278 TIMBER TAKEN FROM PUBLIC LANDS 



upon any part of the road; x and a liberal construction of the 

 words "adjacent to the line of said road" in the general act 

 of March 3, 1875, has usually been given, 2 one decision 

 holding a distance of three miles from the place of cutting to 

 the line of the railroad to be within the meaning of the term 

 "adjacent" as used in the statute, 3 and another holding that 

 the cutting of timber twenty-five miles away from the track 

 was not necessarily wrongful as a matter of law. 4 How- 

 ever, the word, "adjacent" will not be ignored, nor will its 

 meaning be unreasonably expanded. 5 The determination 

 of the meaning of the term in a particular case has been held 

 to be a matter for both the court and the jury. 6 The cir- 

 cumstances in a particular case might justify a construction 

 of the word which would not be permissible under a 

 different set of conditions, 7 and the Supreme Court has 

 rejected the suggestion that "adjacent" should be limited 

 to the distance that the timber could reasonably be trans- 

 ported by wagons, 8 or to the area to be directly benefited 

 by the proximity of the completed railroad. 9 The license 

 granted by the acts in favor of railroad construction has 

 been held to include the use of timber for the erection of 

 station houses and other appurtenances of a railroad. 10 



Under the act of 1875 a railroad company could not be held 

 in trespass for timber cut on lands adjacent to the line be- 

 tween the filing of articles of incorporation and proof of 

 organization with the Secretary of the Interior and the ap- 

 proval of the same by him, n but could be held for any cut 



1. U. S. v. Lynde, 47 Fed. 297: U. S. v. Denver etc. R. Co., 150 U. S., 1, 14 S. Ct. 



11. 37 L. Ed. 975; U. S. v. St. Anthony R. Co., 192 U. S., 524, 24 S. Ct. 333. 



48 L. Ed. 548; U. S. v. Price Trading Co., 109 Fed. 239, 48 C. C. A., 331. 

 2. U.S. v. Denver etc. R. Co., 150 U. S., 1, 14 S. Ct., 11, 37 L. Ed., 975 (Aff'mg 34 



Fed. 838): U. S. v. Price Trading Co., 109 Fed. 239, 48 C. C. A., 331: U. S. v. 



Denver etc. R. Co., 31 Fed. 886. 



3. U. S. v. Denver etc. R. Co., 11 N.M., 145, 66 Pac. 550, 



4. Batcheldor v. U. S., 83 Fed, 986, 28 C. C. A., 246 (ReVg 9 N.M. 15. 48 Pac, 310.) 



5. U, S. v. St. Anthony R. Co. 192 U. S., 524, 24 S. Ct. 333, 48 L. Ed. 548 (Rev'g 



114 Fed. 722, 52 C. C. A., 354.) 



6. Batcheldor v. U. S., 83 Fed. 986, 28 C. C. A. 246 (Rev'g 9 N- M. 15, 48 Pac. 310.) 



7. U. S. v. St. Anthony R. Co.. 192 U. S., 524, 24. Ct. 333, 48 L. Ed. 548 (Rev'g. 



114 Fed. 722, 52 C. C. A.. 354.) 



8. U. S. v. Denver etc, R. Co., 31 Fed. 886; approved in Batcheldor v. U. S., 83 



Fed. 986. 



9. U. S. v. Chaplin, 31 Fed. 980, 12 Sawy. 605. 



10. U. S. v. St. Anthony R.Oo., 192 U.S., 524 v. Denver etc. R. Co. 150 U. S. 1; U. S, 



v. Price Trading Co., 109 Fed. 239; U. S. v. Chaplin, 31 Fed. 890, 12 

 Sawy. 605- 



11. Kootenai Valley R. R. Co (28 L. D. 439). 



