Case ID: sw2d_8/html/0664-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PIERSON, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

J. E. BOWEN v. J. T. ROBISON, Commissioner of General Land Office, et al.
    (No. 4993.) 
    
    Supreme Court of Texas.
    June 25, 1928.
    Petition for Writ of Mandamus.
    Paul D. Thomas, of El Paso, for relator.
    R. L, Batts and J. T. Robison, both of Austin, for respondent.
    A. H. Culwell and Turney, Burges, Culwell & Pollard, all of El Paso, for corespondent California Co.
    T. L. Poster, J. W. Timmins, T. ⅛ Ereem'an, S. W. Marshall, and John L. Young, all of Dallas, and E. A. Williams, of Galveston, amici curiae.
    
      
      Rehearing denied October 17, 1928.
    
   PIERSON, J.

In this case relator, J. E. Bowen, seeks to require J. T. Robison, commissioner of the general land office, to issue to him a permit to prospect for oil and gas on section No. 34, block 194, certificate No. 3979, Gulf, Colorado & San Francisco Railway Company survey, containing 640 acres of land, in Pecos county, Tex.

On June 17, 1915, this section of land was awarded and sold to T. F. Hiekox. It was classified as “mineral,” and was sold with a reservation of the mineral rights to the state of Texas. Thereafter I. G. Yates succeeded to all the right, title, and interest of said Hiekox in said land. On February 25, 1924, I. G. Yates, individually and acting as the agent of the state of Texas, executed an oil and gas lease on this land to the California company. The petition of relator and the answer of corespondent California Company allege that said company is now drilling for oil and gas on said land.

The commissioner of the general land office rejected relator’s application, upon the ground that the area was not subject to the application on account of the provisions of the so-called Relinquishment Act of 1919 (Acts 1919, 2d Called Sess. c. 81). Relator, Bowen, challenges the constitutionality and validity of said act.

In an opinion delivered in the case of Greene v. Robison et al., 8 S.W.(2d) 655, this day del livered, this court upheld in all essential respects the constitutionality and validity of said act. For the reasons given in .that case, relator is not entitled to a mandamus, and same i» denied.