The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-04-18
LAND DISTRICTS
ARE UNCHANGED
RECENT ORDER ADDING SO Town.
SHIPS TO FARGO LANDoFFIcE
is Observation-Disclosures Of
FIcE GETS SAME TERRITORY AS
HELD IN PAST.

While no official information has
been received in Fargo, it is learned
that the proposed change in the boun-
daries of United States landoffice of
Fargo and Bismarck, will not be made.
the recent order of the president hav-
| ing been rescinded. This leaves the
thirty six townships that were to be
changed still in the Bismarck dis
trict. Concerning the change of pro-
gramme The Bismarck Tribune saws:
The order segregating thirty-six
townships from the Bismarck land
district and adding them to the Fargo
district, has been rescinded.
At the time this order was issued
of the land department, 1t was thought
wise to relieve the Bismarck offices of
some of the work, and aid to that of
the Fargo office which had but little
to do, but investigation revealed the
fact that to make this transfer would
work an injustice to a large number
of settlers in Kidder, Wells and Nc
Lean counties, who would be obliged
to travel something like $50 miles to
Fargo with contest cases and i'm maxi
ing final proof, instead of fifty or sixty
miles to Bismarck. Some could trans
act their business before II. S. COM
missioners, it is true. but Bismarck
being the natural center for the peo-
pie of the district in question there
arose much opposition - particularly
when 1t became known that the real
reason for the change was that the
landoffice at Fargo could be main
tanned at the maximum" for awhile
longer
1t seems that the order making this
change was premature anyhow, and
Senator McCumber did not expect the
proposition to materialize until he had
had a chance to discuss the matter
with the people Interested and until
after he had had a chance to re-adjust
the boundaries of the Lennon ana
Dickinson districts and established the
headquarters of that portion of the
Standing Rock Indian reservation lands
lying in North Dakota at Bismarck.
The department order operated to
hold up all applications for making
final proof in the district affected and
thus worked hardship to many set
tiers who were DESTROYS of making final
proof and establishing clear title to
their lands.
Senator McCumber investigated the
matter somewhat and as a result OF
the order changing the boundaries of
the Bismarck and Fargo districts has
been rescinded and the matter stands
the same as IL no executive order had
been made. The senator is anxious to
do that which is of the greatest bene-
fit to the settlers affected and no furth-
er action will be taken, with his con-
sent. until he is thoroughly CONVEX
SAINT with the facts and conditions.
This land affected comprised the.
area included in townships 1877 to 148.
inclusive and ranges r. 73 and 74-S
townships In western Wells county, in
Sheridan and "a i'm western Kidder, all
lying west of Dawson.
1t is likely that The officials of the
Bismarck landoffice will soon receive
instructions to proceed with the setting
of dates for making proofs in this dis
trict and a. large number of settlers
whose applications have been laying
In this Bismarck district without action,
because of this executive order will
be taken up and favorably and speed
lily disposed of. The interest taken by
Senator McCumber to check the wrong
that was being done to large num-
Der Of people in this district will be
appreciated not only by the Bismarck
Commercial club and others in Bis
marck who have taken an interest In
the outcome. but by hundreds Of
claimants on the Missouri slope whose
interests are best subserved by leav-
ing the land district boundaries as
they are for the present.