ARK.] ONES V KELLEY TRUST'CO. 857 • JONES V. KELLEY - TRUST COMPANY. Opinion delivered June 24, 1929. NuisAN GE—PERM IT TO OPERATE QUARRY AND ROCK . CRUSHER.—A • permit granted by a city , commission to a company _Operating a quarry and rock crusher was no defense to the company in a • guit to enjoin such operation as a nuisance. • 2. NuIsANcz—EsToPPEL.--Residents in the vicinity of a quarry and rock crusher held not estopped from maintaining a.suit to enjoin operation thereof as a nuisance where the suit was instituted before operation was begun, , tho. ugh the crusher had been op?rated , in the- same* place in former yearC where 'the present operation '- was materially different from*the foinier* oPerationl 3., APPEAL AND ERROR —QUESTION NOT PASSED ON • BY TRIAL COURT.—A question not passed on by the trial court, and which that court held was not presented, will not , be decided on appeal. 4. . N . UISANCE—QUARRY AND ROCK CRUSHER.—The operation of a quarry ana rock crush p ir niay or *may not Constitute a nuisance, -depending on-the circumstances and the lodality. • 5.• NuIsANCID—INJuav TO ANOTHER'S PROPERTY.—Every persIon is en-• • titled to the- undisturbed possession and • enjoyment of his own property, subject to the rights of others, so as not to cause direct injury to the , peroon or property of others. • . NUISANCE—OPERATION OF QUARRY AND ROCK CRUSHER—DECREE.— '• Where the chancellor in a sdit to enjoin a .nuisance found that .the operation of the quarry and rock crusher 'was attended with noise and throwing of stone .on plaintiffs' •property, a decree permitting defendants to . operate only on. condition that they
858 JON.ES 'V. KELLEY TRUST 00. [179 should not throw stones on plaintiffs' property, and should reduce the noise to a minimum, and permitting operation only during certain hours and under supervision of an expert personally present, was proper. 7. INJUNCTION—PAYMENT OF DAMAGES.—The chancery ccurt has a right to ascertain what damages will result in the operation of a certain business, and to require the party wishing to do the act to pay the damages on penalty of having the operation of the business enjoined in case payment is not made. 8. NUISANCE—CONDITION OF OPERATING ROCK CRUSHER.—In a suit to enjoin the operation of a quarry and rock crusher as a nuisance, a decree permitting the operation on condition that defendants pay a salary to the special bailiff appointed by the court to supervise the operation, held authorized in view of the court's power to decree a permanent injunction. Appeal 'from Sebastian Chancery Court, Fort Smith District; J. V. Bourland, Chancellor ; affirmed. Warner & Warner and Hardin & Barton, for appellant. Pryor, Miles & Pryor, for appellee. MEHAFFY, J. This suit was brought in the chancery court of Sebastian County, Fort Smith District, by appellant, asking that the appellees be permanently enjoined from the operation of a quarry and rock crusher in the city of Fort Smith. The chancellor heard the testimony, made findings of fact, and entered a decree restraining the appellees from doing certain things, but permitted them to operate the quarry and rock crusher under certain conditions. This appeal is prosecuted to reverse said decree. Many witnesses testified. The testimony voluminous, and it is too lengthy to set out. We have, however, carefully considered the entire testimony, and have reached the conclusion that the finding of the chancellor on the facts is not against the preponderance of the evidence. The chancery court found that the rock quarry and crusher are located within the city of Fort Smith, and states that the issues presented by the (pleadings are whether or not the appellees are committing, or about to commit, R nuisance by the operation of a stone quarry
