Harkness v. Burton , 39 Iowa 101 ( 1874 )

Beck, J.

The abstract of the pleadings and evidence upon which this case is presented to ns, is quite considerable in extent, the printed arguments of counsel are exhaustive, able, and by no means brief, altogether presenting a voluminous mass of matter which we have considered with great care, and upon which we have reached a very satisfactory conclusion, as to the merits of the case and the rights of the l’espective parties. Having, in the great quantity of reading wliicb the consideration of the case has imposed upon us, discovered the true points at issue, we find no difficulty in reaching conclusions both as to the facts and law of the case. ■

The facts of the case, briefly stated, are these. Plaintiffs had been for more than a year prosecuting explorations for lead ore upon the premises in dispute, under, as they claim, a license or parol lease of the owner, one Rittenhouse, and shortly before the commencement of this suit had struck a “ crevice,” or natural deposit of the mineral. The defendants were mining at the same time on an adjoining tract of land belonging to another proprietor. After sinking a “ shaft ” a sufficient distance, they began to “ drift” toward the lands upon which plaintiff's were mining, and actually entered them, and then struck the same crevice or deposit of ore, which plaintiffs afterward reached by their excavations. Defendants claim the right to remove the mineral found by both parties under a license, and subsequently a written lease executed by Rittenhouse. Each of the respective parties claim the exclusive right to mine upon the land in question under the owner Rittenhouse.

The sole question presented for our determination is, which possess it. We will not enter into a protracted and unprofitable discussion of the evidence bearing upon the point in issue, but will content ourselves with stating, briefly, the conclusions we reach as to the controlling facts of the case.

1. We find that plaintiffs, in their own right, either as grantees or successors of others, long prior to the date of any license or lease from Rittenhouse to defendants, did obtain an exclusive mining license from him, covei'ing the lands in question. This is indisputably established by direct evidence, and, in tact, is not directly denied by defendants. Some question is made as to the rights of some of the parties as successors of others, but that the plaintiff's had permission to explore and mine upon the land is not to be doubted. It is clearly established, though denied by defendants, that this license was exclusive. There is both direct and circumstantial evidence conclusively establishing this position.

2. It is claimed that the right thus acquired by plaintiffs was surrendered and the work abandoned prior to the commencement of defendants’ operations. Plaintiffs, it is true, during the summer of 1870, did suspend work upon the land. But it is satisfactorily established by the preponderance of testimony, that this was done by the permission and assent of Rittenhouse, and with the express understanding that their license continued, under which they should renew their explorations in the fall. That such was the fact we have no doubt.

3. We entertain no doubt that defendants had both direct and constructive notice of plaintiffs’ exclusive right to mine upon the land. There is positive evidence that they were so advised when they first obtained permission from Rittenhouse to run their “ drift ” upon his land, or at least they had information of him, from which nothing else could have been rationally inferred. But defendants deny this and contradict the evidence by other proof. However, the fact is sufficiently established by other evidence, or rather notice to them must be inferred from other facts, established by the evidence. When plaintiffs suspended work in the summer, (and during that time defendants claim to have acquired the license from Rittenhouse,) the)’’ left tools upon the ground; they had before this sunk a shaft within ten feet of the crevice where the lead was afterward found, which was not two hundred feet from another shaft which at the same time was worked by defendants, who could and did see the operations of plaintiffs all the while they were being p2’osecuted. This crevice was within the ordinary reach of “ drifts ” started from “ shafts,” such as plaintiffs had sunk within ten feet of it. If plaintiffs had a license to sink the shaft in search of mineral, the crevice was within the bounds to which they would have been expecting to explore by drifts. That they were at work in this shaft when defendants were at work in another, within two hundred feet, is well established, and it is also proved that these shafts were in plain view of each other. Defendants had notice of the work, and they will be charged by the law with notice of all rights which plaintiffs held in its prosecution, or as resulting therefrom. Considering the direct evidence, with the foregoing, and other facts, we are well satisfied that defendants had notice of plaintiffs’ exclusive right to mine in the locality where the mineral was found. After plaintiffs resumed work ■in the fall they sunk another shaft near the one just spoken of, in which they found the ore. Defendants, having notice of plaintiffs’ rights, will continue to be charged with notice thereof until they are abandoned or terminated, or until some act of plaintiffs is done, which will estop them to deny the abandonment of their rights. But no termination, abandonment, or estoppel is shown.

i. landlord AND TI3Nant : license of mining lands. There is no proof that Eittenhouse has at any time taken steps to terminate plaintiffs’ license. Nnder the well settled doctrines of this court, á parol license of mining ' x t 0 lands is valid and can only be terminated by com-- . ^ ^ pensation to the licensee or the notice necessary to terminate a tenancy at will. Bush v. Sullivan, 3 G. Greene, 344; Beatty v. Gregory, 17 Iowa, 109; Anderson et al. v. Simpson et al., 21 Iowa, 399.

2-:--. Such licehse is good against a subsequent lessee or licensee with notice. See Beatty v. Gregory, and Anderson v. Simpson, supra.

3 homesteadííee<fnot£6join in lease. 4.-: -. II. It is argued by defendants’ counsel that, as it is shown the lands ujion which the mining was performed by plain-an(l covered by the license, are a part of the homestead of Eittenhouse, and as the wife did not join in the license, it is void. This position is untenable. We have never heard that a lease of lands not interfering with the possession thereof for the uses of a homestead, and licenses to cut timber, quarry stone or remove mineral and the like, may not be given by the husband without the assent of the wife. This certainly is so when the . license in no way interferes with the homestead. Besides, if her assent be necessary to give validity to a parol license, it will be presumed, if she have full knowledge of work done or expenses incurred thereunder, and makes no objection, that she assented thereto. She could not stand by and see money and labor expended and afterwards, by proclaiming that she did not assent, rob the party incurring the expense of the fruit of his toil and outlays. In this case it is shown that plaintiffs expended, before they discovered mineral, $2,000, and that the wife of Eittenhouse had full knowledge of the work as it progressed and had personal knowledge #f the license granted by her husband to plaintiffs.

The foregoing views dispose of the case. We do not find it necessary to follow the learned and diligent counsel through the course of their arguments. In our opinion the case stands upon the simple facts and plain principles of the law above stated. Our minds firmly and satisfactorily rest upon them.

The judgment of the District Court is reversed and a decree will be entered in this Court enjoining the defendants from removing the lead ore from the premises in question and granting such other relief as the nature of the case requires.

Eeversed.

Cole, J., non-ooncurring.