Missouri Pacific Railroad v. Western Crawford Road Improvement District

Mr. Justice Brandéis

delivered the opinion of the Court.

In 1920 Arkansas created the Western Crawford Road Improvement District by a special act. Pursuant to its provisions the commissioners named therein took the proceedings incident to organizing the district. They determined what work would be required, estimated the cost thereof, and had the preliminary assessment made of the benefits and burdens. In so doing the commissioners necessarily incurred expenses for publication of notices, for the services of engineers, lawyers and assessors, and for other matters. After the required data had…