The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-11-09
NEEDED

Montana is advancing with steady but sure
| strides in the direction of statehood. In her
progress toward this desirable contamination
she has to overcome not only natural but az
| neutrality-suspicious. which are placed in her
! way. The former-her isolation-ls geo
graphical, while the latter are due, not only
to congressional enactments which operate
against her, hut to contemplated ones when
NAV prove fatal to her ambition. The rail-
| roads that are now approaching and VIII
| soon pierce her commercial aud mining CEN
tres, will level the first named and place her
in direc. ard Speedy communication with the
outer world but the latter will materially,
retard her advancement and hold her in ter
| + torial vassalage for a longer period of time
than is desirable unless they be removed or
prevented.
Congress has ALREADY saduled upon her a
law which, in its operations. has, and stl!i
does, deter many of the most desirable class
| of immigrants from venturing within her bol-
| ders to seek homes. We refer to the very OH
iactionable desert land act. This act passed.
| congress at the instigation of a company OF
California aud Arizona land srabbers, who
desired to gain possession OF vast tracts OF
arid, barren lands situated in the southern
part of California and in Arizona. 1t was ill.,
ten,ted to cover these lands with water pro-
cured from ~artesian w.iis, that are cheapiy
bored in that section of country. The origi-
,,to,, oF III, y,.osrra did moi at the MASSAGE
of the law, conceive that its provisions would
or could be taken advantage of in the north
ern territories. Nevertheless parties III this
territory have, and will continue. to avail
themselves ofthe privilege afforded them uav-
der the statutes for acquiring large bodies OF
desirable lands. II they were really desert
lands, aud could not be made to produce c.
reals or pasturage without a large outlay "t
CAPITAL, all serious objections to the Law would
vanish. But it cannot be urged with reason
Montana mas o productive lands
Every acre within her borders. except the
highest peaks or rocky ridges Of her noun
tains, produces excellent pasturage and nearly
Every valley and cultivable slope will yield
in ordinary seasons, if properly worked, fail
crops of cereals and vegetables, without arti-
fetal irrigation. This fact should place near
ly all her lands outside the pounds Of those
declared desert by the congressional defini-
ton of the term. But it appears that it does
not. The lands are being taken up under
The law, and in some sections, notably in the
Judith basin, where thousands of acres have
neen located as desert lands, settlers have
squatted upon them and declared their
| intention to hold one hundred and
heir houses and improving the lands
IN spite Of the desert land locat ons. This
action on the part of the settlers bids fair to
lead to difficulties, more or less serious III
their nature, between them and the former
l~ocaters. To avoid this and to prevent future
misunderstanding IN regard to what are re-
ally desert lands in Montana, congressional
legislation is needed. The act should be
amended so as to except our territory from
the action of its provisions or to more clearly
| define the class of lands that can be taken up
under it.
Here is work for our delegate. As the law
now stands 1t discourages immigration to the
Territory, and will prove a prolific source OF
endless litigation and mischief to those who
adversely claiming the lands. Major Magin'
mis- has proved himself equal to all the tasks
that the people of Montana have allotted tc
him. We feel assured that he will do his
utmost to remove this very grave impediment
to our march towards state 1oG.