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2 Cal. Unrep. 105

Borel v. Bogg

California Supreme Court

Decided December 28, 1880

California Supreme Court · decided 1880-12-28

<p>APPEAL from Superior Court, Napa County.</p>

Decided 1880-12-28

By the COURT.

¶1The question in this case is as to the conclusiveness of the survey of the boundary line between Sonoma and Napa counties, as approved by the surveyor general of this state. The court below held that it was conclusive, and refused to receive evidence to contradict the survey.

¶2Section 3972, Political Code, reads: “All surveys finally approved under the provisions of this chapter are conclusive ascertainments of lines and corners included therein.”

¶3Either the above section is unconstitutional or the survey is conclusive. It is claimed that the section is unconstitutional, in that it attempts to confer on the surveyor general judicial functions. We do not think that the functions exercised by him are judicial in their character; he is not, under *106that section, to decide what is the law. The legislature had already, in regard to the boundary between the two counties, fixed the law, viz., that the summit of the dividing ridge should be the dividing line. We think it was competent for the legislature to direct its officer to go upon the ground and run his lines along that ridge, and in doing so he was acting more in a ministerial capacity; and we think that it was competent for the legislature to declare that the lines so run— that is, the location of the boundary line upon the ground— should be thereby defined and fixed.

¶4No question is presented of improper action on the part of the surveyor general.

¶5Judgment affirmed.

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