these, it is understood that the company has obviated the objection by constructing a new flow line which does not pass through the F.owler tract, and so is not burdened by any conditions in the conveyance thereof. As to the second, it is true that there is no deed or other writing from the Missouri Pacific Railway Company vesting in the water company a right, either temporary or permanent, to use the rig'ht of way for its flow line. But the testimony shows that the railway company has a fee-simple title to its right of way; that the water company had permission from the division superintendent of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company to construct its flow line thereon; that the railway company, under contract with the water company, carried the pipes and distributed them on 8uch right of way; and that, in the year 1887, the water com·
694
FEDERAL REPORTER,
pany, at considerable expense, dug a ditch and constructed the flow· line along the tracks, and upon the right of way, thus establishing a connection between the supply station at Quindaro and the distributive system in the city of Kansas City, Mo. This work of construction was not done secretly or hastily, but publicly, and under such circumstances as to charge upon the railway company full knowledge thereof. No challenge of its occupation and use of the right of way has been made by the railway company during these intervening years. These facts establish a parol license so far executed as to vest in the water company a right of occupancy and use. I do not regard the permission given by the division superintendent as a contract binding on the railway company, but as one circumstance, with others, showing a knowledge by the company of what was being done on the right of way. The rule is recognized in this state, as elsewhere, that where one party enters upon the real estate of another under a parol license from the latter, and at large expense constructs an improvement which is necessary for the successful carrying on of the business of the licensee, the licensor is estopped to deny the right of the licensee to continue such occupancy and use so long as the necessities of his business require. Among other authorities, are the following: House v. )Iontgomery, 19 Mo. App. 170; Baker v. Railroad Co., 57 Mo. 265; Chiles v. Wallace, 83 Mo. 84; Le Fevre v. Le Fevre, 4 Sergo & R. 241; Rerick V. Kern, 14 Sergo & R. 267; Campbell v. Railroad Co., 110 Ind. 490, 11 N. E. 482; Wilson V. Chalfant, 15 Ohio, 248; Olark v. Glidden, 60 Vt. 702,15 Atl. 358; Brewing Co. v. Morton, 47 N. J. Eq. 158, 20 Atl. 286; Duke of Devonshire V. Eglin, 14 Beav. 530. In Rerick v. Kern, 2 Am. Lead. Cas. (5th Ed.) 569, Messrs. Hare & Wallace, after reviewing the authorities, say: "From the cases which have been cited, we may deduce two things: · · ·. A license cannot be revoked or withdrawn so long as it is essential to the possession or enjoyment of a vested right or interest, which has been created by the licensor, or placed, with his assent, in a situation where the continuance of the license is essential to its enjoyment. These inferences obviousiy result from the general rule that no one can recall a promise or declaration made with a view to influence the course of another after he has acted upon it, and thus placed himself in a position where he must necessarily suffer if it be withdrawn. An equitable estoppel arises, under these circumstances, to prevent the legal title from being used as a means of injustice."
The case in 47 N. J. Eq. 158,20 Atl. 286, is in point, and the facts and rulings thereon are thus stated,in the syllabus: "(1) When a license has been so far executed that its revocation would work a fraud, actual or constructive, upon the licensee, equity will restraIn such revocation, although its continuation results in an easement upon the lands of the licensor in favor of the lands of the licensee. "(2) No distinction in equity arises out of the place where the works are erected under license, whether upon the lands of the licensor or licensee. "(3) The owner of a brewery constructed, at considerable expense, a drain· from the cellar of the brewery along the line of a neighbor's lot, by his consent, and connected It with a public sewer in a street upon which the brewery lot did not face, and maintained it for thirty years. No particular time was fixed for the continuance of the draIn. Its continuance was of great consequence to the brewery, and worked little or no injury to the neighbor's lot. Held, that the presumption, from the circumstances, was that it was to con·-
NATIONAL WATERWORKS CO. V. KANSAS CITY.
695
tlnue as long: as the necessity of the brewery required it, and that the owner of the adjoining lot should be restrained from disturbing it so long as the brewery lot was used for a brewery, or untll a public sewer should be con· structed in the adjoining street."
