The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-19

1891, instead of in 1892. '93 and '94, it is
fair to presume that a far better class
of selections would have been found
available; and the grants to these in
situations would not now be filled in at
least half, as they now are, with lands
that average less than $1.20 per acre
the great bulk of which are standing
idle and bringing no revenue.
Then again, had the immediate ap-
praisement of the school lands been
provided for (Sections 16 and 36), and
the office of the register of state lands
been created to look after them, the re-
ceipts of the land department for the
years '92, 49, ga. '95 and SO would have
averaged not less than 100000 per
year, instead of less than $4,000 per
year; thus bringing to the state an in
crease in revenue of perhaps $250,000
over the increased expense; not to men
ton the valuable land and timber that
has been lost by this tardy action.
Succeeding legislatures did no better.
The work OF the department was per-
mitted to drag along, with only one man
to look after all the work, and his
time was so fully taken up with the
work of looking after timber thieves
and trespassers that he had little time
to make selections; to say nothing
about the work of appraisement that
needed to be done. A law was passed
providing for the doing of the work of
appraisement by local appraisers, but
their work was so unsatisfactory that
the practice was soon discontinued. The
Fourth legislative assembly, in 1895,
created the office of register of the state
land office, and thus for the first time
established the work of the department
on a firm basis and gave it a head:
though no arrangement was made for
pushing the work of appraisement.
State Land Register Swiggett up to the
close of the fiscal year ending Nov. 30,
1896, issued 1886 leases and permits, COW
eTing $4,000 acres, or more land than
had been leased by the department in
the four years previous.
The prospect of securing the long
needed legislation from the Fifth legis-
lative assembly seemed very doubtful
when that body met in January last.
Many of the members seemed to be
Threatened with spasm of pennywise
and pound-foolish economy; and no
tably among them some that should
have had better sense The abolition
of the only clerkship allowed the de-
partment before. and the reduction of
the office of register to the status of
clerkship was recommended, and even
bills to that end We're introduced by
members anxious to make a record"
at the expense of a department that
seemed TO have no friends. Luckily,
however. there were not lacking MEM
bers of both branches of the Legislature
who realized the Importance of the de-
partment and it's needs, among them
being Ramsdell. Eggieston, Watts.
Metzel and Riddle. and Representatives
Whitesides, Stevens, Ramsey, Loeb,
Butler and others.
Most of these men visited the land Of
flee early in the session and looked into
the needs Of the department. As a re-
suit OF their efforts several very i'm
portant land laws We're enacted:
among them being a law providing for
the immediate appraisement of all the
surveyed state lands, ana providing fo-
the appointment Of three deputy land
guaranteeing old lessees payment for
their improvements. under certain con-
ditions; and a law providing for the
payment Of the entire expenses of the
land department out at the receipts "
tie Office.