The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-07-27
MAY CHANGE POLICY AGAIN.
Land Commission Waivers on the
Leasing System.

afternoon the state board of land COM
missiOners went over the entire Ques-
tion of land leasing and selling. No
conclusions were reached. All of the
members of the board we're present.
Some action may be taken at the next
meeting, August IL. says the Record.
In going over the question from the
beginning, the board inspected nearly
all the records of the office. Although
It is not admitted, the actions Of the
board are taken to indicate that there
is possibility Of another change in
policy regarding state lands. or mod
ification Of the present policy, which
favOrs leasing in small tracts or sales.
Since the board has refused to re-
new leases on a number Of sections
and has refused to lease other sec.
tions when those asking for them al
ready have one section under lease,
there has been some complaint Big
cattle companies had been accustom-
ed to holding as many sections as they
were willing 70 pay for, and they are
opposed to the present policy, which
does not permit man or a firm to
hold more than one section.
At the meeting yesterday several
specific cases were discussed. No de-
cision was reached in these, as a de-
cision permitting the leases would
have meant precedent for the re-
suming Of the old policy. The board
still stands upon Its policy of refusing
to grant lease to any one person or
firm for more than one section.
The board refused the petition of
Abe Crossan, who resides sixteen
miles west of Havre, and who, nearly
two years ago, asked for lease on
land as yet unsolicited. This refusal
was made because the board conclud-
ed that it had selected all of the land
to which the state was entitled in
Choteau county, and could not, there
fore. act as Mr.. Crossan requested.
Mr.. Crossan himself appeared before
the board, having made the trip from
Havre for that purpose He stated
his case clearly and briefly, alluding
to his application so long ago. The
matter was settled in the executive
meeting.
1t will be some time before E. w.
Merrifield's proposition to drain some
swamp state lands in Pleasant val
ley, Flathead county. is decided. The
board yesterday ordered that the land
be reappraised before any action is
taken. AS the state land agent will
make a trip to Flathead county next
month, he will probably inspect this
land when appraising other sections
upon which there have been applica-
tions to purchase.
A large bond issue was ordered pur-
chased by the board. State Treasur.
er A. H. Barret was instructed to in.
vest 100000 of the permanent school
ana permanent university funds in re-
fl nding bonds of Gallatin county.
These will bear 4 per cent interest.
and are bought under an old law gov
erning the two funds from which the
money is taken.
The purchase of the Gallatin Sc.
curities practically exhausts these
funds. at least as far as money for
such investment is concerned. There
fore the state will not make any addi-
tional purchases in the near future.
Because there is no more money, the
prior right of the state to make an Of
fer for several other bond issues was
waived. These included Big Timber,
bonds of district II, and five or six
other issues.
State lands over which it's roadbed
has been built are being rapidly &C.
quired by the Great Falls & Canada
railroad. Not long ago the road pur-
chased number of acres of such
land. Yesterday the state board gave
it the privilege of buying 4O54 acres
in Teton county at SO an acre.