Southern Pacific Railroad v. Allen

Beatty, C. J.,

dissenting.—I dissent, but upon a different ground from that stated by Justice Henshaw. As to the construction of the contract, I concur in the views of the majority, but I do not think that the breach of this particular kind of a contract of sale gives the vendor the right to go into equity to claim specific performance, or to foreclose the right of the purchaser. In ordinary contracts for the sale of land the vendor has the right either to rescind or to foreclose for failure of the vendee to make deferred payments, because in ordinary contracts of sale the vendor is able to perform the contract on his part by making a conveyance. But when, as in this case, the vendor is not ready to convey, and may never be able to do so, I think he should be limited to rescission or to his action to recover the installments due, and that he has no right to claim the relief awarded by this judgment.

Rehearing denied.