Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-07-24
SURVEY OF PUBLIC LANDS.
Surveyor General Outlines Procedure and
Urges Settlers to Apply.

To the Editor of the Fergus County Argus.
SIR: 1t would appear that settlers
upon the unsurveyed public lands are
not universally aware that they can
secure the survey Of the land claimed
by them II a requisite number OF petit
tions are filed in this Office for the
survey of the township in which their
claim lies.
1t IL to the end that bona file set
tiers may be advised as to the proper
procedure in order to secure public
surveys that address this letter to
you, with the request that yon bring
this matter to the attention of the
public through the medium OF your
paper.
Certain rules and regulations with
reepect to petitioning for surveys
have been established by the honor
able commissioner of The general Of
flee, of which the following Is u brief
outline:
All petitions must be addressed to
this office, and must he for the town
ship In which the claim Of the petit
tioner lies. The name of the petit
tioDer must be given; also his post
office address. The date of settle
ment and length OF residence must be
stated, and the land desired to he
surveyed must be described as to its
class and character. The improve
ments erected AM made must be
stated in detail, and their value must
be given. The statements OF the petit
tiOner must he sworn to before an
officer qualified by law to administer
oaths. The ailidavits cannot, as
some have erroneously supposed, be
made before epostnasters. Ailidavits
are usually made before notary or
justice OF the peace. lt has been
found expedient To prepare blank pc
titions, which will be forwarded to
any applicant therefor upon request.
Settlers are requested To use these
blanks only, oran exact copy thereof,
and thus insure that their petitions
as first made out are In proper form.
In order to secure the authorize.
tion OF the commissioners OF the gen.
eral land Office to survey Il township
IA strict compliance must be had with
the following instructions:
"When the unsurveyed area in u
fractional township ranges from on,
to twelve sections the application
and affidavit OF one settler on thu
lands will secure the authorization %
the survey. When from twelve t.
twenty-four sections remain unsur
veyed the survey will be authorized
on receipt of the applications ant
aflidavits of two settlers. u desired
survey involves more than twenty
four sections, or Is for full township
OF thirty-six sections, the applications
and aflidavits OF not less than thre,
settlers will be the minimum re
quired."
Settlers should not only petition
for the survey of the township II
which they live, but should interest
themselves to the extent OF seeing
that settlers In other townships ad
jacent to the township in which theJ
live also petition, because contract
for the survey Of several townships
contiguous to each other can always
be more readily let than can IA con
tract providing for the survey OF al
isolated township or for the survey
Of several isolated townships.
The filing Of petitions for the sur
vey OF a group OF townships is In th,
interest Of the government and of tl,
settler-to the former I'm securing SUI
veys at the minimum Of cost, and tc
the later In securing them as sooI
az possible.
There should be no hesltancy on tb'
part Of settlers In addressing thi,
office on all matters pertaining To til,
survey OF public lands. and such cor
respondence Ii solicited.
A number Of maps have been pre-
pared of portions OF Montana, as M
aid to settlers IN designating In tbel
, petitions the township In which thei
claim lies. The proper one OF thes
mpps will be sent on application I,
anyone who desigDates his approx
mate location. Very respectfully.
T.. W. BEATTIE.
| U. S. Surveyor General for Montana