Fidelity Trust Co. v. American Surety Co.

175 F. 200, 1909 U.S. App. LEXIS 5742
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedDecember 11, 1909
DocketNo. 50
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 175 F. 200 (Fidelity Trust Co. v. American Surety Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fidelity Trust Co. v. American Surety Co., 175 F. 200, 1909 U.S. App. LEXIS 5742 (E.D. Pa. 1909).

Opinion

J. B. McPHERSON, District Judge.

This controversy arises upon the following undisputed facts :

[201]*201Richard Smith of the city of Philadelphia died in September, 1891, leaving a will by which he provided inter alia for the erection of an elaborate and costly structure in Fairmount Park. He spoke of this structure as “a lnomunental memorial,” and directed the plaintiff to erect it as trustee under the will, specifying that

“The said memorial is to include equestrian statues in bronze of Major-Generals George R. McClellan and Winfield S. Hancock and colossal statues in bronze, of Major-Generals George G. Meade and .Tohn F. Reynolds; the niches in the, right and left Wings of the design to have pedestals to receive bronze busts of the following distinguished Pennsylvanians, namely; Govern- or Andrew G. Curtin, Major-General John F. Hartranft, Admirals David D. Porter and John A. Dahlgren, General .Tames A. Beaver, Major-General ÍU w. Crawford, and in addition thereto the architect. James H. Windrim. and my executor, John B. Gest. A mural tablet in bronze will be placed upon the pedestal stage of one of the main columns with the inscription ‘This Monumental Arch presented by Richard Smith, Type Founder, of Philadelphia. In memory of Pennsylvanians who took part in the Civil War, whose strife was not for aggrandizement, lmt when conflict ceased, the North with the South united, again to enjoy the common heritage left by the Fathers of our Country, resolving that thereafter all our people should dwell together in unity.’
“Upon the pedestal stage of the. other main column will be placed upon a bracketed rest, on the right of the entrance front, a statue of myself, in bronze, and underneath, the name of Richard Smith, in large letters. The central part of said memorial to be for a carriage way, and on either side passages for pedestrians. And T direct that the entire expense of the memorial and the erection and completion thereof shall not exceed five hundred thousand dollars (8500,000).”

In the course of carrying out the testator’s instructions, the plaintiff entered into a written contract with Paul W. Bartlett, a sculptor, on November 2, 1898, by which Bartlett agreed:

“That he will himself design, model and sculpture, to the best of his art and skill, an equestrian statue of the late Major-General George B. McClellan. and complete the same in bronze set in place as a part of the Monumental .Memorial to be erected in West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, under the provisions of file will of the late Richard Smith, within two years from the date of September 1, 1898.”

The agreement then went on to provide:

“The total height of the horse and rider shall be one hundred and eighty inches, more or less, above the bronze plinth or base upon which the statuary rests, the sizes of the horse and rider to be in proportion thereto.
“The model shall-be subject to the approval of the party of the first part, or its authorized agent. After the model has been approved by the party of the first part, or its authorized agent, the same shall he cast in bronze of the Aii-inula"ninety per cent, pure copper, seven per cent, pure tin, and three per ci'nt. zinc or spelter the section of the metal in the casting .to be in no place less than one quarter of an inch in thickness ; the casting to be done by a reputable bronze foundry, executed and finished in the most artistic and workmanlike manner.
“The party of the first part, or its authorized agent, shall have the right to rest the bronze used in said castings, and reject the same if found not in accordance with the formula stipulated in this contract; and, for the purpose of making tests, coupons shall be cast upon each piece of casting to be removed by the representative of the party of the first part for such tests.
“The castings shall be inspected and approved at the foundry by the authorized agent of ihe party of the first part before acceptance.
“The plinth or base upon which the statue rests, shall have a concealed gutter cast to receive all drippings from storm water, and connection provided to a conductor furnished under another contract There shall also be con[202]*202structed in the plinth or base in a suitable position, and according to working drawings provided by the party of the first part, a trapdoor and frame for access to the statue from the core wells provided in the contract for granite work.
“The stature shall be attached to the granite work with proper bolts, clamps, etc., of bronze, in the best style of art, and to the entire satisfaction of the authorized agent of the party of the first part.
“Second. The party of the second part hereby agrees to submit at his studio to the party of the first part, or its authorized agent for approval, one or more sketch models in clay, wax or plaster, of the statuary he is to execute, at a scale of two and a half inches to one foot, prior to the commencement of any work upon the enlarged model; if the party of the second part fails to make this model acceptable to the party of the first part. then this contract is void, and ceases to be obligatory on the party of the first part, or upon the party of the second part; if said sketch model is approved, the party of the second part further agrees to make a duplicate thereof in plaster and deposit the same with the said trustee; but it is distinctly understood that said duplicate is not to be published, and is to remain the property of the party of the second part; and the said party of the second part further agrees to furnish and set in position, a full sized model in staff or cement of the subject from an approved sketch, upon a temporary full sized model of the Monumental Memorial to be erected in staff in said park, under a contract with.other parties.
“The said party of the second part agrees after the full sized model has been set in position on the staff structure, to make such modifications in dimensions or design as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto.
“Third. The party of the second part also covenants and agrees that according to the provisions of this agreement he will proceed without delay to prepare the sketch model, the model for the staff structure, and the finished model, and cast the equestrian statue; that he will insure said model and statue in an insurance company satisfactory to the party of the first part, until the said statue in bronze, shall be completed, and set in place, and, in an amount to be increased from time to time, according to the payments made herein and equal to the total amount thereof, pay the premium of insurance thereon, and assign and deliver the policy of insurance to the party of the first part; that he will ship said statue at his own expense to the city of Philadelphia, in a proper manner to prevent injury in transportation, and that he will set it up on the said Monumental Memorial in the city of Philadelphia, in the position thereon designated, in conformity with the provisions of this contract; and that upon the completion of said statue, the same shall, upon being accepted by the party of the first part, be free from all incumbrances.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
175 F. 200, 1909 U.S. App. LEXIS 5742, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fidelity-trust-co-v-american-surety-co-paed-1909.