The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-10-16
THE TIMBER QUESTION.

Telegraphic advices show that within the
past few days the Montana improvement
Company has been In deep water at Wash.
ington, the Special Agent of the Department
having reported strongly against 1t and suits
having been ordered instituted. These have
now been withdrawn. We have informa-
ton, outside Of the Company, that the
alleged contract showing the Northern Pa.
cifc Company held . controlling interest In
the Montana Improvement Company never
had any legal existence-never was signed.
The Government officers have been acting
under the assumption that the N. P. Co. did
hold an interest. There are other matters
connected with It which, on investigation by
the Attorney Generals Office, developed
differently from general belief concerning
them, and the Department of Justice con.
cluded to withdraw the suits instituted. We
expect further information soon which will
enable full presentation OF the case.
There appears, however, a condition Of
affairs existing that may be detrimental to
the interests Of this Western country, and
especially, In view of our mining Industries,
TO Montana. 1t Is not determined yet, II
seems, by the Secretary of Interior, what
constitutes the "mineral districts" within
which timber may be cut and removed for
"buildIng, agricultural, mining, and other
domestic purposes" Secretary Teller, as
we understood II, held 1t applied to mineral
districts generally, which would permit the
cutting Of such timber anywhere within .
general mineral district, like Western Mon
tana. Secretary Lamar seems disposed to
hold that they must be officially and for
mally declared mineral districts by legal
subdivisions. The limited surveys Of tim
Der lands in Montana, and establishment Of
their mineral character, would, with the en-.
forcement Of this view, render It impossible
TO acquire title TO any considerable amount
of timber land from which the vast amount
Of timber required for mining and auxiliary
purposes In this territory might be cut, and
we understand that while he holds that
for strictly domestic purposes" the "actual
settlers" on public lands may take and use
timbers, he is not disposed to include mining
operations a. . domestic purpose" The
injury such ruling, II made, would be to
Montana can be readily seen by all. Practi.
cally the territory would be 10 q condition Of
suspended animation from the moment such
an order was made until II should be re-
voked. This matter has, within the past
few days, had direct and immediate investi-
CATION In this part Of the Territory, and we
cannot doubt that Q reasonable conclusion
will be arrived at by the Secretary Of Inte-
rior.
The suspension Of silver coinage would
not be . 1.-THE of the disaster to Montana
that ruling would be declaring that every
legal subdivision must be declared "mineral
district" before . stick Of timber could be
cut for mine timbering, reduction works or
fuel. Let Us be thankful, however, the con-
cession Is made that acquiring the stick TO
make the pot boil 10 not now "trespass," nor
the person acquiring 1t subject to prosecu-
ton. Perhaps the industrial interests Of the
Territory may yet receive Is much consider
alton.