The Wolf Point herald., 1924-01-17
YEARS REVIEW OF
STATE LAND BOARD

annual report of H. V. Bailey, regis
ter of lands, to Governor Joseph M
Dixon. The demand for state lanC
during the year was still consider
ably below normal, yet it was larger
than during the preceding year anc
the increase, it is believed, is indi
cative that the turn has been round.
; ed and that henceforth the demand
will grow until normalcy is reached
In 1922 only 607.20 acres were
sold, for an average price of $10.23
while in 1928 1,643.06 acres were
sold for an average price of $40.
Record Sales in 1912
The largest land sales in Montana s
history were in 1912 when the state
disposed of 21O,50003 ares at an
average of $16.O9. The highest aver
age price received for lands was in
1910 when an acreage less than in
1912 was sold for 1920 an acre.
That congress when it set aside
land in Montana for the common
schools, the universities and other
public uses was no mean benefactor
of the state is proven by the fact that
the Treasure state has already had
total receipts of $24, ,598.32 from
state lands and total rentals of ST.
48,502.47. On June 30, last, the
state had left of its public land grants
4,615,500.03 acres. While it is prob
able that the choicest of the land has
been sold, there remains enough good
land, with or without timber and
minerals, that the state is assured
of additional millions from this
source.
The receipts from the land funds
and sales will make possible this year
per capita distribution of $5.48 for
each child of school age. The money
will be distributed to the various dis
tricts next February.
Timber Sales Increase
The increase in land sales in 1923
was accomplished without any extra
effort being expended. In this con-
nection the registers report read:
"due to existing financial conditions
it was not deemed advisable to hold
any extensive sales cf stale lands aur-
ing the year.
''No regular auction sales of state
lands we're held during the year. -Four
special sales were held at which |
1,563.16 acres were sold for $751;
631.60 for an average of $40 per
acre"
Receipts from timber sales for the
year 1923 amounted to $111,123.75,
as against $108,672.37 for 1922. The
from timber sales goes to the
permanent land grant funds.
Receipts from surface leases for
the fiscal year of 1928 amounted to
or an average of $685.
484.77 per month. Delinquent sur
face rentals amounted to 78,854.46.
Receipts for surface rental on oil
and gas leases totaled $83,430.70, an
increase of $24,228.15 over 1922.
The state has received as royalty, $5,-
1925 from two leases in the Cat
Creek field, these being the only state
leases upon which oil and gas have
been discovered.
Coal Royalties Slump
The amount of royalty received
rom coal leases evidenced slight
decrease last year in comparison with
he preceding year, there being $5,-
1920 in 1922 and $5,148.53 in
1928.
Permanent land grant funds total
22,165, ,829.27, accumulated from
he sales of granted lands, sales of
imber, royalties upon coal, oil, gas,
tone and other minerals. The funds
we're further increased from the com
non school grant.
The per capita distribution of s584
or 1923 was larger than the per
apita distribution of 1922, but small
er than the per capita distribution
f 1921.
The total amount invested in farm
oans as of June 80, 1923, was s4,-
33,110.94, of which s79,721.69 was
nvested in the year last past. In
912 farm loans were made to the
xtent of $52O,O49.54.
Investments of state land funds
ere made in 1928 as follows: Com
AoA oNhOoi POI
istrict bonds, s86,860.37; general
Ind warrants, s91,274.09; farm v
,ans, s79,721.69.
Agricultural college,: Morrill, bonds p
1900; agricultural college bonds, y
9,0O1; deaf and dumb asylum bonds IS
27,887.44; school of mines bonds, f.
lO,893.O4; state normal bonds, So m
84.SS; state reform school bonds, n
1900; state university bonds, sS4,-
%. b.
Common school income fund in
Hail insurance warrants, h.
90,47S.26; general fund warrants,
I52,294.48. r.
The total for the investments emu
Grated above is 472.772.74 for the
come fund investments. The grand
tai of investments is s836,6S7.95. "a