Hagerman v. Cowles, 14 N.M. 422

Hagerman v. Cowles

14 N.M. 422 | N.M. | 1908

OPINION OP THE COURT.

MANN, J.

The appellee, James M. Cowles, brought an action in the District Court of Chaves County against James J. Hagerman, for a balance alleged to be due Mm upon a contract for the boring of an artesian well, for the appellant at Hagerman, New Mexico.

The contract did not specify the time within which the well was to have been completed, but qnc of the defenses set up by appellant Hagerman, was that the well was not completed, within a reasonable time. There is considerable testimony in the record tending to show that Cowles was something like fifteen months at work on this well, at intervals, and that ordinarily wells of like character in the vicinity were bored in three or four months. True, the the testimony shows that at least a part of the delay was caused by appellee’s misfortune, in losing tools, etc., but there is a conflict as to whether under the circumstances the work was done, if at all according to contract, within a reasonable time.

1 The trial court limited thfe issue, in his instructions, to whether or not the work was done in a workmanlike manner and refused an instruction asked by appellant to the effect that appellee was required to do the work within a reasonable time. This we think was error, as it seems to be well settled that where a contract is silent as to time, the law implies that it is to be performed within a reasonable time. 9 Cyc. 611 and authorities cited; Minneapolis Gas Co. v. Kerr Murry Co., 122 U. S. 300; Minez v. Dantel, 19 Wall. 560; Frane v. The Ella, 48 Fed. 569; Philips v. Morrison, 3 Bib. (Ky.) 105, 6 Am. Dec. 638.

2 2nd. It is sometimes a question of law for the court . whether a contract has been performed in a reasonable time, as when it depends upon the construction of a written contract only, or upon undisputed extrinsic facts, but when it depends upon disputed facts extrinsic to the contract, it is for the jury. 9 Cyc. 615; Cotton v. Cotton, 75 Ala. 345; Luckhart v. Ogden, 30 Cal. 547; Hill v. Hobart, 16 Me. 164.

We think it was a material issue in this case whether the appellee, if he ever in fact completed the well, did so within a reasonable time under all the circumstances in the case. The record shows that a year after the well was commenced, appellant hired another party to put down a well within a few feet of the one bored by appellee, and that the second well was completed and a good flow of water secured therefrom within three or four months.

The contract between these parties, which is in writing, provided that the work was to commence at a given time and be carried forward to completion, “faithfully and continuously”, thus showing the intention of the contracting parties, that no more than a reasonable length of time was contemplated for the completion of the well.

Several errors are complained of, but we think without merit, except as above indicated.

For the reasons given, the cause will be reversed and remanded for further proceedings.