Seaboard Air Line Ry. Co. v. Railroad Comm’n, 240 U.S. 324 (1916)

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Seaboard Air Line Railway Company v.

Railroad Commission of Georgia
No. 170

Argued January 13, 14, 1916
Decided February 21, 1916
240 U.S. 324

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

Syllabus

It is within the power of a state, acting through an administrative hoard, to require railroad companies to make physical track connections where public necessity exists therefor.

In determining whether such public necessity exists, just regard should be given, on the one side, to probably resulting advantages, and, on the other side, to the necessary expenses to be incurred.

A finding of public necessity for a physical track connection cannot be supported by the mere declaration of the commission; there must be sufficient evidence to support it.

In this case, held that the finding of the Railroad Commission of Georgia that public necessity existed for a physical connection of tracks of two railroads at a point in the state was, as held by both courts below, supported by the evidence, and the order of the Commission made pursuant to power conferred by § 264, Georgia Code, was fully justified.

213 F. 27 affirmed.

The facts, which involve the validity of an order requiring switch connections made by the Railroad Commission of Georgia, are stated in the opinion.