The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-07
ManY Of tho Delegates Have arrived
but tho Rush VIII Be
To-day.
Tho Meeting Will Be Called At
Noon Ar Electric Hall by
Nx-Gov. Haussr.
soms Opinions as TO what the DslssAtes
should Do-Tigures showing Sur
vsysd aud U~nsnrveysd Lands.

All the trains arriving IN Helena yestsf-
day brough delegates TO the state irriga-
tion convention, that meets at noon to-day
ct Electric hall. lThs convention will bs
called to order by Ex-Goy. 8. i. Hsuser.
chairman Of the executive committse, and
the delegates will be welcomed on behalf
Of the state by Lisutenant Governor Rick
ards, and on behalf of the city by Mayor
Kleinsohmidt. Governor Toois, who tRkss
q great interest In the subject OF irrigation,
expected to welcome ths delegates, but was
suddenly called to Washington and will
probably not return until after the conven-
tion has adjourned.
Custer county will be represented by q
full delegation, Sam Gordon, o. n. McCres
and u. B. s. Higgins having arrived yes-
terday, and the other delegate, J.. w.
Strevell, will b. in to-day. OF the Jefferson
county delegation A. L.. Lows aud w. G.
Whaley are in town. The Gallntin dsle-
gates in town last night were O. P. CHS
holm, Charles A. Gregory, William Flan-
merry White Caldwell and w, w. Anderson.
Yellowstone is represented by B. +. Shuart,
R. j. Martin and Olney Taylor. Ckoteau
by z. T. Burton, Park by James Vestal,
" ny Ne L. ! = VAN " \ ~
Knight. The delegates from the south and
west will be in to-day, and the promise is
for a large attendance.
From the discussions which were heard in
the hotel Hobbies last evening all the dele
gates are no: OF this same way Of thinking.
A number have no settled convictions as to
whether congress should be asked for the
public lands in the state, and say they will
not be able to come to a decision until they
hear the matter discussed. Others. how
ever. strongly favor the granting of the
lands to the state by the federal govern
capital to build canals, and that it cannot
be interested to any great extent unless it
is possible also to obtain large bodies Of
land; that 20 long as the federal govern.
msnt owns the public land, these companies
nno get title to large bodies, and there
fore will not invest in irrigation enterprises.
Give the lands to the state say these dele
gates, and then tho state can dispose of
them. They will Immediately become tax
able, and be a source of revenue.
Those opposed to the state asking for the
public lands, say congress- will give them
If asked, and will probably charge the state
Sl.25 an acre for them. Then when we AJAX
for an appropriation we will BIO told that
the general government has already given
us millions Of acres of land for virtually
nothing. and we must sell that and use tho
one for tho general good. They also
agree thAt 1t IS not the best plan TO nave
wealthy corporations own large bodies OF
land and water as well. Discussions in
which the points outlined were the main
features we're numerous, and the promise is
that when tho convention gets down to
work there will be Z great deal Of o%ratory.
There is vet Tnother GLASS who do not
think the Gift Of unsurveyed land to the
state would DO 4 blessing. The proportion.
~of-survsyed to unsurveyed land in Montana.
is as twenty is to seventy. To survey the
70, 900, 600 acres Of public land in the state
would ccet an immense sum-. A careful in
vestigation shows that the length Of the
Northern Pacific road in Montana ia $50
miles. An approximate estimate shows
shat the grant to the railroad embraced H.
1888, 600 acres. OF this there are 1884, OUO
acres in the Grow reservation, and 92l, 600
in the Flathead reserve. The indemnity
lands selected by the compnny comprise
78b,0S7 acres. A large proportion Of these
lands being u~nsurveyed, it is impossible to
exactly define the limits of the railroad
lands. Until surveyed there will be more or
less trouble in inducing settlers to locate on
them.
A very interesting table, showing the
status Of the public lands in Montana,
Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Washington AMI
Wyoming, has been prepared. and it will
undoubtedly be of service in the delibera-
tions of the convention. The table is as
follows.