The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1913-12-19
COMMISSIONER TELLS HOW
AND WHY II HAPPENED

excess of the actual value, or at
least the price per acre is many
times that placed on land of a
similar character by the original
board appointed for the purpose
of appraising the surplus lands
within the Flathead reservation.
You will readily understand
that when the first board was
convened to appraise these lands,
the reservation was unopened
and it was practically uncultivat-
ed virgin soil and the general
outlook for agricultural develop
ment at that time may not have
been very promising. The sched-
ule Of prices fixed by the first
board ranges from ten cents an
acre for barren, burned-over land
to $3.50 per acre for what was
designated as frst-class agricul-
tural land.
AS previously stated, the reser-
walton was opened in the summer
of 1909. Four years have trans
pired since that time, during
which considerable development
has taken place. Railroads have
been constructed, towns built up,
the farming industry developed,
and conditions now are entirely
different from those existing four
years ago. Aside from these facts
the price of land per acre has in
creased slightly over the entire
country generally. The members
of the recent board convened for
the purpose of appraising the
tracts heretofore unappraised and
to re,appraise those tracts where
in claim was made that the origi-
nal appraisement was erroneous,
were under obligations to per-
form their duty faithfully and it
is presumed that the schedule
submitted by them is the result
of careful examination and a joint
conclusion as to the value of the
lands as they now stand.
1t is regretted that settlers who
located or attempted to locate on
these unappraised lands three or
four years ago should now be re-
quired to pay a greater price per
acre than their neighbors who
settled on lands appraised by the
original board, yet it would seem
that they should be willing to pay
a fair average price per acre for
these lands according to their
present value. 1t has been re-
ported here that the State of Mon
tana has sold some of the lands
granted to it by the Act of April
25, 1904, fallingin sections 16and
36, or their equivalent, as school
land, for a price per acre as high
as $4,000. If this be correct, it
is not seen why an Indian should
be expected to part with good ag-
ricultural lands for a nominal sum
per acre.
Senator Myers called at the Of
flee on December 8 with several
kilograms received by him from
business men in Poison, protest
ing against the high appraise-
ment placed on these lands, and
| have recently requested the
commissioner of the general land
office to withhold further action
in this matter until an opportuni-
ty could be given to persons de-
string SO to do to file protests,
statements of facts, and argu-
ments in support Of a request for
re-appraisementshould they deem
the present prices excessive.
Should you have any views to
submit with reference to this
matter it would be appreciated
if they ere presented at an early
date. Very truly, yours,
(Signed) CATO SELLS,
Commissioner.
AS to the claim made by the
Hon. Commissioner of Indian
Affairs in respect to the value
|, of the land and what the state
has sold lands for, a little ex-