{
  "id": 1491234,
  "name": "Board of Directors of St. Francis Levee District v. Bowen",
  "name_abbreviation": "Board of Directors of St. Francis Levee District v. Bowen",
  "decision_date": "1906-07-23",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "80",
  "last_page": "81",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "80 Ark. 80"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ark.",
    "id": 8808,
    "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 34,
    "name_long": "Arkansas",
    "name": "Ark."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "46 Ark. 122",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        1890496
      ],
      "opinion_index": -1,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/46/0122-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "52 Ark. 95",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "opinion_index": -1
    },
    {
      "cite": "65 Ark. 18",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "opinion_index": -1
    },
    {
      "cite": "4 Ark. 199",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        8728642
      ],
      "opinion_index": -1,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/4/0199-01"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 197,
    "char_count": 3268,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.697,
    "pagerank": {
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    "sha256": "e5bc1e8a9e15a6641140fa2dd9ba529c90522da00558d1c7f27c9fbe9948e4e0",
    "simhash": "1:f3ad40f680c66b86",
    "word_count": 576
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:02:24.457794+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "Board of Directors of St. Francis Levee District v. Bowen."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Riddick, J.\nThis was an action to recover .damages on account of the construction of a levee by the defendant across the farm of plaintiff and the taking of land for a right of way therefor. While the damages allowed by the jury were liberal, the evidence, we think, was sufficient to sustain the verdict, and we find no error in the rulings of the court on the admission of evidence or in its instructions to the jury.\nThe main defense set up by the defendant seems to have been that the right of way to construct the levee had already been granted by a deed duly executed by plaintiff. This deed, which is set out in the statement'of facts, purports to convey \u201cthe right of way\u201d over the land in question \u201cfor the purpose of constructing and maintaining any and all levees that may be built thereupon as a protection against overflows.\u201d This deed was made out on a printed form for a deed prepared by the Levee Board, and recited a nominal consideration of $1.00. We are of the opinion that the deed gave only one right of way across the land; and when a right of way across the land was selected and occupied by the construction of a levee, the defendant could not construct another levee across the land on a different line without securing another right of way. We think that the circuit court correctly held that only one right of way could be taken under it, and that, after that had been selected and occupied, the power of the deed was exhausted, and no other right of way could be taken under it.\nOn the whole case we are of the opinion that the judgment should be affirmed, and it is so ordered.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Riddick, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "H. P. Roleson, for appellant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "Board of Directors of St. Francis Levee District v. Bowen.\nOpinion delivered July 23, 1906.\nL,EvEE \u2014 DEED for right of WAY' \u2014 construction.\u2014Under a deed conveying a right of way over certain land \u201cfor the purpose of constructing and maintaining any and all levees that, may be built thereupon as a protection against overflows,\u201d when a right of way has been selected by the grantee and occupied by the construction of a levee, the grantee could not construct another levee across the land on a different line without securing another right of way.\nAppeal from Mississippi Circuit Court, Osceola District; Allen Hughes, Judge;\naffirmed.\nH. P. Roleson, for appellant.\nContracts are to be construed most strongly against the obligor. 4 Ark. 199. The deed is plain, and explicitly grants the land for the purpose of constructing and maintaining any and all levees that may be built thereupon as a protection against overflows. The surroundings and circumstances under which the deed was executed are admissible, and should be considered in construing its meaning. 65 Ark. 18; 52 Ark. 95 ; 46 Ark. 122.\nThe deed conveys only one right of way, * * * \u201cfor the purpose of constructing and maintaining any and all levees that may be built thereuponIn considering the \u201csurroundings and circumstances under which the deed was executed, in construing its meaning,\u201d these facts appear from the record: a levee across appellee\u2019s land had existed for 38 years; a larger levee was necessary, and the only land required by the district for right of way was an amount sufficient to enable it to increase the size of the levee. The consideration also is to be taken into account."
  },
  "file_name": "0080-01",
  "first_page_order": 102,
  "last_page_order": 103
}