The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-21
ARID LAND COM MISSION.
Work PIanned for the Bitter Root Valley
Is Discussed.


Is Discussed.
Missoula, March 20.-vice Chairman
Donald Bradford and Engineer Forti-
ner OF the arid land commission are i'm
town for the purpose OF comforting with
I Chairman Marshall of the board upon
the matters relating to the reclanla-
ton of bench lands of Bitter Root val
ley. The two gentlement arrived this
morning from st. Paul, where they
have been on business connected with
the operations of their body IN the east
ern part of the state. Botn these gen.
tlement and Colonel Marshall are
pleased with the prospect of being able
TO go ahead in "A short time with the
work that has been outlined for the
Bitter Root valley. 1t is believed that
there will be no obstacle i~nterposed in
the carrying out of these pans. now
that the cooperation of the state land
board has been secured.
The resolution passed by the latter
board at its meeting last week and it's
determination to relinquish to the arid
land commission the lands in the Bitter
Root that are of a class which comes
under the work of the arid land COM
mission, has been very satisfactory to
those i'm this section of the state who
have been working to hat end. The
opinion rendered by Secretary Bliss as
To the power of the state land board to
~relinquish these lands created some
doubt here as to the possibility of car
rying out the plans which mean so
much to the people of this end of the
state. The letter of Colonel Nolan,
however, brought with il encourage
ment, and those who have studied the
situation are OF the opinion that Colo
mel Nolan is in the right in the mat
ter.
The plan of the arid land commits
sioners, as outlined to-day by Mr..
Bradford, is to have this question
trough before the supreme court of
Montana for "A decision as to the con-
stitutional rights of the state land
board in the matter, and If this decision
Is favorable to place the matter at ace
before the interior department. 1t is
believed that the secretary will recon-
slider his former position under these
circumstances. The Nevada case,
which he cited in his opinion already
published. has no bearing upon the
Montana case, as the conditions are
very different. With the matter prop
crly placed before him the secretary
viii have "A better understanding of the
case. and will doubtless acquiesce in
the decision of the supreme court. 1t
is thought that the supreme court, on
account of the importance of the mat
ter. will give the case an early con-
s%ideration. and this done. there will
be but little delay in carrying out the
scheme that has been prepared by the
arid lane commissioners.
The Importance of this matter To the
people of Western Montana cannot be
overestimated, and the interest here is
becoming general as the plan is under
stood. The producing area of tributary
farming country will be largely in
creased, and the land that viii be add
ed to the present area viii be of the
first class as to productiveness. This
has been demonstrated by the expert
ments that have already been carried
out on similar and adjacent land in the
valley. MIR. Bradford will accompany
Mr.. Fortiner up the valley tomorrow.
and as soon as possible will return to
Helena to look after the legal phases
of the question.