Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-08-09
MINERAL LANDS,

Mention has been made of an attack
upon the mineral land commission en-
anating from the general land Office at
Washington and inspired by the North
ern Pacific lobby in the capital city.
This assault is no doubt made to pave
the way for an effort during the coming
session to repeal the law creating the
commission The move makes it evident
that the work thus far done is not salts
factory to the receivers of the road. The
ground taken for the proposed abolish
ing of the commission is that it will take
many years to complete the labor and
that it will involve an expenditure OF
several millions of dollars. As a substi-
tute for the present plan the commits
sioner of the land office suggests the
adoption of the system that has been in
vogue on the California lines. Under
that rule when the company filed an ap-
pllcation for patents notice of the ap-
plication was published and sixty days
given in which to file protests and objec-
tions.
There is no man in the country better
posted on this subject than Hon. t. g.
Merrill, president of the state board, and
referring to the statement telegraphed
out by the commissioner he says it is "a
piece of gross representation, the
purpose of which can only be surmised.
As basis for the claim that the present
method of classification was unsatisfac-
tory and too expensive the interior de-
partment evidently takes the case of the
Bozeman commissioners for one month,
during which no work was done at all.
In the Helena district, which includes
Butte, there is more mineral land
than in all the other districts,
and consequently the work of the com
missionere Of this district is more exact
ing. During the month just closed the
com missioners have examined and class
flied more than 10000 acres at total
cost to the government Of not more than
$1,000, or one and ne-tfth cents an acre.
About two weeks ago Commissioner
LamoreouX of the general land office
IS gave out statement that the total cost
of the classification was about $4,000 d
month. which would give 81 900 for each
I of the four commissions in the state
The commissioners got SO a day, no
including Sundays, or $500 month
s The salaries of the three commissioners
for each district would therefore be SIS(
e month. The remaining 500 of th'
) $1,000 is used up in expenses"
g As to the time required the gentleman
says it may take four years but no more
t. but the total expense for that period viii
not exceed 100000. AS for the adver
u tisement scheme it is manifestly unjus
;, to the people and the prospectors. Th
publications would be made in obscur
papers and if seen at all would necessi
J. tate individual contests with the com
pany and entail delay and expense. l
= was to avoid just this condition Of affair
| that the national commission was Great
% ed. Its duty is to determine the chars
1T cter of the land mineral or agriculture
y within the limits Of the grant and thu
ri preclude any conflict. That the pla
N does not suit the management OF tn
o. company is certain. but that the roa
81 should nave secured the aid of govern
M ment officials to defeat it, is al outrag
10 II looks as though the western member
10 will have work to do during the comm
u session to keep the law on the statu'
~ books. The Northern Pacific may |
Mt bankrupt but the receivers can alwa.
d find money to pay an expensive lobt
W W and II may be TO provide corruptlt
RI fund.