The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-12-08

handle cases where a Jesse is not sat
isfied as to the carrying capacity a.
determined by the field force and Il
determine who should lease and pur
chase state lands in case of a dispute
1t is recommended that the first ap
peal of lessee, or prospective pur
chaser should be to his district field
man, next to the Chief Field Agent
who would be required to make Q
personal survey of the situation, and
in the event he could not make a
satisfactory settlement, he should re
tport in full to the Commissioner OF
State Lands and Investments and to
the State Board of Land Commission
ers and that their determination
should be final. In the case of dis
pute as regards carrying capacity,
the Chief Field Agent should consult
and give great deal of weight to
pertinent facts and figures submitted
by stockmen living in the area, and in
state grazing districts, he should con-
suit with and be guided by the di-
rectors of the grazing districts con-
cerned. In settling Disguise as to
tenure, present occupancy should not
be disturbed except in case of mis-
use of state owned lands and, in max
ing new ALLEGATIONS, careful consid-
erations should be given to the round
ing out of economic ranch and farm
units. Careful consideration should
be given to permanence of tenure, as
only under this condition can the best
use of state owned lands be had.
H. Under Section of the lease con-
tract, Correlation of Lease by State,
it is recommended clause be added
giving the State Board of Land Com
missioners and the Commissioner of
State Lands and Investments the
right, on the recommendation of the
Chief Field Agent, to cancel either
grazing or agricultural leases when
necessary to prevent over-grazing or
to prevent farming that does not meet
the definitions of good range manage
ment and good farming practice and
which would, if continued, result in
the deterioration of the agricultural
and grazing values of the tract
II. 1t is recommended that where it
is found to be to the benefit of the
state that ON recommendation of the
Chief Field Agent and the Commits
sioner of State Lands & Investments,
the State Board of Land Commission
ers may trade such areas of grant
land for other land of equal or greater
value. A special effort should be
made as opportunity is presented to
trade or sell small isolated tracts
where the cost of management is
greater than any possible return. The
committee realizes that there are
lot of small isolated tracts that it
would be to the advantage of the
school fund to dispose of at salvage
prices
10. The committee does not recon-
mend any active campaign to sell |
state owned land as it is felt that the |
money received from the sale of the |
land would not bring any greater re-
turn invested in approved securities |
than is realized by the school funds |
by retaining the land. 1t was the be-
lief of the committee that school funds
represented by state lands were in
an exceedingly safe position and that
loss to the school fund would be prac-
tically nil while the land was so re-
tanned. Experience has shown that
this is not always true when the funds
are otherwise invested. This does not
mean however, that no lands should
be sold but that the sales should come
in the natural course of events with
out any craftsmanship.
IA. The 1885 legislature, recogniz-
ing the losses incurred by the school
fund through mortgage loans, made
provisions for setting up a fund to be
known as the Estate Farm Loan Sink
ing Fund. The purpose of this fund
was to provide for the repayment of
the entire investment in farm loans,
which amounted to $4,250,625.00 Jan
uary 1, 1885. This committee feels
that the Land Board should be com
mended for the fine showing made in
retiring this debt. AS of June 30,
1914 there remained an unpaid bal
ance of only $2,615,61260 The dis
posal of this mortgage land should
be- pressed until this debt is fully re-
tired This land to be sold at not
less than the appraised value. That
an investigation be made of all cases
where there are delinquencies in pur-
chase contracts and appropriate ac-
lion be taken.
Is. In order that those who might
possibly be interested in the renting
Or purchasing of state owned lands
may be fully informed as to the pos
5ibilities of such leases or purchases,
It is recommended that a booklet be
giving pertinent data as re-
CARDS state lands, how leased, how
purchased, a resume of laws and regu-
ations governing same, and such
)ther information as may be of value
% prospective purchasers or lessees.
16. Every means should be usedssto
cooperation between the
State Board of Land Commissioners
n its administration of State Lands
md agencies of the federal govern
nent working along the same lines, a
he Montana Grass Conservation Com t
mission and branches of the State Col p
eye that are interested in land use. c
IT, 1t is recommended that Mem
rial be prepared by the legislature II