| SooperKanoon Citation | sooperkanoon.com/83608 |
| Court | US Supreme Court |
| Decided On | 1878 |
| Case Number | 99 U.S. 382 |
| Appellant | Ryan |
| Respondent | Railroad Company |
Notice (8): Undefined variable: kword [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 123]Code Context}//highest occurence of word in the judgementecho $this->Wand->highlight($this->Excerpt->extractRelevant($kword,strtolower(strip_tags($desc['Judgement']['judgement']))), $query) . "</div>";$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. 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Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 123]ryan v. railroad company - 99 u.s. 382 (1878) u.s. supreme court ryan v. railroad company, 99 u.s. 382 (1878) ryan v. railroad company 99 u.s. 382 appeal from the circuit court of the united states for the district of california syllabus 1. an act of congress, 14 stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the.....Code Context}//highest occurence of word in the judgementecho $this->Wand->highlight($this->Excerpt->extractRelevant($kword,strtolower(strip_tags($desc['Judgement']['judgement']))), $query) . "</div>";$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' )include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 123 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Ryan v. Railroad Company
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 1include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
99 U.S. 382
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 2include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 3include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 4include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 5include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Syllabus
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 6include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although sub judice at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. Held that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 7include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
2. Newhall v. Sanger, 92 U. S. 761 , cited and distinguished from this case.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 8include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 9include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 10include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 11include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 12include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 13include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 14include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 15include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 16include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 17include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 18include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 19include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
After this case was submitted to the court upon printed
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 20include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 21include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 22include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
There is no controversy about the facts.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 23include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 24include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
The second section of the act referred to is as follows:
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 25include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
"SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections,"
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 26include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
&c.; 14 Stat. 239.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 27include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became ipso facto fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 28include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 29include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 30include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 31include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 32include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
But it is said the case is within the principle established in Newhall v. Sanger, 92 U. S. 761 , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 33include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and sub judice. The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 34include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 35include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 36include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said,
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 37include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
"to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned."
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 38include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 39include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly,
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 40include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
"they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress."
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 41include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 42include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be sub judice, and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 43include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 44include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 45include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Newhall v. Sanger applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 46include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
Decree affirmed.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 47include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion.
Notice (8): Undefined variable: query [APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144]Code Contextecho $this->Adsense->display('responsive_rect');}echo html_entity_decode($this->Wand->highlight($content[$i], $query));$viewFile = '/home/legalcrystal/app/View/Case/amp.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'title_for_layout' => 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ', 'desc' => array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="383"> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="385"> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="386"> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="387"> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a href="/case/82967/newhall-vs-sanger"> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="388"> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a class="page-number" id="389"> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ), 'casename_url' => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company', 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Ryan Vs Railroad Company - Citation 83608 - Court Judgment | ' $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '83608', 'acts' => null, 'appealno' => '99 U.S. 382', 'appellant' => 'Ryan', 'authreffered' => null, 'casename' => 'Ryan Vs. Railroad Company', 'casenote' => '', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => null, 'citingcases' => null, 'counselplain' => null, 'counseldef' => null, 'court' => 'US Supreme Court', 'court_type' => 'FN', 'decidedon' => '1878-01-01', 'deposition' => null, 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => null, 