The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-02-21
When More Valuable For Ag-
ricultural Purposes
THAN FOREST RESERVE
Valuable Information From the Depart.
rnent Of the Interior Lake
Lands in Question.


has no value as timber land, but
which has been included in the for
est reserve. There are thousands Of
acres of fine meadow land, which is
covered with a growth of wild grass
es, which makes the most valuable
grazing ground, and which land has
no value other than for agricultural
purposes or stock raising. For years
settlers have gone into the district,
many built cabins and were later
compelled to vacate owing to the fact
that they had endeavored to settle
on the forest reserve and part Of a
reserve upon which there was not a
tree which could be said to have the
slightest commercial value.
Some time ago the Bee was asked
for information as to the possibility
of having a part of the forest reser-
walton opened for settlement and
the manner to proceed to have such a
section of country opened as that at
the head of Swan lake. letter
was addressed to the department OF
the interior. A few days later a re-
ply was received stating that the
matter would be given attention at
once, and second letter, which is
reproduced below, was received yes
terday.
Department of the Interior,
General Land Office.
Washington, d. c.. Feb. 16, 1901.
kalispell Bee, Kalispell, Mont.
Referring to your letter of the 25th
ultlmo, asking if agricultural land
within a forest reserve can "be set
aside and a survey made when people
desire to settle under the homestead
laws" you state that there are sever
al thousand acres included in the for
est reserve on which there is no tim
Der and that it has no value other
than for agricultural land, and there
are number of settlers who desire
to go in on this land.
You are advised that where public
agricultural lands are improvidently
included in a forest reserve they may
be excluded therefrom under the
provision of the act of June 4, 1897,
for restoring forest reserve lands 10
the public domain. See page II CT
the enclosed copy of the forest reserve
circular of April 4, 1900, containing
the said act. But until so excluded
they are not subject to location for
homestead settlement or entry.
In determining whether any par
tlcular tract or body of Land ought to
be eliminated from forest reser-
walton, it's value to the reservation
for forest usage" or for purposes IF
reservation generally, including the
conservation of the water supply, and
the effect of it's elimination there
from, are to be weighed against it's
value for agricultural purposes.
There may arise points for consid-
Grafton which might render the ma.
ture of the soil of such tracts of
land, or their condition as to growth
of trees thereon, of minor import.
ance in the determination.
Very respectfully,
Nv. A. RICHARDS.
Assistant Commissioner.
The section referred to is as fol.
lows:
upon the recommendation Of tho
secretary of the interior. with tho
approval of the president, after six.
" days notice thereof, published in
TWO papers of general circulation il
the state or territory wherein anv for.
est reservation is situated, and near
the said reservation, any public lands
embraced within the units of anv
forest reservation which, after due
examination by personal inspection
OF competent person appointed for
that purpose by the secretary of tho
interior, shall be found better adant.
ed Tor mining or for agricultural pur-
poses than for forest usage, NAV he
restored to the public domain. And
any mineral lands in any forest re-
servation, which have been or which
may be shown to be such, and sub.
9e"t to entry under the existing min.
ing laws of the United States and
the rules and regulations applying
thereto, shall continue to. be subject
to such location and entry notwith.
standing any provisions herein con.
tanned.
The president is hereby authorized
at any time to modify any executive
order that has been or may here.
after be made establishing any forest
reserve, and by SUCH modification
may reduce the area or change the