1'he case in 14 Reav., supra, is also very significant. In that case it appeared that the town of Grassington was much inconvenienced by the want of a supply of water, and it was discovered that a supply might be obtained by conveying it through certain lands, among them the land of the defendant, and it was charged that he can· sented that pipes therefor might be laid through his land. In his answer the defendant admitted that he had consented to the passage of the water through his land, but claimed that it was only upon consideration of his being paid a proper and reasonable price therefor, and alleged that no such priCe had been paid or agreed upon. There was evidence to show that he, without objection, saw the work in progress, and simply said to the workmen: "Take care that you don't stop up my drains in cutting through them, for, if you do, I shall tear up your water course." The works were completed, and used for a period of nearly 10 years, without any dispute or contest on his part; and it was held that he could not prevent the enjoyment of the right of passage, though entitled to payment of a proper consideration therefor, and the matter was referred to a master to ascertain what should be paid. Other authorities might be cited, but these are sufficient to show the course of decision. There is nothing technical or arbitrary in the rule thus laid down, but it is founded on obvious principles of right and justice. It would be intolerable to permit the railway company, after assenting to the construction of this flow line at such expense,-a flow line by which supply works were connected with the distributive system of a large citY,-and also assenting to the nse of its right of way for such purpose for a number of years, to withdraw its assent, and break the connection so necessary for the successful operation of the waterworks system. As art!'! speak louder than words, so conduct is equally potent with writing, and the condud of the railway company has been such that a court of eqnity would nnhesitatingly say that it is estopped from asserting that it had failed to grant in the proper manner the right to such use of the right of way. These considera· tions apply with equal force to the objection that no proper grant in writing was made either by this railway company or the Union Pacific Railway Company of a right to place the water pipes under· neath their tracks at other points, nearer to the distributive system. This exception, therefore, must be overruled. The other exception embraces two mattera: First, the permanence of the right to use the streets and alleys of Kansas City, Kan., for a flow line; and, second, the interests of Kansas Oity, Kan., in the supply station at Quindaro. With reference to the first, it appears that on November 17, 1891, the city council of Kansas City, Kan., passed an ordinance, the first section of which is as follows: "Section 1. That for and in consideration of the sum of ten thousand (10,· 000.00) dollars to it paid, the city ot Kansas City, Kan., does hereby sen, and
696
transfer to the National Waterworks Compauy New York, its successors and assigns, whether such successors and assigns be a natural person or a munlclpal corporation, located In this or any other state, the right to lay and maintain water mains under or over any stream and along, upon and across the streets, alleys and other public gro,unds of the city of Kansas City, for the purpose of conveying water to any city In this state or any other state; and there is also sold and contracted to said Natio,nal Waterworks Company of York, its successors and assigns, aforesaid, the right to maintain any and all water mains heretofore laid under, along, upon and across any such streets, alleys, and other public grounds."
of
The ordinance was accepted, and the $10,000 paid. There is no limitation expressed as to the matter of time, and the language imports permanence of right, for it is "to lay and maintain." It is contended, however, that whatever may be the scope of the ordinance, standing by itself, the-act of the legislature under which it was passed (Laws Kan. 1891, p. 126) reserves to the city a right to terminate such use of the streets, alleys, and public grounds. Section 3 of the act reads as follows: "Sec. 3. 'l'he mayor and council of such city may grant any person, company or corporation the right to construct, maintain and operate water works, and lay pipes within such city, for the conveyance of water for the use of such city and its inbaoitants, as well as to contract with any person, company or corporation to furnish water for such purposes. aud may conl1'act with
or grant to any p(fl'son, company or corporation tlle right to lay and maintain 1lJater mains und(fl', along, upon and acr088 the 8treet8 and alley8 and oth(fl' public g1'oUnd8 of 8uch city for the pU'l'p08e of conveying water to any city in thi8 8tate or any Otll(fl' 8tate. And in case the mayor and couDcil shall gra.lt
or shall have heretofore granted to any person, company or corporation the right to construct and maintain water works for the use and benefit of the city, shall contract or have heretofore contracted with any person, company or corporation to furnish water for such purposes; the mayor and council shall have the power to levy annually on all the property of said city, taxable according to law, a tax in addition to other taxes, not to exceed two mills on the dollar in anyone year for that purpose, and to pay said person, company or corporation in full for such year for water furnished to such city."