ARK.] JONES V. KELLEY TRUST CO. 859 and crusher in. such a manner as to become a nuisance to the plaintiff, or any of them, so as to work material jury to them, or any of them, they being respective residents, owning their respective homes, occupied by themselves and members of their families, within the vicinity of the said rock quarry and crusher, the nearest one of said residents being approximately 390 feet from the rock crusher. The chancery court found that the quarry had been in operation for 30 years or more, but had not been oper, ated in recent years ; that the appellees, in anticipation of running it, had contraded with the State Highway De— partment for the delivery of a large amount of crushed stone, and that they had purchased considerable machinery and were ready to install the same, but had not begun actual operation at the time the suit was begun, but were prepared to do so, and would have been operating but for this suit. The chancellor also found that the necessary consequence of the blasting and dynamite was noise and the throwing of broken particles of stone, and, unless done with great care, such noise and throwing of stone will cause material injury to plaintiffs in the enjoyment of their homes. The court found that the operation of the quarry and the rock crusher, unless done with the highest degree , of caution and care, will be a nuisance, keeping the appellants in daily fear of injury to their Tersons or to the persons of their families, and would be a source of material vexation and anxiety to them, or probable injury to their homes, or some of them: And the court further found that, while there is a -conflict in the testimony, there is likely to occur, in the operation of the quarry, injuries which entitle them to injunctive relief ; but found that the quarry and rock crusher may be so operated as to not be a material injury to plaintiffs and their families and their right of property. The court also found that the city commission had granted a permit to o p erate the quarr y and rock crusher, and the court limits the decree in its injunctive effect so
860 JONES V. KELLEY TRUST Co. [179 as to reduce tbe noise incident to the . operation and the danger of hurling rocks to the-lowest possible terms, so as to safeguard appellants' rights, as far as this may be. accomplished by a decree _ • • • The court therefore decreed that the . appellees, and each .of them, their agents, employees and servants, be. and they are• jointly and severally . reStrained from disturbing the peace and quiet of the families of plaintiffs, or any •of them, by the explosion, at or near said rock quarry, .of dynamite, either .for blowing .out or loosening stone'from the bluff, or by reducing .stone t-hat bad been. thrown...from, the bluff, except • at the times mentioned in the decree, under "the supervision- of nn expert • employee.- After having conditioned. the-•dynamite shot so that the noise • produced will be reduced to the lowest possible. terms, and . so that the: . stone will not be .hnrled so. as to in 'any way injure the plaintiffs, .or any of them, -or members of their families, or injure their• property, or fall Upon .the same.. The conrt, then enjoined the appellees from :blasting. at any time except within the hours from 10:30 to. 12-A.. M. and 5:30-to 7- P.. Al., and enjoined them-from firing any.Shots . except under the •supervision of dn., expert, manager or superintendent, being :personally present. „The Aecree ;also, required the appellees to give .notice of the bours when such shots would be fired,..and enjoined l appellees permanently from making-any . ' sec-, ondary-shots,Inown' deby shots, and decreed also that injury to. _appellants,- their families or property, -from noise o'r fromflying stone, shall be.conclusive . 'of an . ihten-tional or zrossly negligent disregard of the-terms of-,this decree.' The court retained jurisdiction for the pnrpose of-enforcingthe decree, but the decree was' otherwise final. Both parties *appealed: Appellants.' -first contention is that the permit. granted: by the city commissinn is no defense, and -we. ag ree with the appellants in this contention. Ft. Smithi:i. Western Hide & Fitr Co.; 153 Ark. 99, 239 S. W.724 ; Wilder v. Little Rock. 150 Ark. 439, 234 S. W. 479 ; Sander v. Blytheville, 164 Ark. 434, 2628. W..23,. • 20 R. C. Ii 501.
