Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-03-07
LEASING OF
PUBLIC LANDS
Commissioner Slayton Contributes
His Views Upon This Inn
portant Subject
FOSTER BILL DOES NOT SUIT
Complete Settlement Of the Public
Domain Impossible Under
Present Laws.
FOSTER BILL DOES NOT SUIT

Having been for a long time an advocate of
the leasing Of the public lands. ] am very glad
that the attention Of the western people has
been drawn To the subject. and while | feel
very much like the ARGUS about the Foster
bill. ! don't share the fear that IL will become a
law. Such a radical departure from old Gus.
toms will hardly be adopted at once, and a dis.
cussion Of the bill will at once disclose many
defects and crudities.
The only objection ! have to the criticisms of
the ARGUS is embodied in the statement that
1t is "unquestionable that the best utilization Of
the public domain is TO leave Il open for settle
ment and free for rich and poor alike" The
first proposition is all right, | would not adj
vocate Withdrawing a single acre from settle
ment, but any one acquainted with the strictly
arid portions of the west must realize that
many generations will pass away before any
large part Of the present public lands will be
taken up under the existing land laws; lG0
acres of strictly arid land won't support a single
man. much less a family.
1t is possible that II the homestead law were
amended, giving each settler a square mile,
these lands would be- taken. Even then there
are large areas that would scarcely be settled;
such sections as are absolutely without water
and many miles from timber would not offer
much to the home-seeker.
The fact is. nearly all the running streams
are appropriated. Nearly all the living water
and the recorded water rights on most of our
streams call for ten times the water they fur
nish. except in flood times. Even in such
streams as as the Musselshell there is a scarcity
of water for the last irrigation. Where, then, is
there room for the actual settler or home
seeker, unless the land laws are liberalized or
our flood waters are stored? Could the graz
ing lands be leased and all the proceeds go to
the several states, a great deal could be done in
the way of reservoirs, making the building of
homes possible where nov only Il scanty
growth of bunch grass is found.
Having, | think, shown that there is little
danger of the public lands passing to private
ownership under existing conditions, the ques-
ton is now. what is the best use 10 make Of
them pending such time rs they may pass to
individual ownership? The ARGUS says "lct
them remain. as now. free to rich and poor
alike" If they actually were free and rich and
poor got an equal share of the benefits. hardly
any blc NOulu SLY nay uut my t'HAtilliou 10
that they are not free. The men who W the
water own, practically, the range tributary
thereto. and in ~ectiuns where rich outfits have
secured the living water over miles Of terri
tory. what show has the Door man to a portion
of the range: So closely is the water fenced
that in many places even horses suffer, and, in
fact. cannot range for a good part of the year.
Another fact that cannot be disputed is that il
Is the policy Of many large holders tn eat out
their poorer u~cighburs. and the present system
makes that very easy. have frequently heard
the remark. In substance, that 'su-and-so has
taken up a spring on my range, but we will get
it by and by at our own price, - and they gcncr-
ally do, for. as already noted, 1O acres won't
support a man. and that is all that new settler
can claim and hold, unless lac can secure a
water right also. and unless he is able forth
with to fence it even that will be the same as
public property.
II is true that In many communities some
sort OF an arrangement is made for a division of
the adjoining range between ranches. and
where the parties thereto are honorable men
and have for their guiding motto 'ft is better
Ia suffer wrong than to do wrong" they may
get along all right. But where such a COM
munity is found there are scores that. while
there may not be an open rupture. yet jealousy
rankles and burns and friendship is badly
strained. If there is one locality in the county
where half a dozen stockmen agree without a
great deal of pickering ! have never located it,
and why should IL be otherwise! The tenth
commandment doesn'ts say anything about COW
citing the grass that your neighbor thinks ought
to belong to him-only the things that actually
are his, and some stockmCn don't pay much at
ten,ion to the least of the commandments.
Sometimes II seems to me that the man who
is nearest to a hog Is the one who makes the
greatest success in the range stock business,
and II we modify that enough to include the
man who is willing to take the greatest risks,
perhaps II won't bc very far from right.
1t speaks well for the stOckmen of Montana
that there has been no more range trouble than
there has. Many Of the western states have
Jared worse; and with the increase in the price
of all range products 1t will be a wonder If
more breaches Of the peace do not occur. 1t
seems to me that all thisc can be remedied very
simply and to the benefit of all by turning the
arid lands over 10 the several states with such
provisions as would encourage home seekers
aud give them enough land to make a home
on. and provide for the renting of all lands not
settled on to the adjoining land owners in pro-
portion to the amount of land owned by them
at least they 10 have the first chance, no lease
to extend over five years. a new appraiscment
to then be made. the lands to be valued by a
commissioner to act In conjunction with county
assessors. the proceeds of the rentals to go to
the state for irrigation or educational pur-
poses, and. so far as practicable. to each county
its due proportion. None Of this land should
be withdrawn from settlement, and renters
would be required at all times to permit settlers
to examine the land; homesteads to consist OF
one mile square, and not allowed to be taken In
any other shape. Homesteaders would be al
lowed To file at any time. but could not take
possession until Jan. 4; or, as In the Foster
bill. the matter Of rent could be adjusted and
they coula go on any time.
As the general government does not realize
any profit from these lands when taken as
homesteads. 1t seems reasonable that sooner or
later il would be willing to turn them over to
the states under such safeguards as would in
sure them to the home-seeker where homes
were possible, and result in making a larger
portion inhabitable by the storage of waste
waters.
The strength of the nation is in the homes Of
the people. What better plan is there to in
crease them on our wide prairies than is rough
ly outlined abovel The present system of
grab all you can and freeze out the little fell
lows is not conducive TO the desired result.
ID. w, s,