Early v. Chippewa Logging Co.

| Wis. | Feb 1, 1887

Tayloe, J.

After a careful consideration of the terms of the contract and the evidence in the case we are convinced that the learned referee erred in finding that the defendant had accepted the entire lot of logs as being “ good, sound, merchantable.logs,” within the meaning of the contract, and which by its terms were to be paid for at eight dollars per M. It is clear, by the terms of the contract, the parties contemplated that the plaintiff might and would cut and deliver logs which would not come within the class or grade of “ good, sound, merchantable logs ” designated therein, and it was also contemplated that the defendant should accept and pay for such poorer quality of logs at a price less than eight dollars per M. Ve think the last paragraph of the contract makes this very clear. The acceptance of the logs by the defendant cquld not, therefore, bind it as to the quality of the logs delivered or the price to be paid therefor, even if they had been delivered without any kind of objection on the part of the defendant. We find nothing in the evidence, even on the part of the plaintiff, which clearly shows that the plaintiff insisted, before the delivery of t'he logs, that if taken by the defendant they should be taken and paid for at the rate of eight dollars per M. for the-entire lot.

, The fact that the logs were marked by the scaler, Fleming, with the mark designated in the contract as that which should be placed on the “ good, sound, merchantable logs,” was not conclusive upon the defendant on the question whether all the logs were of the quality called for in the contract to entitle the plaintiff to eight dollars per M. for them. This was a matter which as not submitted by the parties to the judgment of said scaler. He was appointed solely for the purpose of ascertaining the quantity of logs put in, and not the quality of them. We think the learned circuit judge was right in modifying the report of the referee in that respect.

On the other hand, we think the learned circuit judge erred in deciding that the estimate of the quantity of the logs delivered made by the defendant’s witness McKay should be accepted as the true quantity, rather than that made by the scaler, Fleming. The evidence shows that Fleming was selected b}'- the parties, under the contract, to scale the logs in the first instance. It also shows • that he was a competent person to do such ^ork, and his scale should bind the parties unless corrected in the manner provided in the contract or by the production of evidence clearly showing mistake or fraud in his scale. The provision in the contract in relation to scaling is as follows: “ And [the plaintiff] further agrees to cause all of said logs to be scaled as fast as banked by^a competent scaler to be mutually agreed upon; and on the first day of each month after logging operations commence to render to the second-named party, at Ohippewa Falls, Wisconsin, a statement in writing, certified by the scalei1, which statement shall show the number of feet of logs, number of logs of each length, and average number of logs per thousand feet delivered up to the date of such statement; and further agrees to board the scaler, and pay his wages, except three cents per M., which the second party hereby agrees" to pay.” The only-other provision in regard to the scaling of the logs bearing upon this question is found in the first clause of the last paragraph of the contract, and is as follows: “ It is further mutually agreed by and between the parties hereto that the scaling of said logs shall be under the supervision of a competent person.”

If this last provision has, as it is claimed by the defendant, relation to some other person than the scaler to be mutually agreed upon by the parties under the first provision above quoted, we think it clear, in order to bind the plaintiff absolutely by the estimates made by such supervising person, such person should also be mutually agreed upon. Otherwise the estimates of such supervisor would -have no binding force upon the plaintiff, except as the testimony of a witness in the case tending to impeach the correctness of the sale made bv the scaler provided for by the other clause of the contract. There is no evidence in the case tending to show that the plaintiff assented to the supervision of McKay. On the contrary, he expressly testifies that he objected to McKay acting as supervising scaler, on the ground that he was in the constant employ of the defendant. We do not think the plaintiff is to be bound bjr the estimates of McKay as to the quantity of the logs delivered, except so far as his testimony tends to show that Fleming made an unjust scale of the logs.' He is not to be considered as a supervisor of the scale, mutually agreed upon by the parties, and whose judgment should bind the parties as to quantity. Taking the testimony of McKay and the other witness Kane, we do not think it should destroy the effect- of Fleming’s scale. It is admitted that Fleming was a competent scaler, and the proofs show that the monthly reports were made as required by the contract; and the proofs also show that he made no mistakes in scaling sound, straight logs. The thing complained- of by McKay and Kane is that in scaling defective logs he overestimated the quantity and did not make a’ sufficient deduction for the defects of the logs. This is clearly a matter of judgment, as to which two men of equal competency and honesty •might disagree. The witness Kane says: “ The matter of deduction to be made on a scale of a defective log is purely a matter of judgment of the scaler.”

The contract having provided for a scaler to whose judgment these matters were to be submitted in the first instance, and whose judgment, unless clearly impeached, should bind the parties, his judgment must bind the parties, unless it be shown by impartial tests that his judgment was warped by prejudice, or that by reason of neglect or carelessness he failed to exercise an honest judgment in the matter intrusted to him. We do not think the evidence of the defendant was sufficient to justify the court in rejecting the scale made by Fleming as to any logs which were not' in fact culls.

