Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1881-09-08
N. P. r. r. AGRICULTURAL LANDS

We have the following in referedce to this
SUBJECT from recent issue OF the Missouliau:
Under the administration of Mr.. James
Power, land commissioner of the N p
6allroad. It was the custom when applica-
ton were made for the lands of the com
pany to acknowledge the receipt and filing
OF the application but when Mr.. Newport
LOOK mold OF the relns, he stopped doing So,
ana IN consequence. whenever application
has been made the applicant has never re-
ceived any notice whatever from the land
department that they had heard from him.
Mr.. woody, OF Missoula, after great deal
OF perseverance, has succeeded in receiving
light upon this subject in the form of the
following circular, which we publish for the
benefit OF such persons as may be interested
in N. P. Railroad lands
ST. PAUL, Mimi. August l, 1881.
Notice is hereby given that | have dis
continued the practice of my predecessor Of
sending the printed form Of acknowledge
mcnt of application for lands in Montana,
as found it was productive of more harm
than good. learn that these acknowledge
ments have been regarded as "flings,' Civ
ing the persons to whom they were sent the
absolute priority OF right to purchase the
land applied for, whether bama .fde settlers
thereon or not, and that parties have for
warded to this office applications for lands
upon which Others had already settled and
made improvements, and were using their
filling papers," as they are termed. to drive
OH the farmer or extort money from him.
1t will make no difference to actual settlers
whether he has an application on file in this
Office or not rs the lands will be carefully
examined before they are offered for sale,
and all bona fdc settlers who may be found
occupying the lands of the company will be
given the first opportunity to purchase the
same at the minimum price, provided the
lands are not of the character which are re-
served by the terms of the resolution OF the
board Of directors, adopted October 16, 1879.
which reads as follows:
Resolved, That the agricultural lands of
the company west of the Missouri river to
Puget Sound, shall be offered for sale to ac-
tual settlers at the government price of two
dollars and half cash per acre, with an ad-
dition of ten ceuts per acre to be paid to the
company to reimburse it for the cost OF Sc
lectlng, surveying and conveying such
lands.
This resolution does not apply to coal and
iron lands; nor to lands chiefly valuable for
timber; nor to lands required for town
sites nor, in regions where water is scarce,
to lands containing spring or other natural
supply, where it shall be for the interests of
settlers at large that such water privileges
shall not be exclusively held or controlled
by any individuals; nor to lands required
for the use of the company in connection
with the operation OF the road.
No person who has settled OH the lands of
the company in good faith, with the inten-
ton of establishing a home there, need have
any apprehension that advantage will be
taken of his situation. 1t will be the policy |
of the company, as il is to its interest, to
treat all such settlers in liberal manner. |
AS rapidly as possible after the final loca-
ton of the road, the lands will be examin- !
ed, and due notice given when they will be
ready for sale. r. M. NEWPORT,
General Land Agent.
IT is as important to the farmer to know !
when to market as it ls to know when to |