Chicago, Burlington & Northern Railroad v. Porter

This is an appeal from an order made on the application of the plaintiff, appointing commissioners to appraise the damages to be paid by it for taking private property for public use, for the purpose of constructing a switch track in the city of Winona, from its main track, along a line described in its petition, to the manufacturing establishments of the Laird-Norton Company. The proposed switch line runs partly upon a public alley and partly upon private property, and crosses at least one public street. The defendants, owners of land proposed to be taken, appeared before the district court…