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Montana State Arid Land Grant Commission records, 1895-1903

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana. State Arid Land Grant Commission.
Title
Montana State Arid Land Grant Commission records
Dates
1895-1903 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.5 linear feet
Collection Number
RS 496 (Formerly RS 31)
Summary
This collection is a subgroup (Commission) of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation records, RS 496. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation records. Records of the State Arid Land Grant Commission (1895-1903) consist of interoffice and general correspondence, two overlapping minute books (1895-1899, 1897-1909), financial records, reports, and miscellany.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

In 1894, the United States Congress passed the Carey Land Act, amending the earlier Desert Land Act, to "aid the public land states in the reclamation of the desert lands therein, and the settlement, cultivation and sale thereof in small tracts to actual settlers." The Act granted to the states, free of cost, "such desert lands ... as the state may cause to be irrigated, reclaimed, occupied, and not less than 20 acres of each 160 acre tract cultivated by actual settlers." The state was required to file a map with the Secretary of Interior showing which lands were to be irrigated and a plan showing the mode of irrigation and the source of the water. To take advantage of this law, the Montana Legislature passed the Lynde Act establishing the State Arid Land Grant Commission, consisting of five commissioners. The irrigation work was to be paid for by the issuance of 6% warrants on the estimated value of the completed work.

The original commissioners were E.W. Beattie, J.T. Armington, A.L. Babcock, A.J. Talbott, and H.S. Corbett. At its first substantive meeting on April 9, 1895, the Commission set up a committee to ascertain the location of desert lands and to hire temporary engineers to survey and examine these lands. A second committee was formed to establish rules for the governance of the Commission. A third committee was empowered to seek "ready money" to fund the operation. The early survey work concentrated on the Yellowstone River Valley, since the Northern Pacific Railway provided free rail passes to Commission members, while the Great Northern did not.

The original legislation had extremely restrictive financial limitations that essentially prevented the Commission from doing its work. The 1897 legislature passed SB 95, expanding and clarifying the powers of the Commission. In April 1897 Governor Robert B. Smith requested the resignations of all of the commission members "for political reasons". He appointed to replace them C.O. Reed, Donald Bradford, Thomas C. Marshall, Armistead H. Mitchell, and Joseph K. Toole. Mitchell died in 1898 and was replaced by David A. Cory; Toole resigned in 1899 and was replaced by Joseph T. Brown.

During the course of its existence the Arid Land Grant Commission set up District 1 near Billings, District 2 near Big Timber, District 3 on Rock Creek in Carbon County, District 4 on the Dearborn River near Augusta, and District 5 on the Sun River. Districts 1, 3, and 5 were abandoned for lack of funds and never built. The Big Timber ditch, already under construction by Andrew Wormser's Holland Irrigation Canal Company, was brought under the Commission but faced repeated delays and was also not completed. The Dearborn Canal, begun by Commission members Donald Bradford and David A. Cory in 1888, became District 4 in 1900. By 1903, only 19 of the contemplated 55 miles of ditch had been built and no farmers had settled on the land.

The 1903 Legislature set up a committee to investigate the Arid Land Grant Commission and, as a result of its findings, abolished the Commission. To replace it, they established the Carey Land Act Board [former RS 32]. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation records.

Bibliography

Lesley M. Heathcote, "The Montana Arid Land Grant Commission, 1895-1903" Agricultural History, Vol. 38, No. 2 (1964).

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Content Description

Records consist of originals and typescript copies of interoffice correspondence, arranged chronologically, general correspondence, arranged alphabetically, and a letterpress volume of outgoing correspondence; financial volumes including a cash book, a general ledger, and a journal, plus various other financial items. There are two overlapping minute books (1895-1899, 1897-1909) covering the work of the Commission. The second book also includes minutes of the successor Carey Land Act Board (former RS 32). In addition there are reports on the work of the Commission; miscellany; and clippings.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. The Library & Archives does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by series.

