Howard v. Central Nat Bank/Opinion of the Court

by by John Marshall Harlan

United States Supreme Court

108 U.S. 314

Howard  v.  Central Nat Bank

The Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company was authorized by its charter to construct and operate a railroad from some point on the Pacific Railroad, between the west bank of the Laramie river and Muddy creek, in Pettis county, in a southerly or southwesterly direction through Henry county, to some point on the state line between the north-west corner of Jasper and the south-east corner of McDonald county. It was also expressly authorized 'to extend branch railroads into and through any counties that the directors may deem advisable.' For the purpose of aiding in the construction by that company of a road from the junction of the main line with the Pacific Railroad, extending in a north-easterly direction, to Boonville, through the county of Howard, the county court of that county, in its behalf and after a favorable vote by the people, made a subscription to the capital stock of the company, and issued county bonds therefor. One-half of the bonds were sold by the county and the proceeds paid to the company, while the remainder were delivered in full payment of the balance due on the subscription. The subscription was made and bonds issued in pursuance of a provision in the company's charter which made it 'lawful for the county court of any county in which any part of the railroad or branches may be, or any county adjacent thereto, to subscribe to the stock of said company, * * * and for the stock subscribed in behalf of the county may issue the bonds of the county to raise the funds to pay the same, and to take proper steps to protect the interest and credit of the county court; may appoint an agent to represent the county, vote for it, and receive its dividends.' Act Jan. 16, 1860, §§ 6, 8; Act Nov. 21, 1857, Charter of Osage Valley & Southern Kansas R. Co., Laws of Mo. 1857, adjourned session, 62.

The railroad was constructed through Howard county as proposed, and has been in operation ever since. The county court levied and sollected a tax to pay the interest on the bonds for seven years, regularly paid the semi-annual interest until March, 1878, redeemed a number of the bonds, voted the county's stock at several meetings of stockholders, and when, in 1874, the road so constructed north-easterly through Howard county was sold to the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company, the county received 4,000 shares of the stock of the latter company in exchange for its stock in the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company. Counsel for the defendant in error states that the county sold its stock in the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company for $140,000. But no such fact appears in the findings. But it does appear that the county, when the case was tried below, still held that stock. And now it is contended in behalf of the county-and no other question is presented for determination-that there was no legal authority for this subscription or issue of bonds. The argument in its behalf is that the main road of the company was established on a line south of the Pacific Railroad; that Howard county could not, by subscription, aid in the construction of the main line; and could not, by subscription, aid in the construction of a road from the junction of the main line north-easterly through that county, because such a road would not be a branch road, but only an unauthorized extension of the main line.

We are of opinion that the road constructed through Howard county was, within the meaning of the statute, a branch of the original or main line. The defense cannot be sustained. The judgment is affirmed.

Notes