Chicago, B. & Q. Ry. Co. v. Burlington, C. R. & N. Ry. Co.

Whoever, in my opinion, in a legal proceeding considers a railway company as a corporation for mere pecuniary profit to the owners of the property, without taking into account their character as quasi public corporations having public duties to perform, takes a view of the subject altogether narrow and misleading.

It is one of the duties of government to provide and regulate public roads and highways. It is a duty of government because roads and highways are indispensible to society, and because individuals are incompetent to establish and control them. No government can rightfully delegate to…