The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-03
| BITTER RIOTERS ACTIVE
Petitions to the Land Commits
sioners Being Circulated.
HOW 1T WILL BE WORKED
1t Is Desired That the Bench Lands Be
Quit Claimed So That the Arid
Land Commission Can Get
Chance at Them.

Missoula, March I'm the Bitter Root
valley the petitions TO the state land
commissioners are being industriously
circulated. These petitions ask that the
bench lands in the Bitter Root valley
which have been located and patented
for the benefit Of the states educational
institutions be quit claimed to the fed
eral government again, in order that the
arid land commission may undertake
their reclamation. and thus add to the
extent Of the arabic land in the valley.
As they now stand, they are OF no d.
rect benefit to the school funds. as they
are worthless except for grazing and
cannot be improved except by the in
PRODUCTION of water for irrigation. If
the lands can be turned over To the arid
land commission. there will at once be
d ditch constructed that will make all
of the land, now worthless. of great
value, experience has shown that
this class of land is very valuable as
soon as it is irrigated. The state, under
the present conditions. cannot hope TO
reclaim the land. as there is no appro-
priation for this purpose.
With the arid land commission it is
different This commission Will be able
to carry out an extensive scheme of IT.
rigation if these lands are vacated by
the state land commissioners. The
HIbpbSILtbiis dr. has DESii IA
planned in the Standard, is to have the
land commissioners exchange this land
for some that will bring quicker re-
turns. There is plenty of land of this
latter class that can be obtained If the
board will only make the attempt. 1t
is hoped that the members of the board
will take the pains to examine the land
If they do this, they will see at once
that the plan proposed is a feasible one
and one that will he to the mutual adj
vantage of the school funds and to the
people of the valley.
In this matter the people of Missoula
are willing to take a hand and petit
tian has been prepared for circulation
here. Standard reporter has within
few days interviewed number Of
local business men and they are unan-
imeus in their support of the plan.
There will be no difficulty whatever in
the way of securing the necessary funds
for carrying out the irrigation scheme
that is proposed as soon as the state
surrenders these lands to the arid land
commission. The funds are now prac-
tically guaranteed IL should be under
stood that the plan by which the irr-
cation work of the arid land commits
sion is carried on makes il possible TO
repay the money advanced for the in
itiaton of the work. The money ad
yanced is simply a loan. with the land
That this Bitter Root land would find
a ready sale as soon as the ditch is
completed, there is no doubt. The ir-
rigation plan includes a. large area of
land. extending from near Como as far
down the valley az Florence, where the
Fight Mile canyon opens into the val
ley. 1t has been ascertained that the
construction of such ditch is practical
BILE and when once the land is put in
shape for the operation Of the arid land
commission. there will be no delay in
the matter This plan means much to
the cities and towns of Western Mon
tana. 1t will add much TO the produc-
tive area of this section and will in
crease the population by creating new
farms All of this will add to the pros
perty Of the cities and there should be
prompt and unanimous action on the
part of Missonla people To bring about
the success of the proposed plan il
possible