Obviously this section contemplates two distinct matters: One, the construction of waterworks and the laying of pipes within the city for the supply of the city; and the other, that expressed in the clause in italics,-the laying and maintaining of water mains for the purpose. of conveying water to a city in another state. The one is for the benefit of the city itself, while the other is for the accommodation of a city in another state. Each is independent of the other. The considerations justifying and the limitations appropriate to the one have no appliclltion to the other. They would naturally be placed in separate sections, if not in separate acts. Indeed, it is stated that the section was made out of two bills, consolidated in the course of passage through the legislature. The grant of power in this section is general, and without limitation. If this were the only section bearing on the maHer, it would be beyond question that the city had the power to make a permanent contract for the use of its sheets. But it is insisted that section 4 imposes a limitation, ani] a hasty reading gives countenance to such contention. The section commences in this way: "No grant or contract provided for in the preceding section shall continue for a longer period than twenty years; and any such grant or contract may be
697
terminated at any time after the expiration of ten years trom the making of the same, or such less time as may be fixed at the time of making such grant or contract; and the city may acquire title to the waterworks property, and all the rights, privileges and franchises thereto pertaining in the manner following; The city may, at any time after the expiration of ten years, from the making of such grant or contract, or after the expiration of such less time as may be stipulated in the franchise or contract, file a petition in the district court of the county tn which such city is situated against the owner or owners of such waterworks and all others interested therein, which petition shall contain a general description of the waterworks property, praying that the city may be permitted to acqUire title thereto in the manner provided for tn this act."
Then follow provisions for notice, hearing, appraisement, and other proceedings, culminating in a deposit by the city of the amount of the award with the treasurer of the county, for the use of the owners or others interested in said works; and after them these words: city shall be the absolute owner of the entire waterworks property, and all
"From the time of the making of such deposit with the county treasurer. the
rights, franchises, and privileges thereunto pertaining, free and clear of the claims of all persons theretofore interested therein."
Now, while the first clause in this section, which reads, "no grant or contract provided for in the preceding section shall continue for a longer period than twenty years," is broad enough to include, not merely grants and contracts for the construction of waterworks and the supply of the city with water, but also contracts for laying and maintaining water mains for the purpose of conveying water to a city in another state, yet, on careful examination, it will become very clear that such breadth of meaning is limited by the subsequent language of the section. The clause just quoted does not stand as an independent and separate provision, but is connected by the copulative conjunction "and" with succeeding provisions, and, as thus connected, must apply to the same subject-matter. Hence it is that grants and contracts, whose duration is limited, are those for the construction of waterworks and the laying of pipes to supply the city with water. The whole section contemplates but one thing, and that is the acquisition by the city of its water-supply system, and it would be resting upon the letter to hold that such single clause, by reason of its general words, includes other matters and other contracts than those within the scope of the balance of the section. It is familiar law that a thing may be within the letter of the statute, and yet not within the statute, because not 'within its spirit, nor within the intention of its makers. See Church of Holy Trinity v. U. S., 143 U. S. 457,12 Snp. Ct. 511, and cases cited in the opinion. It is unnecessary to rest upon the history of the passage of this act through the two houses of the Kansas lebrislature. It is enough to compare the two sections. While section 3 includes two distinct matters, section 4 treats of but one. All its sentences and parts of sentences must be taken as a declaration of the will of the legislature in respect to that matter. It must undoubtedly be so con· strued as to completely effectuate the manifest purpose of the lawmaking body, but to carry its operation further would be, not the upholding of a statute, but in reality the enactment of a law,-
698
vol. ti5.
