Garrison

The present appeal comes before us on the judgment-roll alone. The only questions presented go to the sufficiency of the complaint and the sufficiency of the findings made, following, as the findings do, the facts alleged in the said complaint. It is to be noted that the briefs of counsel filed herein indicate a desire to argue everything except the points in issue. Although much of the argument is directed toward matters not before us for determination, nevertheless the persistency of the claims advanced does serve to accentuate a condition which might be inferred from the record properly before us.

Plaintiffs were the owners of certain lands in this state. These lands appeared to be chiefly valuable on account of the oil deposits thought to be contained therein. A lease of the lands was made to the defendants with the object of exploration and development. The defendants seemingly violated the terms of the lease and thwarted the objects thereof. Other developments were made adjacent to the lands in question which as a matter of common knowledge impaired or would impair the value of these lands in the event of continued inactivity. Plaintiffs then commenced this action, the main…