The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-02

posal OF lands on abandoned portions of
the Fort ASS lnuibo.ue military rese rva-
tion. and FOR the rNlef OF the settlers
thereon. This bsH had been reported
only on Jan. Il. so that the senate was
reasonably rrJmp. in r2ktnE II up for
passage. L Is a shor; measure. 1; pro-
vides:
That all lands which have been or
may hereafter BE- excluded from The
limits OF the Fort ASS. n 'bo!ue military
reservation IN the state of Montana,
shall be open 10 the operation of the
laws regulating homestead entry. ,x-
ccp. section tweuty-threa hundred and
one OF tae revised S.atutes. JuI a. a.ry
under the towI-~.tc laws and .le laws
governing uhe disposal uf coal lands,
desert lands and mineral lands. ana
shall no; be suOjel. 80 sale under the
provisions of any act rela.. 20 tIe
sale OF abandoned military resery.,-
t.ons; provided. taat r rhc entire r-s-r-
walton he abandoned Tor military pur-
poses, this act slln not apply 70 an
area one mile square embracing the
government buildings az Fort AssLa!-
boine.
sec. THAT all entries heretofore
made IN good faI,h under ea,her the
homestead. towns,te. dasart-land. or
mineral laws OF the United States upon
amy OF the excluded portions of
Fort Asslu4bo.ne res rvatl0u snail Re
held valid, and .le secretary OF the IN
terror is directed 20 r,IuS,1te such en-
tr.vs under either OF said laws as he
may have hyretofore cancelled because
of a construction based upon the oplu-
ion that the laws mentioned in section
one OF this act d.d No; apply 70 the
abandoned portions OF sad roserVa-
ton"
The report upon which the senate
acted In passing this bin tp rclus,atc
s-ttlors who had been ated told the
story very well. Tho boundaries ~ ,re
RESERVE ion were mad, IN 1850, and n
lSSS the Indian t...t was cNtusu.satd,
leaving the military occupation phv only
barrier 70 seg.lsuleut. ord srs issued In
1855 ami 1891 excluded certain lands
from military occupation. and persons
duly qualified entered certain pa~.s of
the lands under gIe homes. cad anl d-s
crt-iaud laws. and some entries were
probably located under the mining
des Ireland ener.ns weoc made. and
about $50 citizens of che Uua.d S.s
had settled upon th. land w.th tae iu-
tendon Of entering 20, Ia under tas dc9-
crt-.and or the homes.-ad law. and had
made extensive .mpr5vcm aH,e upon
them.
Tie land ofiice permitted filings 10 be
made under the gen r1l land laws. and
relying in good ra.tl upon the construr Pc
ton OF the law yIus promulgated. tie
settlers proceeded 10 improve -A4.r de.s-
rIa land claims and huu 7teuds IN soJd
faith and are now residing upon tlem,
improving their homestead and desert
hand claims. By "A decision promulgated
on April 26 1895. the-' settlers were ad-
vIsel than the act Of May /. 1881. und 7
which they had been permitted 90 lire
their claims, d.d not apply TO IA. lands
In question. bui Ghai the hands must ne
sold in 40-acre tracts. according 10 THE
terms OF the act OF July 3, 1854, pro-
vidng for the sale OF abandoned mill
tary resolutions. and che a.; of Au-
gust %. 1894, also relating T. military
reservations. Upon this de-.s.Ju all en-
tries made Heretofore wsrr. held Tor
cancellation, and some OF them were ac-
tuary cancelled. TO the injury Of the
settlers
The decision, II appears, turned upon
close technical construction. ,1.e secre-
tary of the Interior in making Il. over
ruling the opinion of the comm ~. .oueT
Of the general land office, " ID, held mat
the land in quere.ou was subject TO en-
try under the several nets rafrred 10 In
the bill. and was no; subject 10 dispo-
sE,lon at public auction after agpralse-
mcut. as provided Ia the law relating "a
the sale OF abandoned military reser-
vatlons.
Senator Carter Is confident. notwlth-
standing fhe policy IN the house OF r.
trenchment N she expenditures for pub
lie building. taa. he will secure "A D.N
authorIz ng an increase OF the cos. Of
the Helena building from Sl5U,000 L.
$500. 600 But that VIII be about all ne
VIII get now lie VIII not get the ap-
propr,stion. Should ne g.. 50 much as
he is after. the architects can then 81
on making tlrlr plans. The people al
the capa al VII. know that they are 4
have a more amnat.ous building. WI N
(; - completed. Meantime. Mantle vii
have dlmcul.y. "a Waich Carter and
Hartman cauuo. help him mnuch. In
getting any authority for moulding al
Butte. I: Is easter 20 get s35IyJJ for a
building alr'ady authorized than i Is
t. get $l5ooep Tor one no: y-t consented
80 be roj-et-d L. q. ID.
Washing N. jan =. 1896
APIONEER GONE.