Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-25
TWO CAUSES FOR JOY.
OiImen Happy Over Decision on the
Lease Question, and Also
TIE REDUCED PRICE OF CORDAGE.
This Result Follows a Harmonious ASsocia'
tion Meeting.
NEWS FROM THE PETROLEUM FIELDS

Oilmen are pleased with the decision Of
Judge McMichael, OF Butler. in the case of
Ramsey versus johnson s. White. The suit
was brought to recover damages under an
oil lease which agreed that defendants
should commence operations within speci
fed time. or pay $40 per month in case Of
failure to do so. The case hinged on the
forfeiture clause, which was worded accord
ing to the form adopted after the decision OF
1889, in which the Court held that pro-
vision to forfeit lease by failure to fulfil
its covenants was optional with the lessor.
If he did not choose to let the lease die he
could recover any payments agreed to be
made during the term of the lease. These
decisions we're fully published in The Dis
PATCH at the time.
In this lease the forfeiture clause was
worded as follows: "And it is further agreed
that the second parties, their heirs or assigns,
shall have the right at any time to surrender up
this lease and be released from all moneys due
and conditions unfuiflled: then and from that
time this lease and agreement shall be null and
void and no longer binding on either party. and
the payments which shall have been made be
held by the parties of the first part as the full
stipulated damages for the non-fulnllment OF
the foregoing contract.
The suit was begun in January to recover the
rentals for October and November. The lease
was surrendered in March, two months after
the action had been brought, indorsed by de-
PENDANTS to the effect that lessons were thereby
released from all of lessee's rights and inter-
ests Hereunder, by which act they-the lessees
claimed to be relieved from any and all OBJ
legations The Court cited the various deci-
sions of 1885, but was of the opinion they did
not apply in this case, as plaintiffs had clearly
signed away their right to recoved such
damages The Court granted the plaintiffs
had cause for action when suit was brought,
but the lease they had signed gave defendants
a clear right to defeat their action by the sur
render OF the lease
This decision is giving much satisfaction to
oil producers as they think they have, at last,
devised a forfeiture clause which will prevent
the farmer from enforcing post mortem claims
A Reduction in the Price of Cordage.
The Executive Committee of the Cordage
Association held a very important meeting this
morning in the office of ihe Oil We'll Supply
Company, the result of which will bring Joy to
the hearts of the contractors The meeting
the most harmonious nature. While there was
other routine business transacted, the most i'm
portant subjects attended to by the committee
was the reduction in cordage from l31a to l2H
cents, cut Of / cent.
Since the organization of this association,
one year ago. the price of cordage has been re-
duced cents. 1t is most likely the committee
was induced to take this step in view OF the
low price of oil and the unfavOrabe outlook
for any material appreciation OF crude in
the near future.