Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-05-22
THE LEASING or STATE LANDS.

A INV A&NA mus ba1h w. 49, q
ten of late relative TO the leasing oI
state lands. And II seems this question
like many others, has two sides TO il
Having merits ON both sides ii is moi
strange that the members of the state
land commission should be divided in
opinionorbein doubt as 10 the best meth
cd to pursue. We believe there are evils
in this leasing system and some ftheu
have been pointed out by the state press
but we are not prepared to go so far a
one or two of our contemporaries, who
advocate abolishing the leasing system
altogether. No doubt the greatest
wrong has been ia leasingin such large
tracts, while permitting the lessees tc
go ahead and make the selections with
out state supervision would seem TO bC
giving too much latitude. The report
furnished the governor regarding the
leasing Of state lands shows that there
are oyer 200, 900 acres leased TO ten com.
panies or individuals, making an aver
age of 10000 acres for each tract leased
While all Of these lands are selected fol
grazing purposes" the contention il
that if they will produce grass without
irrigation they will also raise crops,
hence the leasing of these lands in large
tracts bars out settlers and retards the
growth of the state. There is no ques'
tion but II will have this tendency and
Montana cannot go ahead and invite
people to come here and engage in agri'
cultural pursuits if it can be demon.
strated that all grazing lands are suit.
able for that purpose.
But there are a good many things to
take into consideration in discussing
this question. Itwould seem as though
the enabling act wa, faulty in the first
instance. II IL was the idea TO dispose
of these lands 10 actual settlers then
the minimum price of so an acre is too
high and will be for many years 10
come, especially when improved lands
| along creeks and containing irrigating
bitches can be had at a less price. II
looks rs though the government did not
intend that they should he sold for
some time to come and expected the
state to derive its revenue through the
leasing system. There are very few
home-seekers who are able to pay this
price for land. They are seeking homes
under the land laws of the general gov.
eminent, and il unable to pay the price
tional institutions they are also unable
to lease them, hence il is expected that
stockmen and big outfits are 10 be the
l~essees. This is the situation after the
land selections have been made But
there was mischief in making the selcc.
tions if a rapid settlement of the state
was 10 bc expected. The state land
agent has grabbed up the fairest part
of Montana and the Judith Basin mar,
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