Mt&.XM*lti£ik 



Wheat Field in Cascade County. 



The last available report of the commissioner of the general land office under 

 date of July 1, 1917, shows that there remains in Montana, unappropriated and 

 unreserved public lands to the amount of 11,828,414 acres. Of this total about 

 one half is surveyed. An idea of the rapidity with which public lands of Montana 

 have been taken up may be had when it is said that the report of the general land 

 office on July 1, 1913_ showed that there were then in Montana on that date 21,542,853 

 acres of unappropriated and unsurveyed public lands. This amount bas been 

 virtually cut in half in four years. 



Larger Homesteads. 



The homestead laws have recently been greatly liberalized. Formerly in order 

 to secure a homestead of 160 acres it was necessary for the settler to reside upon 

 and cultivate his land continuously for a period of five years. Under a recent act 

 of congress this period of residence and cultivation has been reduced to three years, 

 while the homesteader is allowed an annual period of absence of not to exceed five 

 months during each of these years. Recent legislation has also increased the 

 amount of land which may be taken up. At the present time, homesteads of 320 

 acres may be secured where the land has been designated as not susceptible of 

 irrigation. Practically all of the remaining public land in Montana has already been 

 so designated. January 2, 1917, the so-called 640-acre homestead law became opera- 

 tive. Under the provisions of this law, settlers are allowed to file upon as much as 

 640 acres of land, provided the land is designated as being more valuable for stock- 

 raising and grazing, than farming purposes. The administration of the 320-acre 

 homestead law has been an unqualified success. Those who file under this act are 