As to the other objection made to the scale made by Fleming, that he scaled culls which should not have been scaled at all, we are not so clear that the evidence does not justify the learned circuit judge in holding that Fleming had scaled 663 logs, measuring 9S,120 feet, which should not have been scaled at all under the contract, and were in fact worthless culls. The contract provided that defendant should take “ all logs that scaled one-half merchantable,” and by fair inference the defendant was not required to take logs not coming up to that scale. Many of the witnesses besides McKay and Kane testified that there were a considerable number of logs put in by the plaintiff that were entirely worthless, and which should- hare been rejected as culls. Upon this question we do not feel justified in reversing the finding of the circuit court. We think no injustice will be done to the plaintiff, under the evidence, in sustaining the finding of the circuit court as to the number and quantity of the logs rejected as worthless,— at all events as not coming up to the standard fixed in the contract, viz., one-half merchantable. If the plaintiff put in logs which he was not authorized to do under the contract, and mixed them with those which the defendant was bound to accept,, he would have no claim on the defendant for their value, if they had any value, simply because the defendant did not. separate them from those it was required to accept and pay for.

On the whole evidence, we think the learned circuit court should have found that the plaintiff put in, under the con■tract, the quantity found by the scaler Fleming, less the 2,000 feet mistakes in footing, and the 98,120 feet of culls, viz., 1,150,520 feet.

The only other material question is the amount which the defendant ought to pay for that quantity. A careful reading of the evidence leaves a strong impression that a considerable portion of the logs put in by the plaintiff and received by the defendant were not “ good, sound, merchantable logs,” within the meaning of those words in the contract, and, as a consequence, he was not entitled to receive eight dollars per M. for all of them. This question the learned referee before whom the action was tried expressly declares he does not pass upon; and in determining it, therefore, upon the evidence, we are not required to reverse any finding made by such referee.

Upon the whole evidence it is impossible to say, with any great degree of exactitude, what part should be paid for at the rate of eight dollars per M., and what part at a less-rate. "We have concluded to adopt, in part, tbe finding of the learned circuit judge upon this question, and allow the plaintiff at the rate of eight dollars per M. for two thirds of the amount he found the plaintiff was entitled to receive pay for, and to allow five dollars per M. for the other third of such amount, as well as for the amount disallowed by the learned circuit judge other than the culls. "We are conscious that this method of adjusting the rights of the parties in this case is not based up'on any very clear and certain testimony, but is the result of the impression made from the whole evidence. If this determination of the matter works any injustice to either party, it must be attributed to the inherent difficulty of ascertaining the exact rights of parties depending upon a contract very vague and indefinite in its terms and upon the conflicting testimony of the witnesses of the respective parties upon the subject of the quality and value of the logs in question. But as a court or jury must in all cases of doubtful and conflicting evidence, as well as in cases when the evidence is clear and certain, still render a certain verdict or finding, we have determined to make the finding in this case certain upon the basis above stated.

Upon the whole evidence we are well satisfied of two things: First, that the plaintiff was not entitled, under his contract, to demand of the defendant eight dollars per M. for all the logs put in by him and received by the defendant; and, second, that the quantity of the logs for which he is entitled to pay at some price is the amount fixed by the scale of Fleming, deducting 2,000 feet, mistake in footing, and 98,120 feet for logs rejected as culls. Being satisfied upon these points, we have substantially adopted the finding of the learned circuit judge as to what portion of the logs should be paid for at the rate of eight dollars per M., and what part at a less sum, viz., five dollars. Upon the basis we have adopted the plaintiff is entitled to recover for the logs as follows: The whole number of logs put in by the plaintiff was 1,848,640 feet. From this amount deduct 98,120 feet of culls, for which he is entitled to no pay, and it leaves 1,150,520 feet for which he is entitled to pay. From this amount we deduct fifteen per cent., which was rejected by the learned circuit judge, and, putting it in the second or proven class of logs, viz., 262,518 feet, deducting this amount from the 1,150,520, there remains 1,487,942. For two thirds of this amount the plaintiff is entitled to recover at the rate of eight dollars per M. feet, viz., 991,961 feet; and for the other one third, 495,981 feet, and for the fifteen per cent., 262.578feet, making together 758,559 feet, he is entitled to recover at the rate of five dollars per hi. feet. In addition, the plaintiff is entitled to recover three cents per hi. on the whole amount for scaler’s fees, under the contract, $52.57.

The amount which the plaintiff is entitled to recover of the defendant for the logs, under this adjustment of the rights of the parties, is as follows:

991,901 feet at $8 per M. $7,935 68

758,559 feet at $5 per M. 3,792 79

For scaling. 52 57

$11,780 98

Amount paid by defendant before suit. 7,375 00

$4,405 98

The sum of $4,405.98 remains due to the plaintiff, upon one half of which he is to receive interest at seven per cent, from September 1, 1883, and upon the other half from. October 1, 1883.

By ¿he Oourt.— The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded with directions to render judgment in favor of the plaintiff for the sum of $4,405.98, with interest on one half thereof from September 1, 1883, and upon the other half from October 1,1883, at the rate of seven per cent, per annum.