The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-08-05
PUBLIC LANDS
WITHDRAWAL
Withdrawal Affects Mel can, Mercer,
Oliver, Morton and Burleigh
Counties Considerably.

On July 9TH, an executive order
was issued from Washington, with
drawing from settlement, location
or entry until examination can be
made Of a large part of Bismarck
land district. The Tribune has the
following, to say:
In the Bismarck land district the
tracts reserved cover the following
townships and ranges: Townships
l4l to l48, range II; townships 1873
to l4s. range 78; townships 137 to
l4S, range 70; townships l35 to
l48, range 80; townships l35 to 148,
range 81; townships 135 to l48,
range 80; townships 134 to 148,
range 50; townships 1873 to l4S,
range 81: townships 132 to l48,
range 85: townships l3l to l4S,
range S6; townships 1873 to l46,
range 81; townships l47 to l4S,
range 81; outside of Fort Berthold
Indian reservation; townships l33
to 145: range SO, inclusive; town.
ship 146, range So, outside of re-
servation; townships 1873 to l45,
range 80, inclusive; township l46,
range 80, outside of reservation;
townships 1873 to l44, range 80. in
elusive; township l46, range so,
outside of reservation.
This covers all Of Mel can, Mer-
Ger and Oliver counties, and all of
Morton except few townships
along the Cannon Ball river; COW
ers all but twenty-one towns hips in
Burleigh county, and also includes
eight townships in Sheridan county
This order is issued in conform :
ity with authority conferred by
acts of congress approved July %
and 25, 1910, authorizing the with
drawal of public lands in certain
cases (for coal investigation), and
to provide for agricultural entries
on coal lands.
Under this order, until further
instructions, no further entries or
sales will be allowed in the district
affected aud no final certificates
will be issued on final proofs.
The United States land Offices
will, however, accept filings and
final proofs and issue receipts for
money paid and suspend the same,
awaiting further action on the part
of the government.
1t is probable that the mineral
character of the lands withdrawn
will be determined by the geologi-
cal survey department, but just
when this work can be done is un-
certain, because of the vastness of
the undertaking and probable in
suficiency of appropriations to
carry on the work.
1t is likely, although this sup
position is not based upon any
thing official, that the government
will ask all claimants affected to
exercise the right of election, that
is, accept title to the surface of the
land, reserving to the government
all rights to coal and minerals be-
meath, to be disposed OF in the fu-
ture as the government sees fit, the
owner of the surface to be reim-
bursed for any damage at any time
on account Of any mining of coal
on the land affected.
While this may be looked upon
as something of a cloud upon the
title, it not any more so than the
reservation now made in all gov
ernment patents in relation to
minerals, voter rights, etc,
This wholesale withdrawal of
public lands is simply in accord
with the overwhelming sentiment
in favor Of the conservation and
preservation, for the benefit of all
the people, of the natural and USE
full resources Of the country.
The greatest publicity should
be given this executive order, that
all claimants prospective entrymen,