Norum v. Queen City Oil Co.

This is an action for damages. Plaintiff is the owner of certain land, patent to which he obtained from the United States. The land was granted to him subject to any vested and accrued water-rights for mining purposes and the patent reserves to the United States all minerals, together with the right to prospect for, mine and remove the same.

Defendant is a corporation, engaged in prospecting for, developing and producing oil on plaintiff’s land. It does so and has been doing so by virtue of an oil and gas lease from the United States. When the land was government land, the United States issued…