The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-13
RENT ACCOUNT IS LARGE
Total Receipts Since Office Was Es.
tablished Over Two and a Quar-
ter Million Dollars.

register of the state land office, John
P. Schmitt, submitted to the governor
a few days ago. 1t shows the growth
of the business of the land department
and the condition of it's affairs at the
close of the fiscal year, which ended
November 80. i
prior to the present administra-
tion," Register Schmitt says, 1.-The ban
ner year in this office was 1900, when
the total amount of money collected
was $~200,275.25. Last years total was
$685., 279.15, and this year the amount
was $389,812.6O. Last year my prede-
cessor sold an unusually large amount
OF land at the public auction in Flat
head county, realizing over sos, 900
from that sale; but Notwithstanding
the fact that only a comparatively
small amount was realized from a sale
this year, the general collections have
been good, and last years receipts
have been exceeded by $1,533.45.
Eat the beginning of this administra-
ton there we're 1,265,895 acres of land
under lease, yielding an annual
nue. of $144,3 $3.50. Now there are l,798,-
376.10 acres under five-year contracts
at a yearly rental of $19U,384.95. To
this may be added 27,464.S5 acres,
which are under yearly permits at a
rental of $9,4O1.8S.
"It can be seen from this that there
are today 659,945.9o acres more under
lease than four years ago, and the
annual revenue from this source has
increased $55,4O9.s5.
Over Two Millions Received.
"Since this Office was established
the sum Of $2,255, 771.65 has been re-
ceived from the various sources, and
OF this amount .$1,435,O12.11 has been
received during the last four years.
During the present administration
public auctions have been held in
nearly every county in the state, ana
it is my opinion that this plan should
be continued. In this way the citizens
are made familiar with the lands
which the state has for lease, and it
has certainly been the means OF bring.
ing a large number of acres under
lease which would not have occurred
it this policy haa not been pursued.
If only one new lease is written in a
county at such an auction, the rental
received curing it's life more than
covers all expenses connected with
such a public offering.
Considerably more land was solo
during the fiscal year 1903 than in
1904, sales in the former year being
1O,294.29 acres for a sum of $175,.
084.65, or an average per acre OF
$1O.68. This year the amount sold
was 6,227.41 for a sum of $142, 118.O ",
or an average per acre of $3.50
"The number of town lots sold in
the school addition to the city of Mis-
soula during the past year is very
small, the total value Of the same be-
ing only $428. According to the present
appraised valuation, the unsold por-
ton of this section is about $4,000.
"All old sam timber contracts have
been concluded during the past year,
and at this time only one such con-
tract is in force. This contract covers
all the saw timber on the west half
OF section 16 in township 3, north OF
range 81 west, and expires November
IL, 1905.
Benefits the Schools.
"The amount of money per capita
distributed for the benefit of the COM
mon schools has increased from $O.SS
in 1897 to $3.50 in 1903, and tor the
year 1905 it may reach 1910.
"This department should certainly
be classed as one of the most import
ant departments of the state, and the
responsibility of conducting it in
creases with every year.
From the various tables submitted
herewith, which are made part of this
report, comparisons can easily be
made and further comment on my
part is unnecessary.
The relations between the various
members of the state board of land
commissioners and those in this de-
partment have remained pleasant, and
l wish to express my thanks to the
various members of the board for their
courteous treatment of all in this of
flee. The services rendered by my
assistant and by the clerk of the
state board of land commissioners