judicial Jegislation. Obviously the-legislature thought it wise to reserve to the city the right to acquire its own water-supply system, but it would be ungracious to hold that it meant to give to the city the power to break up the water-supply system of another city in a neighboring state. Of what profit can it be to a city in Kansas to injure a city in Missouri, and what will justify an imputation of an intent on the part of the legislature of Kansas to empower any of its cities to do such an injury? While, of course, the city coun· cil could not, by its own action, enlarge the powers given it by the legislature, yet the ordinance which it enacted shortly after the passage of this act may be considered in the light of a cotemporaneous construction of its scope and meaning. I am clearly of the opinion that the ordinance is within the power given by the act, and secures to the company and its assigns a permanent right. With reference to tbp- other matter, it appears that in the first in· stance the supply station for Kansas Oity, Kan., was near the mouth of Jersey creek; that afterwards the same interest, controlling the waterworks system of Kansas Oity, Kan., and Kansas Oity, Mo., constructed a supply station at Quindaro, from which alone the two cities have been supplied. The legal title to this property is in the Metropolitan Water Company, and unquestionably its deed conveys such legal title to the grantee named therein, Kansas City, Mo. The claim is that, the title being in a Kansas corporation, and the works having been constructed as a part of the waterworks system, and with the view of supplying Kansas City, Kan., with water, the property is held by the corporation SUbject to the duty of continuing such supply, and therefore that the conveyance of the legal title to Kansas City, Mo., conveys property burdened with a perpetual use, and is not a compliance with the decree of the court, which provided that it should receive its waterworks system free of all incumbrances. It is claimed, on the other hand, that the Jersey Creek supply station is adequate for the present needs of Kansas City, Kan.; that the distributive system of that city can be connected with it, and without any trouble wholly separated from the main flow line connecting the Quindaro supply station with the distributive system of Kansas City, Mo.; and that then all claims of rights of Kansas City, Kan., to the Quindaro supply station, or any use or benefit thereof, will be gone. While such separation can undoubtedly be made, and easily made, yet I am not satisfied that the claim as to the sufficiency of the supply station at Jersey creek can be sllstained. The right of Kansas City, Kan., it is true, is not to hl}ve the present Quindaro works permanently used for its benefit, but its right is, as against the water company, to compel the latter to have somewhere an equally satisfactory supply station. There is in none of the ordinances of or contracts entered into between Kansas City, Kan., or any of the cities which were consolidated into it, and the waterworks company, or its predecessors, anything that subjects the particular supply station at Quindaro to (he uses of Kansas City, Kan. Hence, the waterworks company can convey to Kansas City, Mo., a full, legal, and unincumbered title to that supply station, provided it
'
699
'fiball secure to Kansas Oity, Kan., another supply station adequate to the needs of tbat city. The waterworks company represents that it has purcbased ground near its present station at Quindaro, .and a right of way therefrom, and that it can, if required, construct both such needed supply station and a flow line therefrom to Kansas Oity, Kan. It says it has not done so because of the complications attending this litigation and the uncertainty as to its result. 'Giving to this excuse all the weight to which it can reasonably be entitled, it does not relieve the situation from the fact that Kansas 'Oity, Kan., has for the present, at least, an equitable claim upon the Quindaro station for the supply of water to its uses. Still, I think it is sufficient to justify the court, inasmuch as the legal title passes by the conveyance from the waterworks to Kansas City, Mo., in overrUling the exception, on condition that satisfactory csecurity is given for the construction of a proper supply station for the wants of Kansas City, Kan., but only upon condition that such security is given. Since the argument made on these exceptions, I have received a brief from the waterworkS company suggesting two or three ways in which adequate security can be given for with such condition. I do not know whether the city has fully considered the suggestions in such brief, and the various plans mentioned therein were not discussed in the argument; so I do not think that at present I ought to pass upon the sufficiency of either of the plans suggested. All that I am at liberty now to decide is that the exceptions must be sustained, unless there is provided by the waterworks company security satisfactory to the city, or, if objected to, approved by the court, that within such reasonable time as may be agreed upon or fixed the waterworks company shall provide a supply station and a flow line connecting it with the distributive system of Kansas City, Kan., which shall be fully adequate to the needs of that city. Thus much I decide as a judge. May I be pardoned if I stop in the course of this opinion, and