Court Opinion

ID: 9832601
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 22:01:52.047156+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:43:48.847959
License: Public Domain

■ On Rehearing.- . , .
Appellants’ motion for rehearing hérein is overruled. In our original opinion we stated what we conceived to be all of the material •facts 'in the case, but appellants have' filed .motioni for additional conclusions ’ of ' fact, and, in deference to this 'motion, we file the following additional conclusions:
The well-drilling contract referred to in the opinion, in its entirety, reads as follows:
“The State of Texas, County of .Harris — . ..This memorandum of agreement made and entered into this 15th day of .April, 1910, by and between the Layne & Bowler Company, a corporation, hereinafter called the .contractors, and Sylvester Shaffer and Anson Miller- of Anahuac, Chambers county, Texas, hereinafter called the owners. Witnesseth:
“Proposition No. 1.
- “1. Contractors agree to furnish all the material, machinery and labor except hereinafter stated necessary to put down on the land of the owners, hereinafter described,-a test well for water.
• “2. The well shall be put down at a point to. be designated by the owners on the follow..ing described land, to wit, being James Price 160 survey. :
“3. The owners agree to furnish a 25 H. P. J. I. Case traction engine, lumber and nails for derrick.
“4. The contractors and owners each agree to keep a correct account of all moneys spent on this work, including all freight, drayage and Transportation to Anahuac and return; and the owners agree to pay to the contractors in cash upon completion of this- test, the actual cost of work plus 25%.
“Proposition No. 2.
“1. The contractors further agree that, in • case they encounter sufficient water-bearing strata to justify them doing so, in the opinion of the contractors, from which a supply of' water of not less than eight hundred (800) gallons of water per minute can be obtained suitable for irrigation purposes as shown by test well, they will develop same.
“2. The contractors agree to furnish ail material, machinery and labor to drill the well; setting same with 11%" casing and finishing the same with Layne patent screen, or Layne Shutter screen, at the option of the contractors.
“3. The owners agree to do all hauling in conneetion with said well and to furnish the -derrick; said- derrick to remain the property of the owner. -
“4. The contractors do not guarantee a well of any certain quantity of water, and this contract is made by the contractors only upon this express understanding: That if, for any reason whatever, the contractors -should fail in their attempt to obtain water, the contractors shall be under no obligation ito- the owners whatsoever, and no liability shall rest upon them on account of the making of this contract. In this connection, how,ever, it is understood . and -agreed that if the contractors should' not succeed -in 'getting a well that will produce eight hundred (800) gallons of water per minute, they are to receive no pay under proposition No. 2 of this .contract. They are, nevertheless, to have the right to remove such of, their material as they desire. •
“5- If, however, the well put down is capable of producing eight hundred (800) gallons of water per minute, when pumped to its capacity,, the owner shall pay to the contractors the sum, of $799.78, which will include a No. 6 Layne Ball-Bearing New Model Pump and one 24" steel pit properly set by the use of the Layne interlocking coupling device and 20' of screen to each 100' of hole drilled. In addition to this, the owners agree to pay to the contractors the sum of $5.50 per. foot on the total depth of the hole, and $5.00 per foot for each additional foot of screen used in excess of 20' to each 100' of hole drilled.
“Terms. . •
“6. The owners agree to pay to the contractors full settlement in cash the foregoing amounts as soon as well has tested eight hundred (800) gallons of water per minute.
“In testimony whereof witness' our hands and seal this the 15th day of April A. D.< 1910.
■ “[Seal.] [Signed] Layne & Bowler Co.,
“By Jno. Ilfrey, Sec. & Treas.
“Anson Miller, Sylvester Shaffer, Owners.”'
We decline, to make any further finding of fact, believing that all material facts are *345stated in the original opinion. We make the additional conclusion as to the contents of the above-mentioned contract in deference only to the insistence of appellants that we have not correctly interpreted the contract.