Fergus County argus., 1890-02-20
Feb. 20,

Montana Stockman; Every Mon.
| upon unsurveyed lands. and all others
who contemplate making homes upon
them, will be pleased to learn that
efforts are being made looking to the
survey and plating Of such lands.
The move is intended to rest ore the
old order OF things. \ lew years ago
the surveyor proceeded the settler
THIS was notably the case in Indiana.
Illinois, and Wisconsin. In those
states, the home seeker looked over
the country, selected his lands, ex-
amined section corners. noted down
the figures, and then went to the land
office OF the district and entered his
choice. Numbers went to the land
Office first, and obtained plats of the
townships they wished to view and
select from, and then made their
entries.
But, fo, some reason which has not
been satisfactorily explained, the gov
ernment adopted another and radi-
cally different policy. Instead of
sending surveyors ahead OF SET tlers to
prepare the way tor them, it has held
the former back and forced the latter
to the front. The result has been n :
annoying and perplexIng to settlers as
it has been disadvantageous to the
government. II made squatters of
the home-seekers and led to n litIga-
tion among them, in which the lawyers
generally came out first best, leaving
litiglnts not only bankrup,s but life
time enemies. The policy also re-
suited in loss to the government
inasmuch as it discouraged set lement
oi the public domain and hence de-
ferred the sale of public lands and
growth of taxable property. For it
goes without saying that, all things
being equal. surveyed lands will be
taken up, sci led and improved, while
unsurveyed lands will remain I'M
touched.
There is another potent argument
in favor of the early survey of the |
public domain. The government has |
very generously set apart tine sixteenth |
and thirty-siXth sections in every |
township for the benefit of the public |
schools OF II state. This is nagniii- |
cent dowry for elucat ional purposes, |
but in the absence of land surveys il |
il seriously lcssened IN value The |
who drives his pegs upon an
school section cannot DE |
removed. II may be the most valu-
able agricultural land in the neighbor-
hood, but IT cannot be taken from
him. But if the section had been sur
veyed 10y the government, there is no
power outside of that granted by "A
court upon an action to condem il for
he public good, that can wrest it
from the school fund of the state.
There are other convincing reasons
why the public domain should be sur
veyed at once. Squatters are not
to pay taxes upon the
lands they occupy. Their improve
ments are taxed, because they have ~
lear title to them; their lands remain
ina-sessed BECAUSE the title to them
s vested IN the government. II the
are hard pressed for means
10 improve their holdings, they can
raise no money upon them. This fact
may be of benefit to the struggling
settler IN the long run, still the want
Df means-which cannot lie obtained
~ him only upon land security-may
prove fatal To his success.
la view of the few reasons thus i
briefly outlined, 1t il hoped that the
el,ort that he government proposes to /
eVerse the later practice of the land
department., and push the survey of I
he public domain to "a speedy com
'letlon. Is based upon fact. Montana I
Ias millions OF acres of unsurveved Z
1nd>. They are ripe for the surveyor I
MI his cham. Let him come. IN