Legal Opinion

Concord v. Boston & Maine Railroad

Supreme Court of New Hampshire

Decided December 5, 1896PublishedCited by 4 opinions

Debt, for money paid for lighting a covered bridge on a highway in Concord. Facts agreed. Prior to the building of the bridge, Bridge street crossed the defendants’ tracks at grade. The bridge was erected by the defendants about 1860 as an overhead railroad crossing, and they have maintained and kept it in repair. Within one half mile from the bridge there are one hundred inhabitants, and it is necessary that the bridge should be lighted.

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Debt, for money paid for lighting a covered bridge on a highway in Concord. Facts agreed. Prior to the building of the bridge, Bridge street crossed the defendants’ tracks at grade. The bridge was erected by the defendants about 1860 as an overhead railroad crossing, and they have maintained and kept it in repair. Within one half mile from the bridge there are one hundred inhabitants, and it is necessary that the bridge should be lighted. In June, 1895, the parties agreed that for the safety of the public the bridge should be lighted, that the expense of lighting should be paid in the first…

1Opinion of the CourtCarpenter, C. J.

“ It shall be the duty of the proprietors of every railroad to provide suitable crossings ... for the accommodation of the public.” P. S., c. 159, s. 1. The bridge is a crossing. Until it is made reasonably safe and convenient for the public use it is not suitable. It being agreed that the public safety requires the bridge to be lighted, there must be

Judgment for the plaintiffs.

All concurred.

2Cited by4 opinions

  1. Laconia v. Boston & Maine RailroadSupreme Court of New Hampshire · 1925
  2. Dickey v. Boston & Maine RailroadSupreme Court of New Hampshire · 1899
  3. Shea v. Boston & Maine RailroadSupreme Court of New Hampshire · 1937
  4. Pierce v. Boston & Maine RailroadSupreme Court of New Hampshire · 1928

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