Carter v. Clark & Boice Lumber Co.

Appellee admits cutting and removing the timber, of the value of $300, from the premises, and over appellant's protest, after the expiration of six years from the conveyance of April 11, 1903. He claims the absolute title under the conveyance mentioned to all of the timber of the dimension set forth in the instrument, and that the timber cut and removed was only such, which is admitted, as is described in the instrument. As stated in the court's conclusion of law, he construed the conveyance in suit as intending to pass the title to the Lumber Company to the timber as an interest in the land, with the legal effect to grant to the purchaser the right to cut and remove the timber at any time. It is this ruling that appellant challenges by his assignment. If the instrument should properly be construed as intending to convey the timber in fee simple as an interest in the land on which it stood, then, under the authority of Lodwick Lumber Co. v. Taylor, 100 Tex. 270, 98 S.W. 238, 123 Am. St. Rep. 803, the appellee would not be liable for the timber as here shown to be cut and removed. If, however, the instrument should properly be construed as expressing the intention of the parties to convey the timber as personalty, and not as an interest in the land on which it stood, then the appellee would be liable for the value of all timber appropriated by him after the expiration of the time fixed by his contract of sale. Beauchamp v. Williams, 115 S.W. 130; Development Co. v. Lumber Co., 139 S.W. 1015. The rule of law applied in these cases is sustained, we think, by the weight of authority. The form of the conveyance in the instant case is unlike the form of the conveyance passed on in the Taylor Case, supra, and in consequence the nature and duration of the right granted are essentially different. In the Taylor Case, supra, the language of the deed bargained, sold, and conveyed all the timber on the 96 acres of land in fee simple and forever. It contained no stipulation for removal of the timber from the land, and no words of restriction or reservation as to timber not removed. The language of the deed was there construed as intending to pass an unconditional and absolute title in fee simple to the timber as it stood on the soil. The legal effect of such character of grant of an interest in trees was, as ascribed thereto by the court, to pass a title to the trees as an interest in the realty, for the reason that growing trees are legally regarded as a part and parcel of the soil because attached to the soil, and the parties bought and sold the same to continue and remain a part of the soil.

The language of the instrument in the instant case bargains, sells, and conveys only a particular kind of timber and of prescribed size, expressly providing for its removal from the land within the fixed time of six years from the date of the instrument. This clause, stipulating that the standing timber be removed within the time fixed, decisively shows the intention of the parties to place a limitation upon the extent and duration of the grant, and to determine the right at the end of the period agreed upon. As the right was intended to expire at the end of the fixed time, then there appears a reservation in the deed to the seller of all the timber not removed within the time agreed upon. Having agreed to a limitation upon the right of removal, then the right of the purchaser to the timber is acquired by the act of removal and appropriation; and, as appropriation of the timber as such is dependent upon the removal from the soil, the intention of the parties would appear to be a contract of sale of such timber only as is removed within the time limited. Such being the character of the contract and the expressed intention of the parties, the habendum and warranty clauses are consistent with and not inconsistent or repugnant to such intention. The office of the habendum is to explain the premises of the conveyance, and not to contradict what is clearly expressed therein; and covenants of warranty cannot enlarge or add to an estate conveyed. The conveyance clearly expressing the intention of the parties to deal with the timber as personalty, and not realty, and, having provided a fixed time for expiration of the right granted, the principle of law announced and discussed in the case of Beauchamp, supra, which is sustained by weight of authority, would apply and govern. As trees, like minerals, are removable from the soil, and when removed become chattels, parties may contract a sale of them when removed as chattels. The assignment is sustained; and, as the facts are undisputed, the judgment is so reformed as to further allow a recovery to appellant in the sum of $300 for the timber cut and appropriated after the expiration of the contract of sale, with costs of appeal taxed against appellees; and the judgment, as so reformed, is affirmed.