Virginia Mining Co. v. Haeder

BUDGE, J.

This action was brought by appellants to enforce the specific performance of an option to purchase an undivided interest in the Virginia Lode Mining Claim, situated on Carbon Creek, Beaver Mining District, in Shoshone county.

After appellants had introduced their evidence, the court sustained a motion for nonsuit and entered judgment accordingly. This appeal is from the judgment. The assignments predicate error upon the granting of the nonsuit. Many of the cases cited by appellants relate to contracts of purchase and sale, which are governed by the legal principles applicable to vendor and vendee. That the contract in question is not such ¡a contract, but is merely a lease with an option to purchase, clearly appears from the pleadings, from statements of counsel during the trial, and from the following provision of the contract: ' ■

“And it is mutually agreed that in the event the party of the second part shall fail or neglect to keep or perform his part of this contract, this option shall be forfeited and all previous payments made shall be forfeited as well as all machinery, tools and appliances placed thereon by the party of the second part. Time is of the essence of this agreement.

“It is mutually understood and agreed that the party of the second part may enter into possession of said premises and mine and extract ores therefrom, and ship such ores, upon ■paying to the party of the first part twenty-five per cent of the net smelter returns from said ores, and that said royalties shall be applied upon the purchase price hereinbefore named.” (Smith v. Beebe, 31 Ida. 469, 174 Pac. 608; Nicholson v. Smith, 31 Ida. 544, 174 Pac. 1008.)

Under the contract, $1 was paid down, the balance to be paid as follows, to wit: 40% or $1,481.48 on or before May 14, 1914, 30% or $1,111.11 on or before November 14, 1914, and 30% or $1,111.11 on or before May 14, 1915. The time within which payments should be made was extended from time to time by written agreement. The last one, and the only one material to the questions involved herein, was dated April 17, 1915, and provided that:

“This is to agree that we, the part owners of the Virginia Mining Claim, located on Carbon Creek, in Beaver Mining District, in Shoshone County, Idaho, do this day give an extension of time for the payment of the money coming to us on the option held by Patrick Burke, on said claim, until 90 days from the 14th day of May, 1915. The payment is extended' on the following condition: That said Burke and associates agree to pay each of us $1,000 on or before May 14, 1915, together with all interest then due, and also interest for the 90 days in advance, on the said 14th day of May, 1915, on the balance owing on said option. Interest at the rate of 10% per annum on deferred payments for said 90 days extension.”

The $1,000 mentioned therein, together with the accrued interest, was paid, and this controversy arises over the final payment of something over $2,200, which was to be made, as expressed therein, 90 days from the fourteenth day of May, 1915. It will be noticed that this extension carried the time of the last payment to August 12, 1915.

It is not contended that the final payment was either made or tendered by August 12, 1915. There is evidence tending to show a tender some days thereafter. Appellants’ main argument is that by the granting of the various extensions of time, the provision in the contract making time of the essence thereof was waived. It is not contended that there was any express waiver of this provision. Appellants’ position is nntenable. There is nothing in the contract of the parties with reference to the granting of the various extensions of time which savors of any intention to waive the provision that time was of the essence of. the contract. The most that can be said of these extensions is that the parties agreed in writing to change the date upon which the purchase price should become due. A written agreement, for a valuable consideration, extending the time within which payments upon such a contract may be made to a definite date, does not operate as a waiver of the provision in the contract making time of the essence thereof. A similar contention was discussed by this court in an early case, in the following language:

“Is it not significant that, after appellants had elected to purchase said two-thirds interest, they should pay the defendants a valuable consideration for extending the time in which to elect to purchase? Is it not also significant that, after electing to purchase the two-thirds interest and to incorporate, they should pay a valuable consideration for time in which to elect to purchase, and not also have the time extended in which to elect to incorporate? — as it was contended in the argument by counsel for appellants that the time had arrived on September 1, 1888, for them to, elect whether they would incorporate or not. If time was not ^of the essence of this contract, and so considered by the appellants, why pay a valuable consideration for- an extension of the time, and have it extended to a fixed date?” (Durant v. Comegys, 3 Ida. 204, at 214, 28 Pac. 425, 429; Machold v. Farnan, 14 Ida. 258, 94 Pac. 170; Prairie Development Co., Ltd., v. Leiberg, 15 Ida. 379, 98 Pac. 616.)

Since appellants were merely the holders of an option to purchase, under the terms of which time was of the essence thereof, and since they failed to make the payment within the time to which the contract had been definitely extended, their rights under the contract expired (Smith v. Beebe, supra), and respondents were under no obligation^ either to accept the final payment or to give a deed. The court, therefore, did not err in granting a nonsuit. The judgment is affirmed. Costs are awarded to .respondents.

Morgan, C. J., concurs. Rice, J., did not sit with thé court nor participate in the opinion in this case.