Location of Collection

18:5-5

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

Processing Note

In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 496, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 496. Rather than reprocessing over 300 linear feet of DNRC materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids, and provide access to them via links through the central finding aid. This decision has allowed the MTHS archival staff to maintain intellectual control over the collection, while removing the need to reprocess it. It also keeps State Agency finding aids at manageable sizes. Please read the scope and content note carefully to determine if this subgroup/sub-subgroup pertains to your research needs.

Additional Processing Information

Collection was originally processed around 1978. It was reprocessed in 1993 during reprocessing of the records of Carey Land Act Commission (former RS 32), State Engineer (former RS 34), and State Water Conservation Board (former RS 37). There is considerable difficulty in using the official minutes of the Commission. Two volumes of officially signed minutes exist (1895-1899 and 1897-1909). Where the two volumes overlap, each includes minutes of meetings that the other one skips, while minutes of the same meeting often differ in both detail and substance. Researchers are warned that both volumes must be used in conjunction with each other. It is not known which version is more accurate. The Commission's financial record keeping was poorly organized. The State Examiner, in auditing the Commission, totally re-entered the general ledger accounts. As with the minutes, the researcher is advised to use both sets of financial records.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • Interoffice Correspondence

    • Description: Miscellaneous (includes W.S. Fortiner, Thomas C. Marshall, C.O. Reed, Donald Bradford, J.K. Toole)
      Dates: 1897
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Miscellaneous (includes W.S. Fortiner, Thomas C. Marshall, C.O. Reed, Donald Bradford)
      Dates: 1898
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Miscellaneous (includes Thomas C. Marshall, C.O. Reed, Donald Bradford, Robert Hendry)
      Dates: 1899
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Miscellaneous (includes Thomas C. Marshall, C.O. Reed, Donald Bradford, D.A. Cory)
      Dates: 1900
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Miscellaneous (includes C.O. Reed, D.A. Cory, L.D. Beary, Paul S.A. Bickel, John A. Knox)
      Dates: 1901
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Miscellaneous (includes C.O. Reed, George T. Wicks, John A. Knox)
      Dates: 1902
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: Typed transcripts
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7-12
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence

  • General Correspondence

    • Description: A (includes Walter Aiken)
      Dates: 1897-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: B (includes A.L. Babcock; Frank Banderob; Billings Commercial Club; Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: C (includes Thomas H. Carter, Cincinnati Commissioners of Water Works, Walter Cooper, A.M. Crawford, Alfred Crebbin)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: D-E (includes Thomas F. Dow, Engineering Record)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Farmers' Loan and Trust Company, New York
      Dates: 1898-1900
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: O.C. Finkelnburg, hydraulic engineer
      Dates: 1898-1900
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: F (includes First National Bank of Billings, S.B. Fowler)
      Dates: 1897-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: G (includes Paris Gibson, H.A. Gilbreath, Great Northern Railway)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: J.A. Hall (Big Timber National Bank)
      Dates: 1898-1901
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Holland Irrigation Canal Company (includes W.L. Holloway, Andrew Wormser)
      Dates: 1898-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 10
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: H (includes Ella Knowles Haskell, F.E. Hoss)
      Dates: 1897-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: I-J (includes Iowa and Dakota Land and Loan Company, The Irrigation Age, D.S.B. Johnston Land Company, Johnston, W.M.)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 12
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: S.A. Kean (investment broker selling bonds for Commission)
      Dates: 1898-1901
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 13
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: K-L (includes John D. Losekamp)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 14
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Mississippi Valley Trust Company; Henry Semple Ames (re financing of Dearborn Canal)
      Dates: 1899-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 15
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Montana Attorney General (includes C.B. Nolan, F.W. Mettler, James Donovan)
      Dates: 1897-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 16
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Montana Governor (includes Robert B. Smith, Joseph K. Toole)
      Dates: 1899-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 17
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Montana [miscellaneous state agencies]
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 18
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: M (includes A.W. Mahon, hydraulic engineer; George A. Marks; J.D. Matheson; David R. McGinnis; Miles City Canal & Irrigating Company; Miles City Chamber of Commerce; Montana Society of Engineers)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 19
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Northern Pacific Railway Company (includes Land Dept.)
      Dates: 1897-1901
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 20
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: N-O (includes Northwest Telephone Manufacturing Company, I.D. O'Connell, Oregon Land Dept., Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, William O'Rourke)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 21
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: P (includes Fred W. Panhorst, H.C. Patterson, Pelton Water Wheel Company, H.W. Perham)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 22
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: F.H. Ray (re Patriots of America)
      Dates: 1898
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 23
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: P.L. Reece (re bid on Billings ditch job)
      Dates: 1897-1901
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 24
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: R (includes S.B. Robbins, civil engineer; P.H. & F.M. Roots Company; C.J. Russell)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 25
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: S-T (includes J.W. Strewell, Sweetgrass County, Ira Thomas, J.K. Toole)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 26
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: United States General Land Office; United States Geological Survey
      Dates: 1897-1900
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: U-V (includes United States Industrial Commission, A.R. VanEman)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 2
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: W (includes C.E. Wantland; Charles S. Warren; Washington Commissioner of Arid Lands; Fred Whiteside; Winter, Parsons and Boomer, railroad contractors)
      Dates: 1897-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 3
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: A-T (typed transcripts)
      Dates: 1897-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 4-13
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: U-W (typed transcripts)
      Dates: 1897-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1-2
      Location: General Correspondence