'judgement' => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> </p> <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> </p> <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> </p> <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> </p> <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. </p> <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. </p> <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. </p> <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. </p> <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. </p> <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. </p> <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> </p> <p> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. </p> <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> </p> <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. </p> <p> There is no controversy about the facts. </p> <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. </p> <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: </p> <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," </p> <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. </p> <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. </p> <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> </p> <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. </p> <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. </p> <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. </p> <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> </p> <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. </p> <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, </p> <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." </p> <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. </p> <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, </p> <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." </p> <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. </p> <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From </p> <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> </p> <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. </p> <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. </p> <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> </p> <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. </p> <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => null, 'pubs' => null, 'ratiodecidendi' => null, 'respondent' => 'Railroad Company', 'sub' => null, 'link' => '/cases/federal/us/99/382/', 'circuit' => null ) ) $casename_url = 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' $args = array( (int) 0 => '83608', (int) 1 => 'ryan-vs-railroad-company' ) $url = 'https://sooperkanoon.com/case/amp/83608/ryan-vs-railroad-company' $ctype = '' $date = array( (int) 0 => 'Jan', (int) 1 => '01', (int) 2 => '1878' ) $content = array( (int) 0 => '<html><head></head><body><div> Ryan v. Railroad Company - 99 U.S. 382 (1878) <br/> <span> U.S. Supreme Court Ryan v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 382 (1878) </span> <p> <b> Ryan v. Railroad Company </b> ', (int) 1 => ' <p> <b> 99 U.S. 382 </b> ', (int) 2 => ' <p> <b> </b> ', (int) 3 => ' <p> <em> APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED </em> ', (int) 4 => ' <p> <em> STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA </em> ', (int) 5 => ' <p> <em> </em> <em> Syllabus </em> ', (int) 6 => ' <p> 1. An Act of Congress, 14 Stat. 239, granted to a railroad company, to aid in the construction of its road, every section of public land designated by odd numbers, to the amount of "twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line," and provided that where any of said sections or parts of sections should be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted, or otherwise disposed of, the company should, in lieu thereof, select, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, other lands nearest to the limits of said sections, and not more than ten miles beyond them. There being a deficiency of said sections to satisfy the grant, the company, with the approval of said Secretary, selected as part indemnity a quarter of an odd-numbered section of public land within ten miles beyond those limits, and obtained a patent therefor from the United States. When so selected, it was within a tract formerly covered by a Mexican claim, which, although <em> sub judice </em> at the date of the act, had been finally rejected as invalid. <em> Held </em> that the patent conveyed a perfect title to the company. ', (int) 7 => ' <p> 2. <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , cited and distinguished from this case. ', (int) 8 => ' <p> This is a suit in equity brought by Ryan to enjoin and restrain the Central Pacific Railroad Company from relying upon or using as evidence a patent issued to it by the United States for a certain tract of land in California. ', (int) 9 => ' <p> The company is successor to the California and Oregon Railroad Company, to which, in aid of the construction of a railroad, Congress granted land by an Act approved July 25, 1866, 14 Stat. 239, entitled "An Act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Central Pacific Railroad, in California, to Portland, in Oregon," the second section whereof is set out in the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 10 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 383 </a> ', (int) 11 => ' <p> ', (int) 12 => ' <p> The land in controversy is situated within the indemnity or ten-mile limits beyond the alternate sections first named in the act, and at its date was within the exterior boundaries of a certain Mexican claim known as the Manuel Diaz grant, which was finally rejected as invalid, March 3, 1873. ', (int) 13 => ' <p> Oct. 30, 1874, the company finding that there were not sufficient odd-numbered sections within the limits of its grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to make the quantity to which it was entitled, made selection of the land in controversy, the same being then public land, and applied for a patent therefor, in all respects in the manner provided by said act. This selection was examined by the register and receiver of the proper land office, and it appearing to them that there were not sufficient alternate sections within the twenty-mile limits of the railroad grant, not otherwise granted, &c.;, to satisfy the grant, they, Dec. 26, 1874, approved the selection as indemnity for a portion of the lands so lost, and thereafter forwarded the same to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The selection was thereupon approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent was issued to the company, March 17, 1875. ', (int) 14 => ' <p> Ryan being in all respects qualified to avail himself of the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1862, 12 Stat. 392, filed an application, July 14, 1876, accompanied by his affidavit, as required by said act, in the proper land office, to be allowed to enter as a homestead the quarter-section so selected by, and patented to, the company; and he thereupon paid the lawful fees, and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver therefor. He subsequently built a house thereon, and, Nov. 4, 1876, moved with his family into said house, where he continued to reside until the commencement of this suit. He alleges that the said patent is held and asser*ted by the company in hostility to his title. ', (int) 15 => ' <p> The court dismissed the bill, and Ryan appealed here. ', (int) 16 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 385 </a> ', (int) 17 => ' <p> ', (int) 18 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE SWAYNE delivered the opinion of the Court. ', (int) 19 => ' <p> After this case was submitted to the court upon printed ', (int) 20 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 386 </a> ', (int) 21 => ' <p> arguments by the counsel of the parties, the Attorney General expressed a wish to be heard in behalf of the United States, and an oral argument was thereupon ordered. The case was argued in that way, fully and ably, by that officer and by the counsel for the appellee, and I am directed now to deliver the opinion of the court. ', (int) 22 => ' <p> There is no controversy about the facts. ', (int) 23 => ' <p> By the Act of Congress of July 25, 1866, Congress granted certain lands to the California and Oregon