County of Alameda v. Ross

The petitioner seeks by means of a writ of mandamus to compel the respondent to issue a warrant in payment for materials ordered by the board of supervisors of Alameda County with which to repair a part of the Fruitvale Avenue bridge across the Oakland estuary, which portion of the bridge is used exclusively for the benefit of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.

The respondent contends there is no valid contract or legal authorization for the County of Alameda to incur or pay the indebtedness for maintaining or repairing that portion of the bridge which is used exclusively for the benefit…