Wentworth v. Poor

"The owner of a mill erected subsequently to one lawfully existing upon the same stream, is liable in damages, if, by his mode of using the water, the first mill is rendered less beneficial and profitable than it was before. And this liability is not lessened although the damages arise from the use of improved .machinery by the owner of the second mill.

On Exceptions from Nisi Prius, Shepley, C. J., presiding. Case, for obstructing the water, and thereby injuring the plaintiffs’ mill between March, 1845, and Eeb. 1849. The plaintiffs wore owners of a dam and saw-mill, and the mill-site had been in use since 1826. A reservoir dam on the same stream above was made by plaintiffs’ grantor under a parol license from the owner of the soil in 1825, for the accommodation of the mills below, and for the one which was about being built on plaintiffs’ site, and was actually erected the next year. Prior to March, 1845, the plaintiffs, by permission and agreement with the individual who erected the reservoir dam, controlled and enjoyed the benefit of the water raised thereby, for the use of their mill, in such quantities, and at such times as they saw fit. In 1844, a saw-mill was erected upon a mill-site about two rods above plaintiffs’ mill, which was purchased, in March, 1845, by defendants, and they bought also the soil connected with the “ reservoir dam” above, of the owner, without any reservation of the dam or water raised by it. After such purchase, the defendants claimed and exercised control over the “ reservoir dam,” and used the water raised thereby for their mill, but permitted the water, after being used at their mill, to flow in its natural channel to the plaintiffs’ mill. The evidence tended to show, that owing to the improved machinery, it required less water to operate defendants’ wheel than plaintiffs’, and that by reason of such use the plaintiffs were unable to work their mill to the same advantage and profit they did before defendants’ mill was built and put in operation. The defendants contended that they had a legal right to use the water in the manner they did, and were not responsible to plaintiffs for any diminution'of profits of their mill which might result from that mode, the water being permitted after thus used to flow in its natural channel. The Court instructed the jury, that if by reason of the improved machinery in the defendants’ mill, less water was required to carry it than was required to carry the machinery in plaintiffs’ mill, and thereby plaintiffs’ mill was rendered less beneficial and profitable thau it was before said mill and machinery of defendants’ were put in operation, they were entitled to a verdict to the extent of the injury so sustained. A verdict was returned for plaintiffs, and exceptions were filed to the instructions. 1. The reservoir dam was built under a license merely, and was revocable at the pleasure of the owner of the soil. 2. The conveyance of the soil to defendants was a revocation of the license, and vested in them the control of the water. Angell on Watercourses, 316; Farrar v. Stackpole, 6 Maine, 154; Dane's Ab. c. 76, art. 8, § 39. 3. Having the right to control the reservoir dam, the defendants had the right to control the reserved water, (8 Met. 466; 15 Johns. 213,) provided they let out the usual flow of the stream. This appears to have been done. 4. No complaint can be made, that we had improved machinery, unless we used less than the natural flow of the stream. 5. The reservoir dam has a priority over the plaintiffs’ mill, it was erected before it, and the defendants have succeeded to all the rights of the original owner.