Page:North Dakota Reports (vol. 48).pdf/768

This page needs to be proofread.
744
48 NORTH DAKOTA REPORTS

lars ($50.00) per day, such rentals to’be computed from the time such engine and cars are delivered to the coal company.

“6. Subject to the provisions of article 3 hereof the railroad will maintain that portion of the main track, sidings, wye and mine spur which are to be used jointly by the coal company and the railroad and are shown in red on said blueprint. But the coal company shall pay te the railroad each month during the term of this contract, toward the cost of maintaining the tracks last mentioned colored red and structures connected therewith used jointly by the parties, the sum of twenty-five and 93 hundredths dollars ($25.93). The coal company shall maintain at its own expense the spur track and all sidings connected therewith colored brown and green and extending approximately from a point three hundred feet east of the east headblock of the wye, station 14x35 to the end thereof.

“II. 1. The railroad agrees to furnish to the coal company and the latter agrees to use, an engine and a train crew, all the members of which shall have passed an examination on both mechanical and train rules, for the operation of the locomotive and trains to be operated by the coal company pursuant to this contract. It is expressly understood, however. that such engine and train crews shall be considered employees of the coal company and treated as employees of the coal company for all purposes in the construction and application of article three of this contract, and the coal company shall pay all wages of such engine and train crew.”

Article 3, to which reference is made in the last-quoted paragraph, refers to and prescribes the respective obligations and liabilities of the coal company and the railway company with respect to the operation of trains, the maintenance of the roadway and structures, and injuries resulting from the operation of trains. The contract also makes provision for the payment of a stated compensation for the use of the spur track, main track, sidings, wye, and structures belonging to the railway company, and for the payment of bills covering rentals and maintenance.

The Director General contends that, by virtue of the provisions of the contract, the plaintiff became, and at the time of the accident was, an employee of the coal company, and that, as a matter of law, the coal company alone is liable in damages for any injuries he may have sustained. After a careful consideration of this question we have reached the conclusion that the contention cannot be sustained. In other words, we are of the opinion that there is substantial evidence to sustain the