speaking, not as a judge, but as a friend, say that it seems to me here is a contingency in which the three parties interested, to wit, Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City, Kan., and the waterworks company, ought to enter into a mutual agreement obviating the present construction of such second supply station. According to the testimony, which is not questioned, the present supply station is adequate for the wants of half a million of people,-more, probably, than will be gathered about the mouth of the Kaw for' the next quarter of a century. The construction of a second supply station is therefore, for the present, an unnecessary expense. .If the three parties mentioned should enter into an arrangement by which the present works could be used for the supply of both cities; Kansas Oity, Mo., owning the supply station, would receive some compensation for supplying Kansas City, Kan., and in this way make an addition to its revenues. Kansas City, Kan., would receive, as at present, and without additional cost, its full supply of water" and at the same time if, during the life of its contract with the waterworks company, it should decide to purchase the waterworks plant, would have less money to pay, because there would be less of prop-
700
erty tc purchase than if a new supply works were now to be constructed; while the waterworks company, in lieu of adding to its indebtedness by the cost of the new works, would simply make an annual payment out of its revenues for the water by it received from this station for the supply of Kansas City, Kan. I speak of this simply as a friend to the parties, and, although I am conscious that no little irritation and feeling have grown up between Kansas City and the waterworks company out of the present litigation, I cannot but think that a little reflection on the part of all will convince that some such arrangement is beneficial to all, and should be entered into. Having said this much, I return and reiterate the proposition which, as a judge, I decide, that if no arrangement of this kind is made (and no court can compel parties to make a contract), the waterworks company must give satisfactory security for the con· struction of a second supply station for the benefit of Kansas City, Kan., or this exception to the title will have to be sustained. I come now to the exceptions running to the matter of incumbrances. When the deposit of the title papers was made, an order was entered by this court that the $3,000,000, the purchase price, and also the hydrant rentals, should, when paid to the clerk of this court, be forthwith transmitted to the Central Trust Company of New York. The thought was that it was entirely immaterial to the city what arrangement was made between the holders of the incumbrances, and, if they had agreed among themselves that the money should be put in the custody of the Central Trust Company for distribution, that was sufficient. A motion was immediately made by the city for a modification of this order, and on December 17th it was modified so as to direct-First, the payment to the Farmers' Loan & Trust Company, the trustee in the first mortgage or deed of trust, on the Missouri Property, of a sum sufficient to discharge the principal and accrued interest thereof; and, secondly, the payment of the balance to the Central 'rrust Company, with a reservation of the right and power, upon an objection by intervention of any creditor of the waterworks company, to withhold from the operation of the order a sum sufficient to provide for the payment of such creditor. On the argument of these exceptions, it was stated that some of the later bondholders do not agree to the arrangement which has been attempted to be made, and an intervening petition was presented in behalf of one of them. It is undoubtedly true that it is a matter of no concern to City how the money whiC'h it pays is distributed among the various lien holders, if the liens on the property are discharged; but it is important to the city that those liens should be legally and fully discharged, and that it should not in the future be subjected to the defense of suits brought by various bondholders, claiming that theil' bonds have not been paid, and that they still l'emain liens upon the waterworks property. And it ought not to be compelled to trust to a third party, with whom it has no dealings, and over whose con· duct it has no control, and whose right to enter satisfaction of the liens is not at the time, and under the circumstances of payment,
701
beyond question, to distribute the money which it pays among the lien holders in such a manner as to relieve the city and the property from further liability. The city is justified in insisting that the court shaIlsee that the money it pays is so applied as to remove all outstanding liens upon the property. As the first mortgage or trust deed-that to the Loan & Trust Oompany-is by its terms now due and payable, as it is entitled to be paid in full, and the trustee is authorized on behalf of the bondholders to receive payment and enter satisfaction, I see no objection to the first part of the modified order of December 17th,-that part which directs the payment to such Loan & Trust Oompany of the full amount of the principal and interest. The order should, however, provide that the payment be made upon the receipt of a satisfaction piece, fully releasing and the property from the lien of