Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-06-14
STATE SCHOOL OF MINES.
Some Facts About This GROWING
Institution at Butte.

uosssuSIOU at 6utte.
The financial basis upon which any
school of higher education rests is a
most important consideration. The
Montana State School of Mines was
made possible by the action of con-
gress in the Enabling Act" that led
to the admission of the states of
Washington, Montana and the Dako-
tas. BY this 'act" donation of 1907
900 acres of land was made to the
state of Montana for "the establish
ment and maintenance of school of
mines." An important clause of this
"act" fixed the minimum price at
which these lands could be sold at $40
per acre. These lands were carefully
selected by agents of the state, and
with the exception of about 1000
acres are still the property of the
school. Nearly 10000 acres of this
grant are valuable timber lands, the
remainder is nearly all leased at pres
ent and thus brings in some income
while being held for a satisfactory
price.
The legislature of the state, at it's
biennial sessions, makes provision by
direct appropriation for the mainten-
ance and equipment of the school.
The sum at present set apart for this
purpose is $28,75O per year. In view
of the small population and the large
number Of calls upon the treasury Of
new state, this sum is clear evil
dence of the active interest taken by
the commonwealth in this school.
Looking at these two sources of sup
port upon which the future Of the
school depends, it's prospects are very
encouraging. The least sum that can
ultimately be secured from the land
grant is 100000. While this, in
years not long past, would have been
thought fine endowment, times have
changed greatly. No state. however
small or humble, would consider such
a fund adequate for the support of a
state institution. The high hopes of
the future that are entertained by
those who have this school in charge
are based on the belief that the state
of Montana is soon to have a mar
velous development, both of her agri-
cultural and mineral resources. Her
boundaries enclose a domain of i'm.
perial proportions. Her area is nearly
equal to the combined acreage of the
great states Of New York, Pennsylvan-
ia. Ohio and Indiana. Her mountain
ranges contain vast mineral resources
that have as yet scarcely been touch
ed. Their lofty submits and deep
gorges receive each year from the
clouds that hover over them, masses
OF snow as precious in arid regions
as the mineral wealth that lies hidden
away beneath their surface. The sum-
mer sun gradually melts these masses
OF snow and sends the crystal streams
OF water down to the table lands and
valleys below. Since the Inaugural
ton OF the government surveys of IT.
rigable lands It has been found that
there is so much of this kind of land
in the mountain state, and its fertility
is so great, that in the near future
1t will take high rank as an agricul-
tural state. In less than a score Of
years the face of Montana will be
greatly changed, and its population
will be reckoned by row Of not less
than seven figures. The agricultural
and the mineral industries will develop
together, each stimulating the pros
perity of the other and together con-
shutting a perfect economic system
in which the producer and consumer
of agricultural products will live side
in great financial prosperity, and
there Is no danger that In this pros.
perity the cause Of education win be
neglected. The willing help now ex
tended to this institution will increase
with the increase in population and
wealth. Upon the foundation already
laid and upon the certain develop
ments Of the future Of the state, thu