AR:K.] JONES. V. KELLEY ;TRUST Co. 861 It is next contended by appellants that they are not estopped, and in this contention of appellants we also agree. 46 C. J..777 ; Ft. Smith:v.. Western Hide & Fur Co., 153 Ark. 99 ., .239 S.W. 724; Osceola v. Hcvney, 147 Ark..555, 227 S. W.. 407 ;-Tatum v. Ark. Lumber Co., 103 Ark. 254, 146 S. W. 145; Gus:Blass v. Reinman, 102 Ark. 290, 143 S. W. 1087; Brede v. Minn. Crushed Stone Co., 143 Minn, 3,74, 173 N. W. 805,,6 A: L..R. 1095. • The evidenCe in this case:shows that; ,while there had been a quarry and rock.crnsher operated at this place,for many .years, yet it had not been in operation in recent years ; and, moreover, the operation of the plantby,ap;- pellees appears from the :evidence -to be materially different from , the-operation'Ol. the quarry and rock crusher . formerly.' The parties would l certainly not be estopped, under tbe circumstances in this case, when they not only notified appellees, butbegan the suit beforeany operation was' begun. , • • : Appellants next contend, that the' streets and alleys were duly dedicated. The court, hOwever, in its decree finds from the facts, and declares:as:a matter of law, that the'question of- streets. is not;presented for consideration at this tiMe this decree. But,, if . ithad been presented, wethink, the*evidencedn the:case clearly shows that the occnpatibn: of the-streets,'ot,the land where,streets might be laid out, does not entitle the,plaintiffs to aninjunctiOn. However, as' this •question does' not seem -to have ',been passed upon byrthe Ourt 'below,- and while the court held that it was not presented to . the court at this time,it becomes unnecessary to. decide it here. It is then . contended that the record abundantly sustains the complaint, and' . a. permanent injunction shoUld have been ordered. That is; the appellant contends that a' permanent injunction preventing the operation -of the quarry and rock crusher. entirely should have been granted. The conrt did grant: ,a permanent injunction against operating the quarry and rock crusher in such a: manner as to endanger 'the plaintiffs, or their families, and permanently enjoined the appellees froM so operat-
862 JONES V. KELLEY TRUST CO. [179 ing the quarry and crusher that any stone would fall on the lands of the appellants, and restricted the operation between the hours of 10:30 and 12 A. M. and the hours of 5:30 and 7 p. M., and appellees are permanently enjoined from operating the quarry and rock crusher at any other time, and the court retained jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing the decree. Operating a quarry and rock crusher may or may not be unlawful, depending upon the circumstances in each particular case. What might be a nuisance done in one place would not necessarily be a nuisance done in a different place. "The locality is to be considered in determining whether there is a nuisance, although it is not conclusive, but is to be considered in connection with all circumstances in the case. There are some nuisances in which the act complained of may be wrongful, but 'constitutes a nuisance only by reason of its location, and there may be an act or condition that is rightful, or even necessary, but may become a nuisance by reason of its location. What might be a nuisance in one locality might not be so in another. A business which might be perfectly proper in a business or mannfacturing neighborhood may the a nui-same when carried on in a residential district; and, conversely, a business which might well be considered a nuisance in a residential portion of a city or village may be proof against complaint when conducted in a business or manufacturing locality." 46 C. J. 666. The law is well settled by the decisions of this court that the operation of a business may be a nuisance in one locality and not in another. See Ft. Smith v. Western Hide & Fwr Co., 153 Ark. 99, 239 S. W. 724. The operation of a quarry and rock crusher is a lawful business, but this court has said that, if one does an act in itself lawful, which yet, being done in that place, necessarily tends to the danger of another's -property, it is a nuisance, for it is incumbent on him to find some other place to do that act where it will be less offensive. Yaffe v. City of Ft. Smith, 17_8 Ark. 406, 10 S. W. (2d) 886;
ARK.] JONES V. KELLEY TRUST Co. 863 Biekley V. Morgan Utilities Co., Inc., 173 Ark. 1038, 294 S. W. 38. The court in tbe instant case, however, found that, nnless operated with restrictions mentioned in the decree, the operation of the quarry and rock crusher would be a nuisance, and therefore permanently enjoined the doing of certain things, and permitted the operation only upon condition that it should be so operated as not to damage the appellants. Every person is entitled to the undisturbed possession and enjoyment of his own property. The mode of enjoyment is necessarily limited by the rights of others ; otherwise it might be made destructive to their rights altogether. Where it was contended that the defendant had a right to operate.its plant, although large quantities of gravel, slate and stone were thrown on plaintiff's land, the court said : "The use of land by the proprietor is not therefore an absolute right, but qualified and limited by the higher right of others to the lawful possession of their property. To this possession the law prohibits all direct injury, without regard to its extent or motives of the aggressor. A man may prosecute such business •as he chooses upon his premises, but he cannot erect a nuisance to the annoyance of the enjoining proprietor, even for the purpose of lawful trade. * * * He may excavate a canal, but he cannot cast the dirt or stones upon the land of his neighbor, either by human agency or the force of gunpowder. If he cannot construct the work without the adoption of such means, he must abandon that mode of using his property, or be held responsible for all daMages arising therefrom. He will not be permitted to accomplish a legal object in an unlawful manner. And it would seem tbat one who makes a blast on his own land and thereby causes rock to fall upon the lands of another, or upon the highway, is liable a.s a trespasser for injUries inflicted, although the blast is fired for a lawful purpose and without neglect or want of skill." Central Iron & Coal Co. v. Vanderheurk, 147 . Ala. 546, 41 So. 145,..6 L. R. A. (N. S.) 370.
