United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Green Bay & Minnesota R. Co. v. Union Steamboat Co., 107 U.S. 98 (1883)

Green Bay and Minnesota Railroad Company

v. Union Steamboat Company

Decided March 5, 1883

107 U.S. 98

Syllabus

A railroad corporation whose railroad extends across the Wisconsin from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River and which is authorized by its charter to make

"such contracts with any other person or corporation whatsoever as the management of its railroad and the convenience and interest of the corporation and the conduct of its affairs may in the judgment of its directors require"

and by general laws to make such contracts with any railroad company whose road terminates on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, "as will enable them to run their roads in connection with each other in such manner as they shall deem most beneficial to their interest," and

"to build, construct, and run, as part of its corporate property, such number of steamboats or vessels as they may deem necessary to facilitate the business operations of such company or companies,"

and also

"to accept from any other state or territory of the United States and use any powers or privileges applicable to the carrying of persons and property by railway or steamboat in said state or territory"

has the power, for the purpose of carrying passengers and freight in connection with its own railroad and business, to enter into an agreement with the proprietors of steamboats running, by way of the Great Lakes, between its eastern terminus and Buffalo in the New York, by which it guarantees that the gross earnings of each boat for two years shall amount to a certain sum.

The case is stated in the opinion of the Court.