79.11.210 - Reservation in contract. - Washington Statutes

Reservation in contract.

Each and every contract for the sale of, and each deed to, state lands shall contain the following reservation: "The party of the first part hereby expressly saves, excepts, and reserves out of the grant hereby made, unto itself and its successors and assigns forever, all oils, gases, coal, ores, minerals, and fossils of every name, kind, or description, and which may be in or upon said lands above described, or any part thereof, and the right to explore the same for such oils, gases, coal, ores, minerals, and fossils; and it also hereby expressly saves and reserves out of the grant hereby made, unto itself and its successors and assigns forever, the right to enter by itself or its agents, attorneys, and servants upon said lands, or any part or parts thereof, at any and all times, for the purpose of opening, developing, and working mines thereon, and taking out and removing therefrom all such oils, gases, coal, ores, minerals, and fossils, and to that end it further expressly reserves out of the grant hereby made, unto itself its successors and assigns, forever, the right by its or their agents, servants, and attorneys at any and all times to erect, construct, maintain, and use all such buildings, machinery, roads, and railroads, sink such shafts, remove such soil, and to remain on said lands or any part thereof for the business of mining and to occupy as much of said lands as may be necessary or convenient for the successful prosecution of such mining business, hereby expressly reserving to itself and its successors and assigns, as aforesaid, generally, all rights and powers in, to, and over said land, whether herein expressed or not, reasonably necessary or convenient to render beneficial and efficient the complete enjoyment of the property and the rights hereby expressly reserved.

     No rights shall be exercised under the foregoing reservation, by the state or its successors or assigns, until provision has been made by the state or its successors or assigns, to pay to the owner of the land upon which the rights reserved under this section to the state or its successors or assigns, are sought to be exercised, full payment for all damages sustained by said owner, by reason of entering upon said land: PROVIDED, That if said owner from any cause whatever refuses or neglects to settle said damages, then the state or its successors or assigns, or any applicant for a lease or contract from the state for the purpose of prospecting for or mining valuable minerals, or option contract, or lease, for mining coal, or lease for extracting petroleum or natural gas, shall have the right to institute such legal proceedings in the superior court of the county wherein the land is situate, as may be necessary to determine the damages which said owner of said land may suffer."

[1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 161; 1927 c 255 § 56; RRS § 7797-56. Prior: 1917 c 149 § 1; 1915 c 147 § 3; 1907 c 256 § 3; 1897 c 89 § 16; 1895 c 178 §§ 25, 29. Formerly RCW 79.01.224, 79.12.410.]

Notes: Savings -- Captions -- Severability -- Effective dates -- 1982 1st ex.s. c 21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.