  • Outgoing Correspondence

    • Description: Letterpress book [gap May 11, 1897-June 18, 1899 partially contained in general correspondence]
      Dates: 1895 April - 1903 February
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 3
      Location: Outgoing Correspondence
    • Description: Typed transcripts
      Dates: 1895 April - 1903 February
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 4
      Location: Outgoing Correspondence

  • Court Papers

    • Description: Opinions of Montana Supreme Court on constitutionality of Arid Land Grant Commission and of District #1, Billings
      Dates: 1896, 1898
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 5
      Location: Court Papers

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Auditor's notebooks
      Dates: 1900-1901
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 6
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Bonds and certificates
      Dates: 1898-1899, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 7
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cash book [1903-1910 entries are Carey Land Act Board]
      Dates: 1897-1900, 1903-1910
      Container: Volume 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Disbursement of funds received from Holland Irrigation Canal Company (District #2)
      Dates: 1897-1900
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 8
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: General ledger
      Dates: 1895-1903
      Container: Volume 2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal
      Dates: 1897-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Trial balances
      Dates: 1898-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Voucher record
      Dates: 1897-1900
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Warrants (Districts #1-4)
      Dates: 1897-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Miscellaneous (includes bills, receipts, accounts, vouchers)
      Dates: 1897-1901
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 1
      Location: Financial Records

  • Legal Documents

    • Description: Deed: Bridger Canal Company to State of Montana (re District #3)
      Dates: 1899
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 2
      Location: Legal Documents

  • Minutes

    • Description: Minute book [see Processing Note]
      Dates: 1895-1899
      Container: Volume 3
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Minute book (minutes for May 1903-Mar. 1909 are Carey Land Act board)
      Dates: 1897-1909
      Container: Volume 3
      Location: Minutes

  • Reports

    • Description: Reports to Attorney General and Governor by State Examiner on work of Commission
      Dates: 1900-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 4
      Location: Reports

  • Miscellany

    • Description: "The Montana Arid Land Grant Commission, 1895-1903," by Leslie M. Heathcote, Agricultural History, Vol. 38, No. 2
      Dates: 1964 April
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 5
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Notes on procedures
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 6
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Specifications and estimates of material required for Bridger and Big Timber canals
      Dates: 1898-1900
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 7
      Location: Miscellany

  • Clippings

    • Description: Miscellaneous (re Big Timber and Dearborn canals and bond redemption)
      Dates: 1898-1901
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 8
      Location: Clippings

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Homesteading--Montana--1900-1910
  • Irrigation--Montana
  • Public lands--Montana

Geographical Names

  • Big Timber Project (Mont.)
  • Dearborn Project (Mont.)

Finding aid prepared by Sue Jackson, 1978; reprocessed by Ellie Arguimbau, 1993; Updated by Lindsey Mick
2005; 2024

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