The Anaconda standard., 1895-01-09
equal in all counties. or collected in

land agent have been ably handled
during tho past two years by X.
q. Hickman, whose knowledge OF the
state eminently qualities him for that po-
sition. Visiting remote portions OF the
state, selecting lands under the federal
grant, involves much OF exposure and
danger; and ii is with pain that advert
TO the misfortune which overlook Mr..
Hickman while in tho discharge of his
duty. While selecting lands in an unfre-
quented portion OF tho state no was
thrown from his horse and so seriously in
jured as TO cause tho loss OF his right arm.
and IL was only through the most careful
treatment that his life was saved. There
are heroes in the triumphs OF peace, as
we'll as in the conquests of war, and Mr..
Hickman is ono of them. Men who suffer
Affections of this character, while dill
gently pursuing the line of duty, are enti-
tied TO honorable mention aud the esteem
and respect of their fellow men.
REGISTER OF THE STATE LAND OFFICE.
The business of tho state board of land
commissioners is constantly increasing,
and will continue to increase steadily for
years to come. The cash receipts for the
fiscal year ending November 90, 1893,
were S32 1890. while tho receipts for this
year were $50, ,4ii.65. an increase of "a per
cent. The enabling act granted to the
state of Montana for educational and
other purposes 622, 900 acres, in addition
to sections 16 and 36 in every township, n
grant TO tho public schools OF over 5,001,-
900 acres, when tho entire state shall have
been surveyed. We have also 46. .0S0 acres
of university land, granted before the adj
mission of the state. OF the 622, 900 acres
above referred to, 336, ,1Oi.2l acres have
been selected, but owing to defective pro-
visions of law regarding apprsal, only n
relatively small proportion has yet been
appraised and offered for sale.
In vieuy of the size of tho land grant 10
Montana and the rapidly increasing vol
ume of business, l recommend the crea-
tion of the ofiicc of register of the state
land office. 1t should be his duty to con-
duct frequent sales of land, to cause the
removal of persons occupying state lands
without authority, and to receive, ac-
count for, and transmit TO the state treas
urer all moneys arising from sales and
leases.
A register of the state land Office, with
similar duties and powers to those APP
pointed in other western states, would not
only expedite business, a courtesy due all
having business with the Office. and re-
lieve the state officers of already onerous
duties, but would earn for our state
institutions many thousands of dollars
more each year than could otherwise be
realized.
Reference need only be made to tho
fact that each member of the board of
land commissioners is a state official,
delegated with other important duties
which can not be neglected, to indicate
the necessity of an officer who can give
his undivided attention to the pressing
and ever growing needs of the land de-
partment. The large number of boards
of which each state officer is made a
member. under the constitution and the
laws, makes IL impossible for them to COL
lectively give the attention to the details
of the land business which their inn
portance demands, and which can not be
legally placed in the hands of a clerk with
power 10 act.
APPRAIsING STATE LANDS.
recommend the enactment OF a law
authorizing the state land agent to ap-
praise lands under the direction of the
state board of land commissioners. The
present method is expensive, inaccurate,
cumbersome, and in every way unsatis-
factory. There are large tracts of unap-
praised land in various sections of the
state, which, by right, ought to be in the
market for lease or sale, thus insuring
much larger income to our state institu-
tions.
A state land agent, properly qualified
for the duties of his position, can more
intelligently appraise lands than mex
perienced parties, or those who might be
affected by local influences in passing
judgment thereon. These lands could be
appraised by this officer with very little
additional expense.
MINERAL LANDS.
recommend to your serious consid era
ton the gravity of the situation that now
confronts us relative to the mineral lands
lying within the grant of the Northern
Pacific Railway company. The hostility
of the interior department threatens TO
neutralize The effect of the decision of the
supreme court of the United States, and
by rulings so framed as to facilitate the
securing of patents TO these lands by the
railway company, to render ineffective, in
fact the precedents established by the
court. Pending the consideration of
bill in the senate to ascertain by legiti-
mate methods tho mineral OF non-mineral
character of the lands in controversy, in
order that the rights of the people on the
one hand, and the rights of the corporation
on the other hand may be equitably deter
mined, the interior department has de-
cided that the corporation may itself,
through its agents, classify the lands.
Thousands of acres of land lying within
the mineral belt of this state have already
been selected by the company under this
ruling by the department, and the absorp-
Iion of our mineral domain Is threatened.
Miners and prospectors can protect their
interests under this ruling only at great
expense, which few of them are able to
meet, and the favorable consideration of
their protests in tho local land Offices in
vltcs an appeal to the general land office,
through which the rulings that have jeop-
ardized their interests were issued. The
magnitude OF the danger to our mining
interests can not be over estimated. De-
lay in the matter of favorable legislation
means the patcnting without protest of
large tracts of our most valuable mineral
lands to the Northern Pacific railroad
company, and the loss of untold millions
to our people. The importance of promptly
memorialIzing the senate of the United
States, urging the immediate passage of
the house bill now before II, above referred
to, can not be too strongly emphasized. /
earnestly recommend that the office of
mineral land commissioner be continued.
But for the work possible under the law
creating that office, the mineral lands of
Montana would ere this have been lost to
the people of this progressive common
wealth, and the investments of years
wrested from the toiling prospectors and
miners who have so diligently fostered
the industrial life of the state. Until the
questions in issue shall have been defin-