Railroad Company. The appellee claims under that grantee, and has succeeded to its rights. At the date of the act, there was pending a claim for the confirmation of a Mexican grant, which embraced within its boundaries the premises in controversy between these parties. The appellant insists that he has a paramount title not under but by reason of this claim, as will hereafter appear. ', (int) 24 => ' <p> The second section of the act referred to is as follows: ', (int) 25 => ' <p> "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted that there be, and hereby is, granted to the said companies, their successors and assigns, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said railroad and telegraph line and to secure the safe and speedy transportation of the mails, troops, munitions of war, and public stores over the line of said railroad every alternate section of public land not mineral, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of twenty alternate sections per mile (ten on each side) of said railroad line, and when any of said alternate sections or parts of sections shall be found to have been granted, sold, reserved, occupied by homestead settlers, preempted or otherwise disposed of, other lands, designated as aforesaid, shall be selected by said companies in lieu thereof, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in alternate sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, nearest to and not more than ten miles beyond the limits of the said first-named alternate sections," ', (int) 26 => ' <p> &c.; 14 Stat. 239. ', (int) 27 => ' <p> Under this statute, when the road was located and the maps were made, the right of the company to the odd sections first named became <em> ipso facto </em> fixed and absolute. With respect to the "lieu lands," as they are called, the right was only a float, and attached to no specific tracts until the selection was actually made in the manner prescribed. ', (int) 28 => ' <p> On the 3d of March, 1873, the alleged Mexican grant was ', (int) 29 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 387 </a> ', (int) 30 => ' <p> declared invalid by this court and finally rejected. On the 30th of October, 1874, it was found there was not enough of the alternate odd sections within the primary limits to satisfy the grant to the railroad company. On that day, the appellee selected the land in question. Though not within them, it was within the indemnity limits prescribed in the act and was intended in so far to supply the deficiency within the former. The selection was approved by the local land officers on the 26th of December, 1874. This approval was confirmed by the Secretary of the Interior, and a patent in due form was issued to the appellee on the 17th of March, 1875. At the time of the selection, the premises were public land. The Mexican claim had been rejected by this Court more than a year and a half before, and the land was not within any exception expressed or implied in the act. Afterwards, on the 14th of July, 1876, the appellant being in all respects qualified, filed an application in due form to be allowed to enter the land in question under the homestead act of 1862. He paid the proper fees and received a duplicate receipt from the register and receiver of the land office of the district. He filed this bill to restrain the appellee from availing itself of the patent upon the ground that the land was not subject to selection in lieu of the deficit of odd sections within the twenty-mile limits specifically granted by the act. ', (int) 31 => ' <p> After this plain statement of the case, it is difficult to imagine any defect that can exist in the title of the appellee or any right, legal or equitable, that the appellant can have. ', (int) 32 => ' <p> But it is said the case is within the principle established in <em> Newhall v. Sanger, </em> <span> <a> 92 U. S. 761 </a> </span> , and must be controlled by that adjudication. This is the sole objection to the appellee's title, and it is founded in a mistake. The two cases are distinguishable by a broad line of demarcation. ', (int) 33 => ' <p> In the former case, the lands covered by the false Mexican claim were situated within the limits of the territory where the right of the company attached to the designated odd sections granted when the road was located and the requisite maps were made. At that time, the claim was in litigation, and <em> sub judice. </em> The court held that under these circumstances the premises were not "public land" within the meaning of the ', (int) 34 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 388 </a> ', (int) 35 => ' <p> law, and could not become such until the title of the government was vindicated by the defeat of the claim, and that the patent issued to the railroad company was therefore void. ', (int) 36 => ' <p> After the Mexican claim had been disposed of and before a new appropriation was made or attempted to be made by the company, the junior patent was issued to another party, and it was held that he had a valid title. The Mexican claim was finally rejected by this Court on the 13th of February, 1865. It was insisted by the company that the judgment should be held to relate back to the first day of the term, so as to disembarrass the title of the claim as of that date. This was refused. The Court said, ', (int) 37 => ' <p> "to antedate the rejection of a claim so as to render operative a grant which would be otherwise without effect does not promote the ends of justice, and cannot be sanctioned." ', (int) 38 => ' <p> It was admitted by clear implication that if the lands had been thus disembarrassed at the date of the grant or their withdrawal from sale, the elder patent would have been valid. ', (int) 39 => ' <p> Again, speaking of lands embraced in such a claim, the Court says expressly, ', (int) 40 => ' <p> "they were regarded as forming a part of our public domain only after the claim covering them had been finally rejected. . . . They then became public in the just meaning of that term, and were subject to the disposing power of Congress." ', (int) 41 => ' <p> Here, the land was not a part of the alternate odd sections specifically granted. It was not within the limits of that territory. There, there was a deficiency. ', (int) 42 => ' <p> It was within the secondary or indemnity territory where that deficiency was to be supplied. The railroad company had not and could not have any claim to it until specially selected, as it was, for that purpose. It was taken to help satisfy the grant to the extent that the odd sections originally given failed to meet its requirements. When so selected, there was no Mexican or other claim impending over it. It had ceased to be <em> sub judice, </em> and was no longer in litigation. It was as much "public land" as any other part of the national domain. The patent gave the same title to the appellee that a like patent for any other public land would have given to any other party. The Mexican claim, when condemned, lost its vitality. From ', (int) 43 => ' <p> <a> Page 99 U. S. 389 </a> ', (int) 44 => ' <p> that time, as regards the future, it ceased to be a factor to be considered, and was in all respects as if it had never existed. In this state of things, the appellee acquired its title, and that title is indefeasible. ', (int) 45 => ' <p> <em> Newhall v. Sanger </em> applies only where the adverse claim is undisposed of when the grant would otherwise take effect. It has no application as to the future after the claim has ceased to exist. ', (int) 46 => ' <p> <em> Decree affirmed. </em> ', (int) 47 => ' <p> MR. JUSTICE HARLAN concurred in the judgment because Ryan, upon the face of his bill, was not entitled to any relief from a court of equity. The bill should have been dismissed without any consideration of the merits of the case, about which he expressed no opinion. ', (int) 48 => ' <br/> <br/> </div></body></html>' ) $paragraphAfter = (int) 1 $cnt = (int) 49 $i = (int) 48include - APP/View/Case/amp.ctp, line 144 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109