The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-12-18

admission into the Union become the
owner by grant from the United
States of a certain amount OF land to
be used for specific purposes stated
in the act Montana awaited herself
of the opportunity and became
state November 8, 1SS9and at the
same time became one of the largest
owners OF land in the Union.
The Land and Its Purposes.
I. School,
Sections 16 and SO in every town
ship were granted for the support of
the common schools. This means
that one-eighteenth of the state is for
ever devoted to the education Of the
children of the state; wonderful
heritage, of which the blessing and
reward is good citizenship. The
states right to these sections does
not attach if the land is known at
tirAe of survey to be mineral. or
at time Of survey is embraced in
any kind of reservation until the
reservation is eXtinguished. nor can
the state hold school section against
settler who goes upon the land
prior to it's survey in the field for the
Element When for any reason a
part of a school section is lost to the
state the right is given to select an
equal amount of land elsewhere.
2. University
In 1881 congress granted 46,0S0
acres to the territory of Montana for
university purposes and the enabling
act vested this grant in the state.
The state university. located at Mis-
soula. receives the benefit from these
lands.
3. School of Mines
For the establishment and main
tenance of school of mines 100000
acres were given. This school is 10
Gated at Butte.
a. Normal School
This school. located at Dillon, re
ceived 100000 acres.
5. Agricultural College
This college. located at BoZeman
was given 100000 acres.
6. State Reform School
For this institution, located a
Miles City. 10000 acres were granted
7. Deaf and Dumb Asylum
ms luSUlCutlOu lotdlSu az bou'
der. received $4,000 acres.
g. Public Buildings
For the purpose of erecting pubic
buildings at the capital of the stat
for Legislative, executive and Judlcia
purposes. congress granted $4,000
acres.
The right was given to the stat
TO select Cos $50 acres for the abov
purposes Except for common schools
anywhere within the state. Most o
the land was selected prior to 1906
and as Flathead county is the hes
county in the state, with the fines
timber and the richest land, it wa
made to bear more than its share O
the selections. Nearly one-fifth Q
all this land was selected in Flathea
county. and the state owns today i
that county, not including schoC
lands, more than 10000 acres, an
not one of the above state institl
lions is located within its border:
This is an unjust burden upon tn
people of Flathead county which ca
be relieved only by selling this Ian
as rapidly as possible, thereby mai
ing it part of the taxable wealth {
the county.
Condition Upon Which the Land Wa
Granted.
The state law provides that stat
land cannot be sold for less than 81
per acre. Aside from this Law
which any legislature has power
amend or repeal. l do not think thel
is any provision anywhere whic
would prevent the state selling il
lands for less than $40 per acre, e
cept the school and university land
AS to these two there can be
doubt. The enabling act especial
provides that they. cannot be sold Il
less than $40 per acre. I state ii