514,
FEDERAL REPORTER.
pose of, the road in question; and that a certificate to that effect was duly made and issued to itby the registrar of joint stock companies, under said act, on May 4, 1880. Dundee Mortgage d; Trust Investment 00. v. Oooper, 26 Fed. Rep. 665. But I am not advised that there is any issue in the pleadings on this point since the allowance of the demurrers to the answers. However, if the plaintiff's counsel think they are entitled to a finding in this matter, they can have it.
BULLOOK
and others
11. FINLEY.
«(JVrcuit Oourt, No D. Ohio, 1.
w: D.
June Term, 1886.)
BALE-AcTION FOR PRICE-DEFENSE-QUANTlTy-CUSTOM.
In an action for "three car-loads of brewers' rice," where it does not appear that the contracting parties agreed as to the quantity to make a car-load, the custom of the trade will fix the quantity.
Where there is no such custom, the quantity will be fixed by the capacity of a car used for such freight. S, CuSTOM AND USAGE-MEANING OF WolU> IN CoNTRACT. Where it does not appear that the parties to a contract upon the meaning of a particular word in it, the custom of the trade Will determine it.
2. SAME-AVERAGE.
The plaintiffs, Bullock & Co., were dealers in produce in the city of New York, and, among other things, were selling brewers' rice; and the defendant was the owner of a large brewery establishment in the city of Toledo, Ohio, and was using, to some extent, broken rice in the manufacture of beer and ale. The plaintiffs claim that the defendant, in December, 1882, purchased from their agent ten car·loads of rice, at the price of three and a half cents per pound, to be delivered to the defendant at Toledo, Ohio, as wanted by the defendant, and all to be delivered before October, 1883. The plaintiffs alleged that they had delivered to the defendant seven car-loads, which had been received and paid for by the defendant at contract price, but that the last three carloads delivered to defendant at Toledo were refused by the defend· ant, and the suit was brought to recover the contract price for the three car.loads. The defendant denies that he had made any contract to purchase 10 car-loads of rice, but that he only agreed to purchase such carloads as he wanted, and had paid for all he so pnrchased and received. The defendant also claimed that, if he had agreed for 10 car-loads, they were only to contain 12 tons each, and he had received and paid for more than 10 car-loads of 12 tons each, the 8 car-loads received and paid for containing some 20 tons each; and was' not" t.herefore, bound to receive the last 3 car-loads.'
nULLoCK
V. FINLEY.
511)
Doyle et Scott, for plaintiffs. Oharles Kent and Harvey- Scribner, for defendant.
WELKER, J., (orally, charging jury.) The first question to settle by you is, was there a contract made to purchase 10 car-loads of rice, 8S claimed by the plaintiffs? If you find that such a contract was· made, then you will ascertain what quantity of rice was to constitute a car-load, in contemplation of the contract. Usually, men who make contracts to buy and sell agree on what they are buying and selling. Where the contract provides that it shall be "car-loads," some rule must be adopted by which you will determine what. the parties meant and regarded as a "car-load." Contracts must be construed with reference to the intention and understanding of the parties at the time. I direct you that if nothing was agreed as to the quantity to make a "car-load," then the usual and established custom as to quantity in that business and trade, at the time and place of the contract, would fix the quantity meant by a "car-load" between the parties; and, if no such usage or custom is shown, then what a car of usual capacity, used in carrying such freight, could carry, would fix the quantity intended by the parties. In ascertaining what was meant and understood as to quantity, you must consider all the circumstances connected with the transaction between the parties disclosed in the evidence; their former transactions in reference to the purchase of rice, and what was afterwards done by them in the receipt of rice, and the payment therefor. If there was a recognized custom as to quantity shipped and reo ceived, between the plaintiffs and defendant, in former shipments of car-loads, this may show the intention of the parties as to quantity. If the parties knew of a custom as to the quantity to make a car.load, then the law implies, in the absence of an express agreement, that they contracted with reference to such custom. The testimony of experts in the shipping business, also in the produce and brewery business, admitted in evidence, should be duly considered by you. If you find that the car·loads intended by the parties were to be only 12 tons each, and you find that the car-loads as received and paid for by the defendant made a quantity in the aggregate equal to 10 car-loads of 12 tons, then the plaintiffs cannot recover for the 8 car-loads sued for, as the defendant had received and paid for all the contract required him to receive. Verdict for the plaintiffs.
KNOWLTON
and another v. OLIVER and another. June Term, 1886.)
(Circuit Court, N. D. Ohio, W. D.
1.
CONTRACT-CONSTRUCTION-GENERAL RULES.
2. 8.
A contract must be construed as a whole. Words are to be given their usual and common signification, and the language used must be read in the light of surrounding circumstances, the situation of the parties, and the object of the contract, and that construction given which most nearly conforms to the intention of the parties. . Expert evidence depends for its value upon tne knowledge of the witness, and his experience and capacity, as well as upon the reasons he gives for his opinions.
EVIDENCE-ExPERT-ITS VALUE.
SALE-WARRANTy-CONSTRUCTION-PARTICULAR PHRASE.
Where milling machinery is warranted to make flour "to satisfy the trade" of the party to whom it is sold, the "trade" meant is the "trade" in and around the place where the mill is situated. .
4.
DAMAGES-MEASURE OF-BREACH OF CONTRACT.
Where plaintiff had bought and manufactured machinery for defendant, who subsequently rescinded the contract, the plaintiff's measure of damages was held to be the loss in the value of the machinery actually manufactured below the contract price, the loss of the profit on the sale of machinery purchased by him for the purpose of filling the contract, and the profits to be realized from the work to be performed in setting up the machinery.
The plaintiffs were manufacturers of mill machinery, and also en. gaged in furnishing other machinery than their manufacture, and putting up mills, located at Fort Wayne, Indiana. The defendants, living in Van Wert county, Ohio, being desirous to erect and put into 'operation a mill at Venedotia, in that county, entered into a written contract by which the plaintiffs sold to, and the defendants agreed to purchase, certain mill machinery described in the contract, and which tbe plaintiffs agreed to put up in a mill·bouse to be erected by the defendants; and fully complete and put in operation a complete mill, by a time named, and for tbe price stated in the contract of $6,000, to be paid as therein stipulated. The w.ritten contract contained the following clause: "This mill, when completed and ready for operation, is guarantied by the party of the first part [the plaintiffs] to have a capacity of from ten to twelve bushels of wheat per hour, and make a grade of !lour equal to the straight flour made at the Delphos mills, and satisfy the trade of the second party, rthe defendants.]"
Under the contract the plaintiffs proceeded to manufacture the machinery they were to make, and made contracts to purchase the part thereof they did not manufacture; and by the sixteenth of May, 1884, had, as they claimed, all the machinery ready to deliver according to the contract, and were ready to put the same in the mill-house, as reqnired by the contract. The defendants went on and erected the mill building required to hold the machinery, but, before the machinery was delivered, they notified the plaintiffs that they would not receive tbe machinery, or allow them to completo