The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1895-04-03
DAWN Or 4 NEW ERA.
What Governor Richards Thinks Of the
Reclamation OF Arid Land.

Lynde bill. The commission has
charge oftho reclamation of GOO, 900
acres Of arid land given by the gov
ernment under the Carey act to such
states as will reclaim that land. The
commissioners appointed are: j. II.
Arlington, Of Cascade: James A.
| Talbot, Of Silver Bow: e. w. Beattie,
Of Lewis and Clarke: Hal S. Corbett,
Of Missoula, and A. L. Babcock, Of
| Yellowstone.
The arid land commission is one
the Importance Of which is not gen.
orally appreciated by the people Of
the state. Speaking of the bill Gre
ating it, the governor says: II con-
slider it one Of the most important
measures the legislature had before
it. The work outlined in the bill is
the beginning Of an enterprise that
has for it's object the reclamation Of
the arid lands Of the state. This
means an invitation to immigration
and the cutting up Of now practi
callV useless tracts into small farms,
where can be raised the produce for
home consumption, for which the
state is yearly sending out large
sums of money. The work outlined
in tic bill is the largest undertaking
brought to the attention Of the peo-
pie since the building Of the North
crn Pacific and Great Northern. Not
only does it mean securing from the
government patents to million
acres Of land, but if carried forward
successfully, VIC we'll be in a position,
with the cooperation Of other west
ern states, to obtain patents from
the government for other large
| tracts
$50 much for the enterprise. As
regards the commission itself, I had
over thirty names before me. Speak
ing accurately there were thirty -four
names. Many were among the most
enterprlsiny and reputable Of Mon
tana citizens. Believing that the
work outlined was OF such magni-
tlde as to command the highest Or
der of executive and administrative
ability. / felt it was Important to
select men who were known to be
broad guayc and competent to handle
large undertakings. TO carry the
project out will require the assist
ance OF tic financial world. Hence
it was important to select men in
whose Judgment I believed the tinan-
GERS would have confidence. Among
those suggested for the places were
several cstimablc gentlemen who
represented large irrigatinY enter
| priscs. Some of them I had a high
regard for, and / HAD confidence, too,
in their Judgment and integrity.
But to appoint them would, / was
afraid, create 4 suspicion in the
minds Of the public that there would
| be an attempt On the part of some
one to unload On the state some Of
these rriyatiny enterprises. The
public would have looked with dis
favor upon that. and | deemed it
best not to appoint any one who had
any connection with the enterprises
spoken Of. II any Of those who have
been named have any such associa
tiOns ! am not aware Of it for | have
tried to be careful On this point"
The law which is designed to take
advantage Of the Carey land grant Of
100000 acres, creates 4 cOmmiss ion
OF five, not more than three from the
same political party. The commits
sioners are to receive Sc q day while
actually employed. They are allowed
to appoint an engineer. Contracts
can be made with ANY person or cor
poration for reclaiming any portion
or portions Of the land at an expense
Of not over IS an acre to be paid By
warrants bearing six per cent inter
est. No warrants can be issued until
the contractor has completed at
least four miles Of the rriyatinn
ditch necessary for the reclamation
OF the land, and only So per cent of
estimates are to be paid, the re
manning Is per cent being retained
until the completion Of the contract.
The commission is to provide for the
settlement of the reclaimed land BY
it's sale to actual settlers, and
for this purpose can issue pamphlets
and otherwise advertise the re-
sources Of the state. The warrants
issued under the bill are to be a | icl
On the land reclainlcd and will bt
received in payment for the land at
their face value and accrued interest
No settler is allowed to take more
than 100 acres and with each tract
u water right at at annual rate fixed
b: the co:n ;!IissiOtl. .-Iupcndolt.