864 JONES V. KELLEY 7R -UST Co. [179 • .We think flip chancellor was therefore correct in permitting . the appellees to operate only on condition that they did not throw stones on the lands of appellants and did not do anything that injured or damaged the . appellants or . their familis.. • . _ Counsel for defendants cite 4 case holding, in effect, that,. if the injury . complained of is cansed by the operation of a lawful business, carried en in the district given over to kindred classes of 'business, and the injury is only steh as naturally flows froth* the operation of a business of that scharacter, an . injUnction will not be granted if it Would entail a Serious injury to . the defendant' or to the public as compared to . the injury:complained of by the plaintiff This , is CoMmonly • referred te as the compara: Eve injUiy 'doctrine. The cases in Which this doetrine has been given 'effect are loolleeted in a ; note to -Bristol v. Paliner; 31 L. R. A. (N. S.) 881, 893, 'and in 20 R. C. L: 480. • Pi-ede . v. Minm,. Crushed Stwie 0. 61,:143 Minn. 374, 173 g05, 6 A. L. R. 1092. • • The eases holding that the rights *of habitation are suPerior to the rights of trade, and, whenever they conflict; thorights of trade must yield fo the prithary or nat-ur'al right, are-also colleeted in note to the.ease of Bristol v. Palmer. . . , . The chanCellonfound in this CarSe, on eonflicting testimony, that appellees should be permitted to . operate the quarry under the conditions, named in the decree, and that they . shonid be Perma . nently enjOined . froth , ope , rating it in any other way. • • • A majortty . of the court a.re of Opinion that the find frig of the chancellor 'is' correct, .and that it should, be affirmed. The writer does not agree- with the majotify, 'is. of opinion that a permanent injunction should , have been . granted. However, if operated only between the hours mentioned by the chancellor, and 'so that no damage can be done 'to the "appellants, in compliance with the decree Of the Chancellor, appellees should be (permitted to operate. The chancellor can at any time permanently enjoin the operation, if the decree is not complied with,
865 or if the operation results in damage to the aPpellants. The decree provided for a special bailiff, at $150 a month, to be paid by the appellees, and from this part of the decree of the chancellor there is a cross-appeal. Counsel say they have found no authority which grants the chancellor the right to appoint a bailiff at the sole expense of one of the parties. It has been repeatedly held that a chancery court has the right to ascertain what damages will result in the doing of a certain thing and require the party wishing to do the act to pay. the damages, and, upon its refusal to do so, to enjoin "the ,e0m--mission of the act. In this dase.the chancellor found that this was necessary in order to protect the appellants, and the appellees are permitted to operate under the conditions named in the decree or not, just as they wish. If tfi.ey do not want to be permanently enjoined, they must comply with the decree of the chancery court. The chancery court had authority to issue a permanent injunction, but he also had authority to permit the operation under the conditions named. This leaves the appellees with the option to comply with the terms of the decree or be permanently enjoined from operating. The decree of the chancellor is eorrect, and is therefore affirmed.
You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.