Proclamation 595—Establishment of the Big Belt Forest Reserve, Montana

Whereas, it is provided by section twenty-four of the Act of Congress, approved March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, entitled, "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for other purposes," "That the President of the United States may, from time to time, set apart and reserve, in any State or Territory having public land bearing forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public reservations, and the President shall, by public proclamation, declare the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof";

And Whereas, the public lands in the State of Montana, within the limits hereinafter described, are in part covered with timber, and it appears that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and reserving said lands as a public reservation;

Now, Therefore, I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested by section twenty-four of the aforesaid Act of Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that there are hereby reserved from entry or settlement and set apart as a Public Reservation all those certain tracts, pieces or parcels of land lying and being situate in the State of Montana, and within the boundaries particularly described as follows:

Beginning at the north-east corner of Section five (5), Township eight (8) North, Range five (5) East, Principal Meridian, Montana; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section sixteen (16), Township seven (7) North, Range five (5) East; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-two (22), said township; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section three (3), Township six (6) North, Range five (5) East; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section ten (10), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of said section; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section fifteen (15), said township; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section twenty-seven (27), said township; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section thirty-four (34), Township six (6) North, Range four (4) East; thence southerly to the south-west corner of said section; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section three (3), Township five (5) North, Range four (4) East; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section two (2), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of thenorth-west quarter of Section eleven (11), said township; thence southerly to-the south-west corner of the south-east quarter of said section; thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section twelve (12), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section seven (7), Township five (5) North, Range five (5) East; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section eight (8), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of the north-west quarter of Section nine (9), said township; thence easterly to the south-east corner of the north-east quarter of Section ten (10), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section eleven (11), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section twelve (12), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Township five (5) North, Range six (6) East; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section six (6), said township; thence southerly to thesouth-west corner of Section seventeen (17), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-one (21), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section twenty-two (22), said township; thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section twenty-three (23), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section thirteen (13), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of said section; thence southerly to the north-east corner of Section thirty-six (36), said township; thence westerly to the north-west corner of said section; thence southerly, allowing for the offset on the First (1st) Standard Parallel North, to the southeast corner of Section two (2), Township four (4) North, Range six (6) East; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section eleven (11), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section thirty-five (35), said township; thence easterly to the southeast corner of said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section thirty (30), Township four (4) North, Range seven (7) East; thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section nineteen (19), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section twenty (20), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of said section; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section twenty-one (21), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-eight (28), said township; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section four (4), Township three (3) North, Range seven (7) East; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section nine (9), said township; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section eight (8), said township; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section eighteen (18), said township; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section twenty-four (24), Township three (3) North, Range six (6) East; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section twenty-six (26), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section thirty-five (35), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section two (2), Township two (2) North, Range six (6) East; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section one (1), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section twelve (12), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section seven (7), Township two (2) North, Range seven (7) East; thence easterly to the south-east corner of said section; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section seventeen (17), said township; thence easterly to thenorth-west corner of Section twenty-one (21), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of said section; thence easterly to the south-east corner of said section; thence northerly to the north-east corner of said section; thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section fifteen (15), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section fourteen (14), said township; thence easterly to the south-west corner of Section twelve (12), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of said section; thence easterly to the north-east corner of said section; thence southerly to the south-east corner of said section; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section eighteen (18), Township two (2) North, Range eight (8) East; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section thirty (30), said township; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section thirty-six (36), Township two (2) North, Range seven (7) East; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section thirty-five (35), said township; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section three (3), Township one (1) North, Range seven (7) East; thence southerly to the south-west corner of said section; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section ten (10), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section eleven (11), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section fourteen (14), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section thirteen (13), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section nineteen (19), Township one (1) North, Range eight (8) East; thence southerly to the south-east corner of said section; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-seven (27), said township; thence southerly to the south-east corner of said section; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section thirty-four (34), said township; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section thirty-three (33), said township; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section three (3), Township one (1) South, Range eight (8) East; thence southerly to the south-west corner of said section; thence easterly to the south-east corner of said section; thence southerly to thenorth-east corner of Section twenty-seven (27), said township; thence westerly to the north-west corner of said section; thence southerly to the south-west corner of said section; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section thirty-three (33), said township; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section thirty-two (32), said township', thence westerly to the south-west corner of said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section thirty-six (36), Township one (1) South, Range seven (7) East; thence westerly to thesouth-west corner of Section twenty-six (26), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-seven (27), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section twenty-two said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section four (4), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner Section thirty-three (33), Township one (1) North, Range seven (7) East; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section seventeen (17), said township; thence westerly to the north-west corner of said section; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section thirty-one (31), said township; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section five (5), Township one (1) South, Range seven (7) East; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section seven (7), said township; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section eighteen (18), said township; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section thirteen (13), Township one (1) South, Range six (6) East; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section twenty-three (23), said township; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section twenty-seven (27), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of