Stone v. Southern Illinois & Missouri Bridge Co., 206 U.S. 267 (1907)

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Stone v. Southern Illinois & Missouri Bridge Company

No. 253

Argued March 24, 25, 1907
Decided May 13, 1907
206 U.S. 267

ERROR TO THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI

Syllabus

Whether the statutes of a state authorize the incorporation of a bridge company to construct a bridge over a navigable river separating it from another state, whether such statute confer the right of eminent domain on a corporation of another state, and whether such a corporation can exercise therein powers other than those conferred by the its creation, are all question of state law, involving no federal questions, and the rulings of the highest court of the state are final and conclusive upon this Court.

The Act of January 26, 1901, 31 Stat. 741, having authorized the construction by an Illinois corporation of a bridge and approaches across the Mississippi River, it is within the power of one of the states within which the bridge was constructed to authorize extensions thereof and connections therewith necessary and proper to make it available for the use contemplated by the statute, and although such extensions and connections were not within the plans and specifications of the bridge itself and its approaches as approved by the Secretary of War, the condemnation of land necessary for the bridge company to construct them is not in contravention of 9 of the Act of March 3, 1899, 30 Stat. 1151, making it unlawful to deviate in the construction of any bridge over navigable waters from the plans approved by the Secretary of War.

194 Mo 175 affirmed.

The facts are stated in the opinion.