A technical breach which does not result in damage is, of course, consistent with substantial performance.1 Thus a contract by which A agrees to construct a level to drain B's mine in consideration of one-eighth of the ore mined therefrom may be enforced by A though the level is permitted to get out of repair, if the level is sufficient for practical purposes and B' is in no way prejudiced thereby.2 So a contract for constructing a public improvement is not discharged by the invalidity of a particular assessment which did not enter into the bid or contract.3 So if a surrender of an insurance policy is required as a condition of obtaining a paid-up policy, the fact that the original policy has been stolen from the insured does not defeat his right, on complying with all the other requisites, to obtain a paid-up policy.4 So the right of the insured to change the beneficiary is not defeated because the former beneficiary refuses to deliver up the original certificate, and he is therefore unable to comply with a provision requiring its surrender as a pre-requisite to changing the beneficiary.5

1 Elizabeth (City of) v. Fitzgerald. 114 Fed. 547: 52 C. C. A. 321; Kauffman v. .Raeder, 108 Fed. 171; 54 L. R. A. 247; 47 C. C. A. 278; Fitzgerald v. La Porte, 04 Ark. 34; 40 S. W. 201; Hill v. McKay, 94 Cal. 5; 29 Pae. 400; Griffith v. Happersberger. 80 Cal. 005, 014; 25 Pae. 137, 487; AEtna, etc., Works v. Kossuth County, 79 Ia. 40; 44 N. W. 215; Hattin v. Chase, 88 Me. 237; 33 Atl. 989; Phelps v. Beebe, 71 Mich. 554; 39 N. W. 701; Leeds v. Little, 42 Minn. 414; 44 N. W. 309; Crouch v. Gutmann, 134 N. Y. 45; 30 Am. St. Rep. 008; 31 N. E. 271; Flaherty v. Miner, 123 N. Y. 382; 25 N. E. 418; Kane v. Stone Co., 39 O. S.'l; Moore v. Carter, 140 Pa. 492; 23 Atl. 243; Gallagher v. Sharpless. 134 Pa. 134; 19 Atl. 491; Linch v. Lumber Co., 80 Tex. 23; 15 S. W. 208; Meincke v. Falk, 01 Wis. 023; 50 Am. Rep. 157; 21 X. W. 785.

2 Kauffman v. Raeder, 108 Fed. 171; 54 L. R. A. 247; 47 C. C. A. 278; Hattin v. Chase, 88 Me. 237; 33 Atl. 989; Smith v. Packard, 94 Va. 730; 27 S. E. 580.

3 Phelps v. Beebe. 71 Mich. 554; 39 N. W. 701; Flaherty v. Miner, 123 X. Y. 382; 25 N. E. 418.

1 Singer Mfg. Co. v. McLean, 105 Ala. 310; 10 So. 912; Morgan Park v. Gahan, 130 111. 515; 20 N. E. 1085; Crawford v. Witherbee, 77 Wis. 419; 9 L. R. A. 501; 40 N. W. 545.

2 Crawford v. Weatherbpe. 77 Wis. 419; 9 L. R. A. 501; 40 N. W. 545.

3 Morgan Park v. Gahan. 130 111. 515; 26 N. E. 1085.