said section; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section four (4), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section thirty-two (32), Township one (1) North, Range six (6) East; thence northerly to the south-west corner of Section twenty (20), said township; thence easterly to the south-east corner of said section; thence northerly to the north-east corner of said section; thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section sixteen (16), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of said section; thence westerly to the north-west corner of said section; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section five (5), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section thirty-two (32), Township two (2) North, Range six (6) East; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section thirty-one (31), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section thirty (30), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-four (24), Township two (2) North, Range five (5) East; thence westerly to thesouth-west corner of Section thirteen (13), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-six (26), Township three (3) North, Range five (5) East; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section twenty-three (23), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section fifteen (15), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section ten (10), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section three (3), said township; thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section thirty-two (32), Township four (4) North, Range six (6) East; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section eight (8), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section five (5), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section six (6), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Township five (5) North, Range six (6) East; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-five (25), Township five (5) North, Range five (5) East; thence westerly to the north-west corner of said section; thence southerly to the south-west corner of said section; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section thirty-five (35), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of said section; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section five (5), Township four (4) North, Range five (5) East; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section six (6), said township; thence westerly to thesouth-west corner of Section five (5), Township four (4) North, Range four (4) East; thence northerly, allowing for the offset on the First (1st) Standard Parallel North, to the north-east corner of Section nineteen (19), Township five (5) North, Range four (4) East; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section eighteen (18), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section twelve (12), Township five (5) North, Range three (3) East; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section one (1), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section two (2), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section thirty-five (35), Township six (6) North, Range three (3) East; thence northerly to thenorth-west corner of Section twenty-six (26), said township; thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section twenty-one (21), Township six (6) North, Range four (4) East; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section four (4), said township; thence westerly to thesouth-west corner of Section thirty-three (33), Township seven (7) North, Range four (4) East; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section thirty-two (32), said township; thence westerly to thesouth-west corner of Section twenty-nine (29), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section six (6), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Township eight (8) North, Range four (4) East; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section twelve (12), Township eight (8) North, Range three (3) East; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section two (2), said township; thence northerly, allowing for the offset on the Second (2nd) Standard Parallel North, to the north-east corner of Section thirty-four (34), Township nine (9) North, Range three (3) East; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section twenty-eight (28), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-nine (29), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section nineteen (19), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section thirteen (13), Township nine (9) North, Range two (2) East; thence westerly to the north-west corner of said section; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-six (26), Township ten (10) North, Range two (2) East; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section nineteen (19), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section thirteen (13), Township ten (10) North, Range one (1) East; thence westerly to thesouth-west corner of Section eleven (11), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section ten (10), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section six (6), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Township ten (10) North, Range one (1) West; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section thirty-three (33), Township eleven (11) North, Range one (1) West; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section thirty-two (32), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section twenty-nine (29), said township; thence northerly to thenorth-east corner of Section thirty (30), said township; thence westerly to the south-west corner of Section nineteen (19), said township; thence northerly to the north-east corner of Section twelve (12), Township eleven (11) North, Range two (2) West; thence westerly to thesouth-west corner of Section four (4), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of said section; thence westerly along the township line to its intersection with the Missouri River; thence in a general northwesterly direction down the middle of the channel of said river to its intersection with the section line between Sections eleven (11) and twelve (12), Township twelve (12) North, Range three (3) West; thence northerly along the section lines to the intersection of the section line between Sections one (1) and two (2), said township, with the said river; thence in a general northeasterly direction down the middle of the channel of said river to its intersection with the range line between Section eighteen (18), Township thirteen (13) North, Range two (2) West, and Section thirteen (13), Township thirteen (13) North, Range three (3) West; thence northerly to thenorth-west corner of Section eighteen (18), Township thirteen (13) North, Range two (2) West; thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section seven (7), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section five (5), said township; thence easterly to the southeast corner of Township fourteen (14) North, Range two (2) West; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section thirty (30), Township fourteen (14) North, Range one (1) West; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-eight (28), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section twenty-seven (27), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section thirty-four (34), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section fourteen (14), Township thirteen (13) North, Range one (1) West; thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section thirteen (13), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section eighteen (18), Township thirteen (13) North, Range one (1) East; thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section seven (7), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section eight (8), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section twelve (12), said township; thence southerly to thesouth-west corner of Section seven (7), Township thirteen (13) North, Range two (2) East; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section eighteen (18), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section twenty-nine (29), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section thirty-three (33), said township; thence southerly, allowing for the offset on the Third (3rd) Standard Parallel North, to the south-west corner of Section fifteen (15), Township twelve (12) North, Range two (2) East; thence easterly to thenorth-east corner of Section twenty-three (23), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section twenty-four (24), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-five (25), said township;thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section eighteen (18), Township eleven (11) North, Range three (3) East; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section twenty (20), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section twenty-one (21), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section twenty-five (25), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section eighteen (18), Township ten (10) North, Range four (4) East; thence easterly to the south-east corner of said section; thence southerly to, the north-west corner of Section thirty-two (32), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of said section; thence southerly to the south-east corner of said section; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section four (4), Township nine (9) North, Range four (4) East; thence southerly to thesouth-west corner of Section fifteen (15), said township; thence easterly to the south-east corner of said section; thence southerly to the north-west corner of Section thirty-five (35), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of said section; thence southerly to the south-east corner of said section; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section five (5), Township eight (8) North, Range five (5) East, the place of beginning;

