The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-19
WILL GIVE UP THE LAND
Land Commissioners Grant the
Bitter Root Petition.
THERE Is A CONDITION
The Lands VIII Be Given Back to the
Government Provided the State
Is Permitted to Select
Other Land.


Helena, March 1S.-The state board
of land commissioners has reconsid-
cred its action in regard to relinquish-
ing certain lands in the Bitter Root
and it-claiming them to the govern
ment, to permit the state arid land
commission to reclaim the land under
the Carey act. At special meeting of
the board the petition of the residents
of the Bitter Root mentioned in yes
terday's Standard was presented and
considered. The board then unan.-
mously adopted the following reso,u-
ton:
Resolved, That the petition of the
residents of the Bitter Root valley,
asking the board of land commission
REIMBURSEMENT of certain lands in said
ers to reconsider its action as to the
valley be granted. and that the board
will ouit-claim and relinquish to the
United States said lands, provided 9TH
er lands can be secured in lieu thereof:
that unless lieu lands can be obtained
for these Accomplishments this board
would have no authority to quit claim
or relinuush said lands.
Resolved, That we are in sympathy
with the purpose of said petition and
will do all we can to aid the object con-
templated by said petition
This means that the board is willing
to give up the lands providing the gov
ernment will allow the selection of 9TH
ers equal in area. Whether the depart
ment will consent to this in light "f the
opinion to the contrary from the COM
missioner of the general land Office re-
mains to be seen.
member of the state board of land
commissioners, discussing the matter
with the Standard reporter this after
noon, said he believed that the board
had done about all it could In the
premises. II had rescinded its former
action and now stands ready and will
ing to surrender the land as soon as
assurances arc at hand that Uncle Sam
will do the right thing in permitting
the state TO make selections elsewhere.
1t is understood that the arid land
commission will now take up the mat
ter and urge it to a successful conelu-
sion with the interior department. SO
that work on the eanal that IL pro-
poses to build for the irrigation of these
| Bitter Root lands can be commenced
| early in the summer. The action of the
! board will be welcome news to the citf-
| zens of the Bitter Root who prepared
the petition and otherwise labored to
bring about this result.
| William Roe. a stockman of Beaver
! head county, petitioned the board to
select certain lands in that county
largely valuable for grazing purposes. as
he desires to lease them from the state.
| The state land agent was ordered to
| examine the lands and report at once.
An offer was received from Ernest
| keis who desires to lease the lands in
! the Fort Maginnis reservation, in Fer
| gus county. He offered the state an
annual rental of 500 IL given the use
! Of ene of the buildings on the reserva-
! tion: he also offered to act as custodian
! of all the other buildings on the reserv-
/ alton free of charge. thus doing away
with the present custodian paid by the
I state The board decided to accept his
offer and instructed the register to pre-
] pare a contract and TO notify the pres
ent custodian. Otto Anderson. that his
services would terminate the first of
next month.
4 petition was considered from The
| residents of the Fourth ward, in the
| city of Missoula, asking the board to
| cooperate with the city in the con-
struction of a crossing over the North.
ern Pacific tracks at Toole avenue from
| the adjoining school land. 1t received
| favorable action. The register was
authorized 70 sell to the trustees of the
/ Darbee school district one acre in lot g.
| section 36 of that township. for a site
| for a school house.
The offer of the Rocky Fork Coal
company to lease section 36, township
| 7 north, range 20 east, for a long term
| of years. was declined. the register be-
| ing instructed 10 open negotiations for
] the sale Of the land outright. as the
| board believes II contains coal. The
I register was also authorized to lease a
| school section OF land at sl75 per year
! TO the Manhattan Mailing company IN
response to an offer Of the company 10
| pay $3.50 per year for the land.