The Montana Board of Land Commissioners was authorized by the Montana Constitution of 1889 to administer the lands set aside by the federal government for the support of the state's public schools. Over 500,000 acres of land was earmarked for the support of public schools and lesser amounts to support the various segments of the University System, the State Reform School, the State Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and the Capitol Building. The duties of the Board were formalized by an act of the 1891 Legislature, which also established the office of the State Land Agent. The Land Agent, under the direction of the Board, was given the right to select lands "in lieu of" lands already taken for homesteads, mining claims, Indian Reservations, and railroad grants. State lands were divided into three categories: agricultural land which was to be sold to homesteaders, grazing land which could either be leased or sold to ranchers, and forest land which was to be retained by the state for protection of watershed and for on-going income from the sale of timber. Some of these forest lands were in large blocks which became the basis for several state forests including the Swan River State Forest and the Stillwater State Forest. In 1895 the office of Register of State Lands was created as the administrative arm of the Board to manage the state lands. After 1909 the state forest lands were administered by the State Forester and the State Board of Forestry, under the Board of Land Commissioners. The new agency was given the authority to administer the state's forest lands, to fight forest fires, and teach classes at the State University. The 1909 law also established procedures for evaluating state timber lands, administering timber sales, arranging for brush removal, protection of watersheds, and other administrative tasks. State Land Agents included Granville Stuart (1891-1893), R.O. Hickman (1893-1894), J.M. Page (1895-1897), Henry Neill (1897-1910), and C.A. Whipple (1911-1914). State Foresters included Charles Jungberg (1910-1914), and John C. VanHook (1914-1921). In 1927 the Department of State Land and Investments took over the functions of the Register of State Lands, and the Board of Forestry became independent.