The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1918-01-11
Thirteen Oal Leases.

AiVNOuSn the INDIVIDUAL COAl leases
have changed, at the close Of the fiscal
year the register reported 10 leases
in force, calling for a minimum roy
atty of $3.50. The royalties earned
and collected under these leases
amounts to s16,O06.66. The amount
earned in 1916 was $11, 800; in
1915, $3,222.0O, and in 1911, $780, 6.
The increase in royalties during the
past year was almost wholly due to
the increased operations of the Round
up Coal company. The developments
of the past year. the register points
out, as an exemplification of the wis
dom of the law reserving to the state
all coal, oil and gas on its lands.
There were 12O oil and gas leases
in force at the close of the fiscal year,
covering 1886 acres and calling for
a minimum annual royalty Of $11,-
$500. No lease has reached the
producing stage, but prospecting is
being done on a number of them.
Land Grant FUNDS.
The report for 1916 gave 1884,
411.23 as the total of the permanent
funds derived from the several land
grants. During 1917 the fund has
been increased to $16,391, 308.57, due
to the sales of land and timber and
to royalties collected. The register of
the state land office predicts that the
fund will be increased by 81 1000, 900
during 1918 of which at least $750,000
will be in cash and will be available
for permanent investment, while the
balance will be in the form of deferred
payments and will bear interest at
the rate of five per cent per annum
Farm Loans.
Register Miller calls attention to
the growth of the farm loan business.
The department, which has been in ex-
istence only a comparatively short
time, is rapidly rising in popularity
and is becoming of real service both
to the farmers of the state, who are
in need of funds, and to the state
which has trust funds to loan on first
class security.
Under the system followed the ex-
pense of making loans is borne by the
state and an account for the fiscal
year shows that the average of cost
of a farm loan has been 1854.
Expenses.
Expenses of the state office for
the fiscal year 1917 totaled $64, 800 10
divided as follows:
Salaries $~30,951.42; mileage and
travelling expenses, $15,512.6O; gener-
al office expenses, $1,O24.92; postage,
$ 1,494.65 books, stationery and print
ing, ~$2,683.18; advertising sales and
selections, $1,2SO.72; United States
filing fees on selections, 1914; plat.
ting fourth class land, $1,263.65; plats
of new United States surveys, $3.50;
fire fighting and protection, $780,
Is; scaling and miscellaneous expense,
$326.07; office equipment, 0562.75.
Fees Collected.
At the close Of the year there was
deposited with the state treasurer
$54,523.23 to the credit of the Gland
office expense fund" The fees COL
lected during 1917 amounted to &c.
423.S7. In 1916 the amount was S.
0S7.2O and in 1915 it was $4,599. S4.
In connection with this money, the
register says:
at seems to be generally conceded
that these fees should be used to re-
duce the expenses of the department,
but the Legislative assembly has not
yet seen fit to authorize such use"
AppOrtionment.
The increase in school population is
running neck and neck with the in
rease in school income, so while the
fund to be distributed next February
will be close to $780, 900, the largest
amount ever accumulated, the $3.50
ruary will be very slightly exceed ed,
per capita distribution made last Feb
if at all.
The amount apportioned last Feb
ruary was $50, 991. so and the school
population was 147,453. The amount
distributed in 1916 was $713,291.2 5
and the school population was 1896.