The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-12

serving Sections I'm Zach Township
WasHIssros CrrY. Jan. 1L-tSpecIaLi F.
Senator Squire and Representatives, Doo-
little and Wilson have all three received
copies OF the letter prepared by Secretary
cowen, Of the state board of land commis-
sioners. and Published in the PosT-ISrEL-
L.sEScER. regarding the selection OF lands
by the state prior TO survey. Iney VIVA
unite at once in an effort 70 secure a IA
vcrabie legislation as possible
While realizing ali the Disadvantages
under which the state now laoors In Sc
lecting lands granted by the Federal gov
eminent under the enabling act, the dele
CATION here find themselves confronted
with difficulties ct every turn IN endeavor-
ing 10 secure more favorable legislation for
the state.
Ii 10 true that when Washington came
into the Union. owing TO the vast immi-
grafton prior to admission. and the limited
amount of surveys made during the DEM
ocratic administration, great amount OF
public land had been taken up prior TO
survey under the various land laws. Dur
ing the years 1891 and isa2 the sums OF
$i23, go and 500. coo were appropriated re-
spectively for surveys, of which Washing
ton received. through the exertions of its
then sole representative, John L. Wilson,
considerably larger amount than any
other land grant state. being nearly
one-fourth of the entire sum. The
large assignment made to Washington
was not only for the benefit of the settlers
but also for the express purpose OF assist
ing the state in the selection OF lands to
which il was entitled under the enabling
act. which provided that the selection
must be made from the unsurveyed, IN
reserved and unappropriated lands of the
United States" A large number Of con-
tracts were let, exhausting the amount as
signed 10 Washington each year since it
has been in the Union, but the delays In
cident To public land surveys have been of
character to, in q considerable measure,
retard the selection of public lands. These
delays have been caused by all sorts of
errors: Failures to write up promptly the
field notes. and to send in the reports of
deputy surveyors promptly when the work
was done. There has been assigned to
Washington almost continuously since
the first appropriation a special examiner
of surveys in the field in order to accel-
crate early completion of the surveys and
the filing of plats in the local land offices.
THE SIXTY DAYS PREFERENCE RIGHT.
With the securing of appropriations and
the assignment of the special examiner
this work largely passed out of the hands
of the delegation into that of the execu-
tive branch of the Federal government
In the second session of the Fifty-second
congress-, Representative Wilson, being
advised at that time that some measure
was necessary to secure the granted lands
of the state. consulted with the commits
sioner of the general land Office. and with
his recommendation placed upon the
sundry civil appropriation bill an amend
ment giving the state sixty days prefer
ence right to select lands after the filing of
the plat of any new township in any local
land Office. not to inure against any bona
fide Homestead settler who was on the
land at the date Of fling of said plat
1t had been previously recommended to
the delegation in congress that 1000, 900
acres be Withdrawn en- bloc; but. this hav-
ing been attempted in the state of Mon
tana and not having been found desirable
or to the best interests of the granted
lands of the state, and as the secretary of
the interior had oyerruled such with
drawai in that state, it was not deemed ex-
pedient to attempt similar arrangement
in the state of Washington. 1t was sug-
gested at that time that If the lands were
all in one body they would be less valua-
BILE and more liable to depredations of all
kinds, especially to fires. and would not
enhance In value by reason Of settlement
upon lands adjoining. These were also
the principal reasons assigned by the Sec
rotary of the interior at that time for the
Withholding of his consent TO the with.
drawai OF lands in Montana en- bloc.
PROVISIONS OF THE MONTANA BILL.
When Gov. McGraw telegraphed the
members of the delegation to have Wash
ington included in the bill allowing Mon
tana to select certain lands, it was with a
complete Misunderstanding of the Mon
tana bill. That does not provide at all for
the selection of unsurveyed land. What
Montana desired to do was to place itself
upon an equality with the settler. When
the Flathead Indian reservation was
thrown open to settlement in 1872 and
surveyed it was subject only to homestead
entry ~ 81. Is an acre. 1t required sepa-
rate act of congress to enable the state to
select any land still remaining unsettled
upon in this reservation. That is all that
the Montana bill now pending before con-
gress permits.
After consultation with the commits
sioner of the general land Office upon the
condition OF affairs In Washington. that
official recommended further extension
of time in which the state might select
surveyed lands before the plats were
opened to settlement in the local land
offices. This being communicated to Gov.
McGraw. he replied that il would not re-
iieve the situation and that it was abso-
lntely necessary TO have five or six town
ships reserved for the state, to be surveyed
upon its application. Then followed the
letter from the secretary Of the state land
board, which was Immediately placed
before the commissioner of the general
land Office in an interview of considerable
length.
COMMISSIONERS LAMoRIux'sR EcoNMENpATIoy
Commissioner Lamoreux was very gra-
cious and stated that he was willing to
render every assistance. not only TO the
delegation, but to the state board In secur-
ing the lands granted to them by the gov
eminent at the earliest possible date. He
said, however, that from the experience of
other states he believed il TO he the more
desirable plan to reserve certain sections
within each township. like 4. $, IL and Ia.
said sections TO be reserved from thu time
of survey.
Speaking upon this subject yesterday,
Representative Wilson said: at seems to
me that perhaps this might be the better
plan, and am now awaiting q reply from
Mr.. Coven, the secretary of the state board
OF land commissioners as TO their views