Illinois Central Railroad Company v. Illinois

146 U.S. 387 (1892)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

P, the attorney general of the State of Illinois, filed a suit against D to obtain a judicial determination of the title of certain lands on the east or lakefront of the city of Chicago Illinois which have been reclaimed from the waters of the lake, and are occupied by the tracks, depots, warehouses, piers and other structures used by D in its business. P also filed for a determination of the title claimed by D to the submerged lands, constituting the bed of the lake, lying east of its tracks, within the corporate limits of the city, for the distance of a mile near D's round-house and machine shops. The determination of the title of D will involve a consideration of its right to construct, for its own business, as well as for public convenience, wharves, piers, and docks in the harbor. The submerged were used by the public for navigation, commerce, and fishing. P wanted a decree that the state had title to the submerged lands and had exclusive rights to develop the Chicago harbor. D claimed that right from a bill passed in the Illinois legislature which gave D the right to the submerged land and the permission to erect structures for its own purposes.