such a mortgage or deed of trust. When the trustee shall have executed such a release, and received payment of the principal and interest, the bondholders can have no further recourse against the property, but must look to the trustee for the moneys which by the terms of the contract are payable to it for them. With regard to the latter part of the modified order, I am of opinion, as I intimated on the argument, that some additional provision should be made for the protection of the city. The balance of the money payable by the city is not sufficient to pay off the other liens in full; there has to be some scaling of claims. If all of the subsequent lien holders had entered into an agreement in respect to the amounts they are to receive, and the party to whom the money should be paid, it might be sufficient to direct simply the payment to such party; but in view of the fact that, as at present advised, all have not entered into any agreement, I am of opinion that the latter part of the order should be further modified, and that some one should be appointed as representative of the city to act in conjunction with the Oentral Trust Oompany. Fortunately, there is in Kansas Oity a gentleman whose character, abilities, and experience are such as to be a guaranty to the city that its interests will be protected, and whose reputation as a lawyer and jurist has become so far national that no bondholder, and no financial institution in the country, can hesitate to have him take part in the distribution of any sum of money. I refer to ex-Chief Justice Black, of the supreme court of the state of Missouri, and, if he will accept the appointment, an order may be entered designating him as a commissioner to act on behalf of the city, and providing that no money shall be paid except upon a check countersigned by him, and directing him to act in conjunction with the Oentral Trust Company, the party named by at least the majority of the subsequent lien holders, in distributing t!he money according to the terms of the agreement, all the time reserving a sufficient amount to satisfy the claims of those lien holders who do not enter into the agreement. I have no doubt that Judge Black's wisdom and experience will greatly facilitate the closing up of this matter. He will, of course, see that proper releases are executed by the various trustees and filed in the proper office13. By this arrangement the objections to the sufficiency of the releases tendered may be avoided, and at the
702
SAGADAHOC LAND CO. v. EWING et aI. (Circuit Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. No. 247. RESCISSION OF CONTRACT-DELAY.
February 5, 1895.)
Rescission of a contract for purchase of lots of uncertain value, dependent on a speculative enterprise, asked because of false representations. will not be granted Where suit is not brought till three and a half years after making the contract, and two years after the falsity of the representations must have been known, and the delay is unexplained.
Appeal from the United States Circuit Court for the Southern Division of the Eastern District of Tennessee. Suit by the Sagadahoc Land Company against Boyd Ewing and others for rescission of contract and other relief. This is :m appeal from a decree dismissing appellant's bill on demurrer. T'he question is, therefor'e, whether a case for equitable relief was made on the face of the bill. The appellant was an unincorporated association of persons residing in :Maine, who joined in the bill and appeal as individuals. The defendants were the Cardiff Coal & Iron Company, a corporation of Tennessee; Boyd Ewing, receiver of the company's assets. appointed by the court below in another action; and 12 or more other persons charged in the bill with having organized the Cardiff Company. On October 9, 1893, the complainants filed their bill on behalf of themselves and all other creditors of the Cardiff Company. The bill averred that the organizers of the Cardiff Company obtained contracts for the purchase of large quantities of land in three of the eastern counties of Tennessee, and that such interests as were thereby acquired were vested in one of theil- number. That they then determined to sell the land in town lots, and sought to induce their purchase by circulars and advertisements containing material misrepresentations. That these misrepresentations were-First. that the Cardiff Company was an incorporated company with a capital of $5,000,000, and a charter carefully drawn by skilled attorneys (when, as a matter of fact, the company was not organized until the day of the sale of lots, April 22, 1890); second, that the company had $1,000,000 in cash, which 'had been set apart and appropriated for the purpose of making vast improvements on the land of the company in the city of Cardiff, where the lots were sold; third, that the company had all arrangements made speedily to carry out all the improvements and establish great industries at Cardiff; fourth, that the proceeds of sale would be also used in carrying out the plan and inducing immigration, so as to make Cardiff a town of 5,000 inhabitants and enhance the value of the lots; and, fifth, that the enterprise was backed by capitalists of large means and experience at or near Cardl':!'f. That all these representations were false. That the company never had but $140,000, and this sum it spent in advertising. That the complainants, relying on these representa-