Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-05-29
LAND LEASING
WILL CEASE
State Board Decides 70 Limit Tracts
to Six Hundred and Forty
Acre Tracts,
WILL OFFER LANDS FOR SALE
Wholesale Collusicn Between Land
Agents and Large S,ockmen
to be Stopped.

Helena, May 35.-The state board
of land commissioners today, by Il
unanimous vote, decided upon u def
mite policy to bc pursued hereafter IN
disposing OF state lands. The board
announced its decision after n special
meeting at which resolution was
adopted that VIII be observed here.
after.
The most important change Is tho
decision OF the board to restrict the
number of acres of land To he leased
TO any one person or corporation
and to offer for sale the timber lands
Heretofore there has been no limit
upon the amount Of land that could
be leased to one person, while the
state has never offered its tlmbercd
lands for sale, selling only the timber,
The board directs that all agricul.
tural lands belonging to the state be
re-appraised before June !, 1902, and
all such lands, not then under lease,
be offered for sale. II such landscan.
not be sold they will he leased, the
state reserving the right to terminate
the lease and sell the land before
Sept. 1st ensuing, after thirty days
notice.
In regard to the grazing tracts the
board will also offer this for sale at
$40 per acre. II 1T cannot be sold ii
will be leased in tracts not exceeding
GO acres, the state again rcserylng
the right to terminate the lease and
sell the land whenever the uppOrtun-
ity is offered. In order that this pol
| Icy may he carried uat the hoard
adopted resolution which will he
followed hereafter:
"Whereas, 1t IL deemed desirable
that some fixed and Goiinite policy be
determined upon concerning the III.
ture disposition Of state lands, there,
fore, be ii resolved:
"First-That state lands now
classified as agriculture shall be re-
appraised within one year from June
|, 1901, and all lands not under lease
ut the time same IL re-appraiscd shall
be sold In the manner and upon the
terms provided by the law. Lands
which at that time are held under
uneXpired leases shall be sold in the
same manner upon the expiration OF
such leases. Where unleased lands
cannot be sold within "A reasonable
time "a period 10 be fixed by the
bUard) the same shall be leased sub
ject to the right to sell the same when.
ever the state so desires, notice to be
given to the lessee on or before the
first day OF september next ensuing
and possession to he delivered on or
before thirty days thereafter.
"Second-That all timber lands be
likewise re-apprai5ed whenever 1t Is
deemed necessary to ascertain their
true value, and sold for cash only,
whenever deemed for the best inter
ests Of the state.
"Third-Thata all grazing lands the
minimum price OF which IL $40 per
acre. be likewise sold II possible In
the manner provided by law, aud in
the event the same cannot be sold,
that the same be leased In the man
ner provided by law In tracts not ex-
cceding go acres, as provided In the
enabling act, preference being given
to the adjoining actual settlers, and
in all such leases that the right be
reserved to sell said lands and ter
inmate said lease whenever an oppUr-
tunlty To sell IL offered, the lessee to
have preference in the right Of pur.
chase; and that the further right be
reserved to enter upon any OF said
land So leased To construct bitches,
dams, fumes or reservoirs, under
such regulations as the board may
prescribe. in tie interests Of the state
or the federal government, should
either acquire n right Of way thereon
under any system Oi state Or nn-
tional irrigation which may be in
augurate1.
"FOurth-That the right to lay ont
county roads along the section lines
OF any grazing lands hereafter leased
be reserved so that the state may, II
deemed eXpedient, consent to the
same.
"Fifth-That in all selections here
after to be made, whether IA lieu
lands or unsa. listed grants In any
county where more than $4,000 acres
have been selected, all selections shall
be made SO that not more than two
sections shall be contiguous at any
point; and In all such counties where
no selections have been made not
more than three sections shal! be
CA ST RIA.