Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1913-07-31
PIIBLICLANDS
FOR GRAZING
GEN GRONNA HAS BILL PROVlD-
ING FOR LEASING PUBLIC
LANDS

senate bill, which If it become law
will have an important bearing on
tho counties of western North Dak-
o+o This measure provides for the
leasing of public lands for grazing
.nmrnoses. The proposed law gives
the president power to create graz,1s
districts in states where the unsettled
.n,,hlic lands are more suitable TOT
Grazing than for agricultural pur-
noses. The lands within these DIS
tricts will then be leased to the Peo-
Die under the supervision ana drec-
tion of the secretary OF agr1culture::
These leases will be for terms VI
from one year to five years, depending
m tho nature of the land as classlhed
hv the government, and the rate Tor
snch lands will be not less than one,
half of one cent per acre per year, anu
for not more than ten cents per acre
nor wear. the exact rate to be deter
mined by official appraisement. -,
The secretary of agriculture VIII
nrescribe the maximum area when
each nerson will be allowed to lease;
and no person will be permitted to
lease more than the prescribed area.
The public generally will not be al,
lowed to pasture stock on such LEASED
lands, and any one who does 50 VIII
be liable to punishment by nne anu
imprisonment. ~ o+ ho
withdrawn from homestead entry. -
nerson may file on such leased lands
at any time; but in such case the en-
trvn,an will not be allowed to settle
m the land until the lease therefor
has expired, or has been cancelled.
AID after such leased land has been
entered under the homestead law, 1t
will not be released to anyone.
The proposed law provides for Ger
tain priorities Of right to lease lands.
A bona fde homesteader, or owner OF
land under actual cultivation, will De
given a preference right to lease lands
within five miles of his land, provid-
ed that the land applied for, together
with the land which he now owns or
occupies, does not in the aggregate,
exceed the area prescribed to be al
lowed to each person. Subject to such
preference, any person actually oc-
cupying lands for grazing purposes,
nrior to the installation of the leasing
system, shall have preference right
over any person not so occupylng IT,
And any person who has obtained
lease shall have preference right to
q new lease for the same land.
ANY leasee will have-t the privilege
of making improvements on the leas-
ed lands, and anv subsequent lessee
will have to pay the owner the value
of all such improvements not remov-
ed. before he can enter on the land
Transfers and assignments of leases
will not be permitted, except with the
consent of the secretary of agricul-
ture. No assignment will be allowed
where the result would be a consoli-
dation of holdings.
The secretary of agriculture is given
the power to regulate the number and
kinds of stock to be grazed on any
given area, and is otherwise charged
with the duty of conserving and pro-
tecting the fertility and productive
ness of the land leased. -,
It is expected that the measure will
become law: If it does, as it probably
will. it will solve the problem of dis
posing of all public lands in this
state which are too rough for sue
cessful cultivation, and provide a
means by which persons who desire to
engage in the stock k-grazing business
to do so without trespassing on one
another and on the farmers.