The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-17
IT'S AHEAD OF BUTTE
Columbia Falls Soldiers Home Being
Pushed Forward.
BUT NO SCHOOL OF MINES
The Latter Bill Was Passed In the
Legislature First. But IL APP
pears That Money Has Not
Been Available.

Some surprise Is expressed by people
| In Butte that so much more Roadway
is being made toward the construction
of the Soldiers Home at Columbia
Falls than towards the construction of
the School of Mines In Butte. The bill
for the School of Mines passed before
the bill for the Soldiers Home passed,
yet the School of Mines has nothing
but a vacant lot. while bids are at
present being advertised for for the
construction OF the Soldiers Home. and
the money is available to pay for the
building.
1t is understood that the trustees of
the home were at first told that they
could have no part of their appropria-
ton at present. but whether some par
ticularly strong influence was used or
whether in some other way the opin-
ions of the state officials was changed.
is not known. but at any rate the $780,
900 was made available In cash.
In Butte of course everyone is glad
The old soldiers should have their
home and have IL as soon as possible.
But Butte has waited a long time for
her school OF mines and is getting i'm
patient. 1t Is not generally understood
how IL happens that the appropriation
for the Soldiers Home. passing later
than that for the School OF Mines, is
made available first.
The plans for the Soldiers Home are
to be in by the first Tuesday in Feb
ruary, when the trustees will meet TO
select plans and let the contract. The
sum Of $4,000 was appropriated for
both the construction and the furnish
ing OF the building. but the board will
use the entire $4,000 for the construc-
ton of the building and will furnish Il
with the 50. 100 contributed by citizens
of Columbia Falls. which sum is now
available in cash.
1t is supposed that the reason why
the School Of Mines is delayed while
the Soldiers Home is pushed forward.
is chiefly owing to difficulties in the
way of selling the public lands OF
which 100000 acres was apportioned to
the School of Mines. In a recent inter-
view State Land Agent James NJ. Page
thought the prospect Tor making desir-
able selections to complete the grants
from the federal government to the
state are not bright. He considered
that about all the desirable agricultural
land in the state had been taken up
by settlers prior to the state being ad-
mitted and receiving its grant. He said
that there are very extensive tracts OF
unsurveyed lands covered with valu-
able timber along the valleys OF the
south fork of the Flathead river, the
Big Sevan and Thomson rivers, the
west fork OF the Bitter Root river. and
their many tributaries in Flathead.
Missoula and Ravalli counties The
greater part of this land is mountain
Gus. but I'm all probability fair per-
centage could be classified as agricul-
tural land. The trouble is that owing
to the present meager apportionment
for the surveys of public lands I'm this
state there is no probability of these
lands being surveyed for many years.
las long as these lands remain unsur-
veyed," continued Mr.. Page. persons,
farms and corporations residing I'm the
state will take advantage of that
vicious act OF congress permitting them
to cut or remove timber from the nom
mineral public lands for purposes OF
sale. traffic or manufacturing lumber.
etc, and unless our citizens. who have
the future interests OF the state at
heart. urge our representatives in con-
gress to have the act repealed at the
earliest possible day. the time is not
far distant OF this act remains in
force), when nothing but stumps will
remain of all the valuable timber now
standing on our most valuable unsur-
veyed timber lands. Our representa-
tives should be further urged to use
every endeavor in securing greater ap-
preparations for the survey of public
lands in this state. so as to enable the
state to make it's full selections at as
early date as possible, and at the
same time allow those engaged In lum-
bering to obtain unquestioned title to
such timber land as they may desire"
A Reminder.
Sent free-our illustrated ,ataI,1pe