State ex rel. Stetson v. Savidge

This is an application for a writ of mandamus to require the commissioner of public lands to execute a lease to the relator for mining and extracting petroleum and natural gas from certain tide lands belonging to the state of Washington. It is conceded that the relator has fully complied with the provisions of the statute relating to leasing of state lands •for the purpose of mining and extraction of petroleum and natural gas. The state land commissioner refused to execute the lease on the ground that tide lands are not lands within the meaning of the statute, which provides as follows:

“The…