And further beginning at the south-east corner of Section twenty-one (21), Township twelve (12) North, Range four (4) East, Principal Meridian, Montana; thence westerly, allowing for the offset on the range line, to the south-west corner of Section twenty (20), Township twelve (12) North, Range three (3) East; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section eight (8), said township; thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section five (5), said township; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section four (4), said township; thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section thirty-four (34), Township thirteen (13) North, Range three (3) East; thence northerly to the north-west corner of Section twenty-six (26), said township; thence easterly, allowing for the offset on the range line, to the north-east corner of Section twenty-nine (29), Township thirteen (13) North, Range four (4) East; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section twenty-eight (28), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section thirty-three (33), said township; thence southerly to the south-west corner of Section thirty-four (34), said township; thence easterly to the north-east corner of Section three (3), Township twelve (12) North, Range-four (4) East; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section fifteen (15), said township; thence westerly to the north-west corner of Section twenty-two (22), said township; thence southerly to the south-east corner of Section twenty-one (21), said township, the place of beginning;

Such of the above-named corners as have not been established by the official surveys being intended to be located at the points where such corners would fall in projecting the surveys in the directions indicated without allowing for any irregularities which may occur in actually tending the surveys;

Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which may have been, prior to the date hereof, embraced in any legal entry or covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States Land Office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant to law, and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of record has not expired: Provided, that this exception shall not continue to apply to any particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler or claimant continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing or settlement was made.

Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to make settlement upon the lands reserved by this proclamation.

The reservation hereby established shall be known as the Big Belt Forest Reserve.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington this 3d day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand and five, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and thirtieth.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

By the President:

ELIHU ROOT,

Secretary of State.