Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1916-01-20
THE LOCAL LAND
OFFICE LEADS
LEWISTOWN DISTRICT HOLDS
RECORD FOR FILINGS DUR
ING PAST YEAR.
TOTAL OF BUSINESS DONE LARGE

The annual report Of the commits,
sioner Of the general land office for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1915,
has just been received at the local
land office This report diRcloscs
some very interesting facts bearing
upon the settlement of public lands in
this district as wen as in the state OF
Montana
The Lewistown district still main.
tains the lead in the number Of filings
made during the current year. There
have been more filings in the local
office than IN any other office in the
United States. The number of filings
, received from July /, l9,4. to Iuly /.
19l5, was 5,775, while the next larg-
est number of filings is credited to
the United States land office at
Havre. total of 5,2l2. showing IA diff
ference OF oG3 in favor OF the local
office. Notwithstanding the fact that
the LeWistown office still leads all
other offices. this year shows a con
siderable falling off from the previous
year, there being 7,lO3 filings made
during the fiscal year of l9l3-19l4.
The amount Of original land approp.
rated in this district this year was
77,O4S.6O. The total acreage upon
which proof was made is placed at
299 400, while the acreage patented in
the district is shown to be BAG, ,902
Lands yet vacant, subject to entry
under the existing land laws in the
l4eWistown district are shown to be
l.779,722 acres. of which about 70 per
| cent lies within the borders of Fer.
gus county. The majority of this open
| land is rough and mountainous in
character and would more than likely
come under the provisions of the $40,
acre tract act which was passed by
the lower branch of congress q few
days ago. should that measure sue
cessfully weather the storms in the
senate and becoe a law.
The IewistOwn district comprises
all OF Fergus county and parts OF
| ChOnteau. Dawson. Meagher. Mussel-
shell, Rosebud and Sweet Grass coun-
ties. That these named counties and
, Montana generally have been rcceiv,
ing more settlers during the past few
years Is cOnclusively shown by the
last several reports of the commits,
sioner The number Of filings made
! in Montana during the fiscal year is
placed at 30,395 which far exceeds
| that of any other state; Colorado
comes second with 1890. Figuring
the immigration to this date from this
particular source and estimated upon
the usual basis Montana would re.
ccive more than 100000 families.
The kalispell office shows the small,
est number of entries during the year,
only 800 entries having been made at
that office. while Missonla shows but
4O3 filings having been made. While
the acreage appropriated in Fergus
county during the past year only
shows 1888 acros as being disposed
of, the innumerable relinquishments
and re-filings would easily more than
double the amount OF land filed upon.
Contest Department.
The contest department shows that
during the fiscal year 599 contests
were filed, resulting in 324 cancel
lations. while l5l cases were reject
ed, 72 cases are now before the com
/ missioner or the secretary of the in
terror on appeal, and there are now
pending in the local office 90 cases.
The contest work in the local of
flee has been exceptionally heavy dur
ing the past year, and indications are
that many more casese will be filed
during the coming year, than the mum
Der shown for l9l4-l9l5.