The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-06-23
NORTHERN PACIFIC LANDS.

ket all, or nearly all, Its lands In Montans
not heretofore applied for by actual settlers
Some two or three years since Resolution
was adopted by the Board Of Directors to
the effect that the lands were held at $2.G(
per acre to actual settlers who applied fol
the same and requesting them to file applica
tions for said land with the Land Depart.
ment Of the Company at st. Paul. Subse
quently the applications for Montana land.
were requested to be made with Mr.. Ed
Stone, General Agent, Helena. No special
form was required so that the land was de-
scribed by the legal Subdivisions Is shown on
the Government surveys. We repeatedly
published these requests, and advised settlers
to apply Is directed by the N. p. Co. 1t
cost nothing and might be Of service. While
there was perhaps nothing legally binding
OH the Railroad Company in its action and
the resolution might be rescinded by sub.
sequent Board, or ignored II the organiza-
ton of the Company changed, 1t were better
to accept the terms In good faith and trust to
the Company maintaining the same. While
perhaps the bulk of settlers on railroad
lands did this, there are doubtless many who
have neglected 1t and who will have to pay
more for their lands in consequence. This
Is on the assumption that the Company will
adhere to the Resolution and convey to ap-
plying settlers at $500 per acre the lands SO
applied for, q course Of action we confident
ly anticipate the N. p. Co. will take.
While the Directors adopted this resolu-
ton of their own will, 1t always presented
itself to us as q most unbusiness like pro-
ceeding. The Company has, or will have,
conveyed TO 1t as the road is completed,
each alternate section on a belt of land
eighty miles wide along the line Of road in
the Territories. Where odd numbered sec
tions were taken prior to the location of the
road, the Government indemnifies the r. r..
Co. out Of public lands five miles outside
the eighty mile belt. It is natural that the
best lands, and those nearest the railroad
should be settled upon first, while vast areas
ofuncultivable and more remote lands would
remain unoccupied. Therefore, why the n.
P. Directors should adopt an arbitrary rate
covering its best lands, far in advance Of the
construction of the road, which would result
in their being culled and the poorer lands
left to the Company, was beyond ordinary
ken, and was perhaps one reason that not SO
great reliance was placed in it. Its absurdity
struck vice-president Cakes during his trip
last summer and his opposition to the
method was freely expressed. Col. Lamborn,
General Land Agent, at once disapproved 1t,
and the lands unapplied for have accordingly
been withdrawn pending = systematic ex.
animation and appraisement by persons EN-
ployed by the Company. These reports will
then be reviewed at the land Office of the
Division, end prices established on eacl
legal subdivision, at which prices the land
will be sold to applicants. 1t is the purpos'
of the Company to give actual settlers thu
first right of purchase at the prices fixed, an,
we anticipate q system will be adopte,
whereby the applications of settlers will b.
filed and verified 30 as to protect then
against other purchasers. We have no init
nation of what rates will be established blu
doubtless the price of the valley lands will
be materially increased, while that Of ex
clusively grazing lands will be diminished
As an indication Of how thorough this exam
ination of lands Is to be, we give below
portion of the instructions issued by Gene
raj Agent Stone to his examining parties.
INSTRUCTIONS TO EXAMINERS.
In the examination of any lands you vii
commence at a corner of the Government
surveys, and from the same you will kee
your course by compass and distance b.
counting your steps, which should be uni
form and compared with the distances give
| on the Government surveys, so that at an.
time you will know the precise point OF
each line at which you intersect any objec
required to be noted in your field-book. Ii
all cases you will find and connect your sur
| veys with the corners Of the Goverpmen
surveys in each section examined as often. a
practicable, and on your diagram you vii
note each of such corner found with mari
thus X, aud each corner of section or subdi
vision where You 90, but where no corne
monuments are found, you will mark thus Q
| Every forty acre tract or other smalles
legal subdivision is 10 be examined by trav
cling through its center, aud in very broker
or wooded country, upon at least two bound
airy lines in addition 10 travelling through tn
center. In all cases you will travel enough
to acquire thorough knowledge of the tract
The lines upon which you travel you will II
dicste on the diagram with small dotte'
| lines, thus -.......
The distances upon your lines at whicl
you intersect any object or feature of topog
raphy required TO be shown on the diagram
you will note at the tune you intersect ases sam,
| The topography Of each smallest subdivision
| uegal) must be completed before passing u
| the next.
Never note down topography in advanc
| Of you upon any land over which you are 4
pass.
So MMARY OF OBJECTS TO BE SHOWN o,
YOUR DIAGRAM.
You viii represent on the diagram the pc
sition, form and extent of every lake, pond
marsh, meadow, swamp, cultivated field
bluff, or considerable hill, or valley, and II
prairie country Of every grove or body o
timber or brush, and in timber country o.
every prairie or open tract Of land; the posi-
ton and course of every stream of water
ditch or drain; the position of every road o.
trail, fence, spring, house or other building
quarry, mine or quartz lode or any other OF
ject or feature Of topography worthy Of note
or affecting the value of the tract You viii
denote the slope and drainage Of the land b.
arrow heads pointing in the direction OF th
greatest descent. You win indicate tia
course Of every stream, drain, or ditch, b
| the same character. You will also show sue
cultivation, buildings or other Improvement
on the adjoining lands. as may affect TIT
value of the tracts examined and know
edge Of which you can get without expend
ing too much time.
Descriptions must be given separately 70
each forty acre tract or smaller legal subd
vision.
j. Surface Of Tract State whether flat
IL