72 Wash. 441 | Wash. | 1913
Lead Opinion
The respondents Megrath and Duhamel had a contract for the construction of the Federal building, in the city of Seattle. The appellants Ward and Scherer made a subcontract with them for the installation of the plumbing. The specifications, which formed a part of both the original and subcontract, contained the following provision: “All soil, waste, drain, down water, and vent pipe (unless otherwise specified) must be best quality galvanized wrought iron or mild steel screw-jointed pipe of standard weight and thickness.” The original contract provided that: “The decision of the supervising architect as to the proper inter
The clause in controversy clearly confers an option upon the contractor to use either “galvanized wrought iron” or “mild steel.” In other words, it specifies two kinds of pipe, with the option to the contractor to use either. The testimony shows that the words “mild steel” mean ungalvanized steel. The language in the specification quoted seems too plain to require construction further than to ascertain the meaning of the words “mild steel.” When the appellants properly installed mild steel pipe of standard weight and thickness, they did all they had contracted to do, and the supervising architect had no warrant under the terms of the contract to arbitrarily direct them to remove it and install galvanized iron pipe. Camp v. Neufelder, 49 Wash. 426, 95 Pac. 640, 22 L. R. A. (N. S.) 376; 9 Cyc. 617, 618.
The respondents rely upon the clause which provides that the decision of the supervising architect as to the proper
The judgment is reversed, with directions tto enter a judgment in harmony with this opinion.
Chadwick and Mount, JJ., concur.
Crow, C. J., concurs in the result.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting) — I dissent. Respondents’ original contract was with the United