The Anaconda standard., 1895-11-21
FINISH THEIR WORK
Land Commissioners of the Helena
District Will Take q Rest.
FOR THE WINTER MONTHS
Have Classified $4,000 Acres at
a Cost of Less Than Two Cents
an Acre - Resume Work
Next xtApriI-Comment.

Independent: The United States min
eral land commissioners for the Helena
district have returned to this city, hav-
ing completed their field work for the
year. Lyman Z. Barnes, chairman OF
the commission, expects to leave this
week for his home in Wisconsin. Sec
retary Movius and Mr.. Cavanaugh will
remain. and as they constitute a quo
rum, they can do anything that may
be required by the board. They will
spend a portion of their time taking
testimony relative to certain lands
which have been classified owing TO
their doubtful character. Mr.. Movius
will probably remain a month longer.
The commissioners for the Helena dis
trict since they began work last May
have examined and classified $4,000
acres OF land. From the very first they
prosecuted the work of classification
with great energy. spending all the
time they possibly could in the field.
While in camp they spent from 10 to IL
hours daily in making actual examina-
tions and classifications. That explains
the vast amount of territory covered
this year.
Without going into an exact caicu-
lation," said Chairman Barnes. yester-
day. when approached on the subject.
II would say that we have classified
$4,000 acres of land. That amount
would have been considerably larger
but for the delay In preparing for the
field in May and the fact that we were
virtually deprived OF half a month in
September by the original order of the
department requiring us to cease work.
These, however, were matters that
could not be remedied by us. While we
have been examining lands in the agri-
cultural districts and have been seek
ing to examine only agricultural lands
so far as practicable, we have, per-
haps, classified more than 20 per cent.
OF the lands examined as mineral.
think we have made a very satisfactory
classification. and l know that we have
endeavored TO make a fair one. The
reason / think that II has been salts
factory Is that there have been no pro-
tests filed of any moment. the only ones
in tact. being by the Northern Pacific
railroad company. covering perhaps a
dozen 4Os.
Judging by results in this district"
continued Mr.. Barnes, II am prepared
to say without hesitation that the act
of congress under which we are opera
ting Is a success, and is proving TO be
ers predicted. With the experience this
commission has acquired in this sea-
sons work. believe we can do about
twice the amount Of work next year.
The same / think can be said OF the
other commissions. / am satisfied that
the entire grant can be classified with
in the four years fixed by law.
THE cost to the government per acre
In this district for the entire work OF
the classification will be less than two
cents per acre. We expect to file an
exhaustive report of the work we have
accomplished within the next two
weeks.
I'VE have examined lands this year
In the Prickly Pear valley. the Missouri
valley. the Hell Gate and Deer Lodge
valleys, in and about Whitehall and
elsewhere; In fact. outside the Smith
river valley, we have gone over the
major portion of the valley lands of the
Helena district. We have found the
people in these various localities and,
for that matter. wherever we have
been in Montana, very willing to assist
US In our work. and we have derived
much valuable information and assist
ance from settlers and the people gen
orally. Since our active labors In the
field began we have been accorded the
most generous treatment OF the press
So far as we have been able TO Judge
public sentiment Is favorable to the
work OF these various commissions
and the newspaper press has done its
full share. We have been most courte-
ously treated by the federal and state
officials. We feel that more than our
thanks are due TO the members of the
state mineral land commission, for they
have In instances too numerous to men,
ton given US valuable information that
we. perhaps. could not have acquired
and that has resulted In ma
terially helping us In our work.
What about the work next year?
Well. / can only say that IL will un-
begin In April and, barring
accidents and matters now unforeseen.
will be prosecuted continuously until
the middle of next November or per-
haps the first OF December We will
probably start in next year in the
Smith river valley. for the reason that
II Is about the only extent OF agricul-
tural lands unexamined in the district.
The act requires us. you may remem-
ber. to examine the agricultural lands
hrst. so far as practicable. / do not
think there Is any doubt about the
work being prosecuted next year. The
OF the general land Office
has recommended an appropriation of
$40. 900 for 1896. besides a deficiency ap-
OF $4,000. The latter will
be passed some time in February. 1
think. with the urgency appropriation
bill II this urgency deficiency bill does
not pass the work cannot begin until
July I. when the fiscal years begfn1 .