MINERAL LAND. Council joint memorial relating to the sale of mineral lands to aliens. To the Honorable the House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: The Legislative Assembly of the Terrtiory of Montana most respectfully memorialize the Honorable the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States. That the mining of minerals being the chief industry of our territory, and notwithstanding the fact that last year our mineral product approximated forty millions of dollars, we consider the industry practically in its infancy, and such being the facts it will be readily seen that we offer an almost unlimited field for the profitable investment of capital, and to that end we most respectfully urge favorable action by your honorable body upon Senate bill number 1176, and thus open the field to the free and untrammeled introduction of foreign capital, for the purpose of further developing our mining industry. We fully believe such action would inure vastly to the general prosperity of our country; and for which your memorialists will ever pray. MINERAL LANDS. Council Joint Memorial.-Relating to mineral lands in odd sections in Montana. To the Honorable President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatvies of the United States: Whereas, The Northern Pacific Railroad Company, under the provisions of its grant claims title or the right to procure title to a large area of the mineral lands of Montana, embracing many of our best gold, silver, copper and lead producing districts, and, Whereas, Congress in its grant to said railrord company has excluded all mineral lands except coal and iron lands, but has failed to define what are mineral lands within the meaning of said grant, and, Whereas, Numerous controversies have arisen respecting the definition of what constitutes mineral land, and, Whereas, If patents should be issued to the said railroad company for those mineral lands already certified to them for patent by the United States land officers, a great number of discovered and recorded mines now in process of development would be taken from the present claimants and would not only work a great hardship and loss of property to individuals, but in addition would be disastrous to the mining interests of Montana. Now therefor, We, your petioners, the Legislative Assembly of Montana, do most earnestly pray your honorable bodies to enact such necessary legislation as will prevent said railroad company from acquiring title to our mineral domain under the provisions of their grant, or in any other manner except as prescribed under the laws of the United States relative to mineral lands. And further, That Congress will enact such a law as will forever preserve to Montana all mineral lands (except coal and iron) for exploration, location, and developement under the laws of the United States. STATEHOOD. House joint memorial relating to Statehood.. To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: Your memorialists the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Montana respectfully represent: That the people of Montana rejoice in the belief that our statehood and the statehood of our sister territories is so near at hand, and that our ambition will be fully realized under the terms of the bill for admission, as contended for in conference by the Senate of the United States, That we express our grateful acknowledgments and obligations to the majority of the House of Representatives for their gallant fight in having the unjust provisions of the so called omnibus bill eliminated from that measure. That we do most earnestly pray that the bill as insisted upon by the Senate, and which we believe is now pending before the House of Representatives, receive the immediate and favorable action of your honorable bodies, to the end that our rights, so long and so unjustly withheld, may finally be granted us. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Council be and are hereby authorized to telegraph this memorial to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives and to our delegate in Congress at Washington. |